Serving Hohenwald, Lewis County Tennessee Since 1898
Serving Hohenwald, Lewis County Tennessee Since 1898
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Scammers prey on unsuspecting or vulnerable victims Too many people in Tennessee have fallen prey to scammers And with the increasing sophistication of digital technology, scammers are more devious than ever. That is why I have worked to pass legislation during my legislative tenure to protect Tennesseans from a number of schemes to defraud consumers in our state. Unfortunately, many of these criminals prey on the good faith and humanity of some of our most vulnerable citizens - our elderly. The...
Join me in saying “YES ON 1” to enshrine Tennessee’s Right-to-Work Law in our State Constitution Despite obstacles presented by COVID-19, Tennessee has found much success over the past year in moving our state’s economy forward. Tennessee’s right-to-work status has played a key role in enhancing the state’s business-friendly environment, bringing in record new jobs and capital investment. That is why I am honored to help lead the “Yes on 1” proposed amendment to our State Constitution by...
Safe Senior Act to take effect October 1 helps protect elderly and vulnerable adults Most laws enacted by the General Assembly have July 1, January 1 enactment dates or become law upon the governor’s signature. Occasionally, another date is set by legislation and that is the case with an important law passed this year to protect elderly and vulnerable Tennesseans. The Safe Seniors Act of 2021, which will go into effect on October 1, was passed this year to assist law enforcement and p...
State’s sound financial footing benefits Tennesseans Our state’s conservative fiscal strategy is working - creating new jobs and opportunities for Tennesseans. Over the last decade, we have worked diligently each year to prepare responsible balanced budgets that include strategic investments in jobs, education and infrastructure to boost our economy; thoughtful reductions to promote government efficiency and accountability; and even put back savings to weather economic storms. This strategy has...
Recent tragedies show Tennessee’s Volunteer Spirit is still alive and well Recent tragedies over the last couple of weeks have underscored why they call Tennessee the Volunteer State. Although we gained the nickname in the War of 1812 for our state’s role in sending far more than the requested number of volunteers into battle, that moniker is still alive and well in Tennessee. When our neighbors in Humphreys County were hit by the worst flash flood in our state’s history, volunteers from acros...
In 2022, there will be two initiatives put before Tennessee voters to enshrine new amendments to the Tennessee Constitution. Both ballot initiatives have passed the Tennessee General Assembly with a two thirds majority vote in each chamber and must now receive a majority of the vote in the gubernatorial election in order to be added to the Constitution. Right to Work Constitutional Amendment – The first proposed amendment is to enshrine Tennessee’s Right to Work law in the State’s Const...
Decision by Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals is very important for unborn children in Tennessee The full Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals recently upheld the constitutionality of a 2015 law passed by our General Assembly requiring a 48-hour waiting period for abortions. This decision was very important for unborn children in Tennessee. The Sixth Circuit Appeals Court reversed a lower court decision that the law imposed too many burdens on women seeking abortions. The Appeals Court concluded that...
We are off to a new school year! It is always an exciting time for students to get back into the classroom as the new academic year starts. Recently, Governor Lee announced the results of our Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) tests. It shows we must be very diligent this school year to make up for learning losses experienced by students during the pandemic. The decline in academic gains was not unexpected news due to school shutdowns and remote learning. That is why we got to...
PBMs / Prescription Drugs – The Patient Access Choice and Transparency Act was passed during the 2019 legislative session prioritizing patient-centered care by making certain reforms to how Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) operate in Tennessee. It helps ensure patients can use the pharmacies they choose and trust rather than being forced by their insurance companies to use specialty pharmacies that often don’t meet patients’ needs. This is particularly important for patients with chronic, compl...
5 Legislative Session Legislation Enacted July 1st Second Amendment Rights / Stronger Penalties for Gun Theft - The General Assembly approved legislation during the 2021 legislative session allowing Tennesseans to exercise their constitutional right to carry firearms without a permit, while cracking down on criminals who steal guns or possess them illegally. The new law allows law-abiding citizens in Tennessee who are at least 21 years old or are honorably discharged or active in the U.S....
Crime / Good Samaritan – State lawmakers approved legislation that I sponsored this year which enhances penalties for murder against a person who was acting as a “Good Samaritan.” This refers to a person who helps, defends, protects, or renders emergency care to a person in need without compensation. The new law applies to cases when the defendant knew that the person was acting as a Good Samaritan. Criminal Justice Reform – The General Assembly passed major criminal justice reform legisla...
Children / Severe Child Abuse / Exposure to Dangerous Drugs – A new law was passed this year to protect children from being exposed to dangerous illegal drugs. It expands the definition of “severe child abuse” to involve a child’s exposure to certain extremely dangerous or illegal drugs. It also provides an individual that knowingly allows a child to be in the presence of and have accessibility to such drugs as cocaine, methamphetamine or fentanyl will be guilty of severe child abuse. Safe Ho...
As families across the state gather on this Independence Day to observe the founding of our nation’s freedom with family picnics, fireworks, and other special events, may we all remember those who have fought and are still fighting for our freedom. We have much to be proud of in Tennessee regarding our state’s rich heritage in fighting for the precious rights we all enjoy as Americans. As we look back to our nation’s first struggles in the American Revolution, even before Tennessee became a sta...
July Enactments The first session of the 112th General Assembly came to an end in May and marked the close of a very productive year for the Tennessee General Assembly. Legislation was passed involving a wide variety of topics that are all aimed at bettering the lives of Tennesseans across the state. Below is a list of legislation that will take effect in July of 2021. Tax Cut / Sales Tax Holiday – Legislation was approved cutting $50 million in taxes by providing an additional sales tax holiday on the sale of food and food ingredients from J...
Education Budget – The new 2021-2022 state budget includes over $730 million in new spending for education, including money allocated during the special session in January. This includes over $480 million on K-12 Education and over $240 million on higher education. Funding for K-12 Education includes $120 million to increase teacher salaries in the BEP, in addition to the $43 million appropriated in special session for retroactive increases beginning January 1, 2021; $62 million for annual g...
Legislation gives patients more control over prescription drugs - The Patient Access Choice and Transparency Act, legislation prioritizing patient-centered care by making certain reforms to how Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) operate in Tennessee, was approved by the House and Senate this year. Senate Bill 1617 would help ensure patients can use the pharmacies they choose and trust rather than being forced by their insurance companies to use specialty pharmacies that often don’t meet p...
Honoring the Fallen: Memorial Day On Monday May 31st we celebrate Memorial Day. A solemn time for our nation when we pause to reflect and honor the memory of those departed who have served our country in the uniforms of our armed forces. There is no greater honor than serving your country and we take the time to remember and celebrate those that have gave so much for our country. We spend this day remembering the soldiers through the centuries who have come together to fight for a common cause....
The first session of the 112th General Assembly ended on May 5th after a very successful year. Criminal Justice reform was one of the main focuses of this year. The 2021 session will be remembered for historic “tough on crime – smart on crime” legislation. This includes a bill which passed during the final week to ensure certain violent sex offenders serve 100 percent of their sentences, as well as numerous bills addressing human trafficking and providing aid to crime victims. It also inclu...
The Tennessee General Assembly adjourned the 2021 legislative session on May 5 after acting on major bills to increase scholarship opportunities for students and help turn around struggling schools. The year began with passage of landmark legislation in a special session to boost student literacy and to recover learning losses suffered in one of the most turbulent school years in state history due to the pandemic. The regular legislative session saw action to strengthen Tennessee’s economic r...
General Assembly passes key bills, including budget, as lawmakers look to close 2021 session The state budget led a host of important bills that were approved during the week of April 26th as lawmakers prepare to close the 2021 legislative session. The General Assembly, which is looking to adjourn the week of May 3rd has completed the vast majority of its business with most of the remaining action pending on bills that were behind the budget due to their cost. The no-debt budget, which will...
It has been busy on Capitol Hill during the week of April 19th, with Tennessee lawmakers acting on some of the most important bills of this legislative session. With the closure of two more Senate Committees, action for the remainder of the 2021 legislative session will shift to the Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee, which considers all legislation that affects the state budget, and the Senate floor, as bills pass final consideration. Transparency of Foreign Influence on State College and...
Action on Capitol Hill continued to shift from committees to the floor of the Senate during the week of April 12th as lawmakers worked diligently to approve many important bills. The State and Local Government Committee, Health and Welfare Committee and Government Operations Committee joined four other standing Senate committees which have completed their business for the 2021 legislative session. Only the Judiciary Committee, the Commerce Committee, and the Finance, Ways and Means Committee...
Bill provides local boards of health act only in advisory role to elected county mayors regarding COVID-19 restrictions The Senate Commerce and Labor Committee approved legislation to help ensure COVID-19 vaccines remain voluntary and that medical information reflecting the status of a person’s vaccination cannot be required by any state entities in Tennessee. Senate Bill 858 prohibits a state or local governmental official, entity, department or agency from mandating a private business to requi...
Several major public safety bills advanced in the Tennessee Senate during the week of March 29th, including “Truth in Sentencing” legislation which strengthens protections for victims and their families. Senate Bill 717 ensures certain violent or sexual offenders serve 100 percent of the sentence imposed by a judge or jury. It affects offenses that historically target women and children such as rape, sexual battery, continuous sexual abuse of a child, sexual battery by an authority figure, inc...
Legislation to help small businesses survive a health crisis overcomes first hurdle with approval by key committee The General Assembly continued to advance significant legislation during the week of March 15th, including a key proposal aiding small businesses. Senate Commerce and Labor Committee members approved Senate Bill 474 allowing businesses to remain open during a pandemic or other health emergency if they follow guidelines issued by any government to keep their customers and employees safe. The Tennessee Business Fairness Act puts all...
