Serving Hohenwald, Lewis County Tennessee Since 1898
Serving Hohenwald, Lewis County Tennessee Since 1898
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Legislation which aims to get bureaucracy out of the way in the reopening of hospitals in Tennessee’s distressed rural counties overcame its first hurdle during the week of March 8th with approval by the Senate Health and Welfare Committee. Senate Bill 255 would permit the reestablishment of a hospital, without first obtaining a Certificate of Need (CON), in distressed counties designated by the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development as tier two, three, or four. CON is a lega...
The Senate Judiciary Committee approved legislation during the week of March 1st 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. Senate Bill 765 will allow law-abiding citizens in Tennessee who are at least 21 years old, or are honorably discharged or active in the U.S. Armed Forces, National Guard or Reserves, to carry a firearm without a permit in a place where they are lawfully present. It is part of Governor Bill Lee’s...
Tennessee lawmakers worked at full steam during the week of February 22nd as Senate Committees began to examine budgets of departments/agencies of state government and discuss key pieces of legislation. Some of the important proposals that passed through committees are detailed below. Tennessee Promise Scholarships - Legislation creating a pilot program for Tennessee Promise students with financial hardships advanced through the Senate Education Committee on 2/24/2021. The Tennessee Promise...
Top ranking is testament to innovative post-secondary education initiatives Tennessee’s innovative workforce partnerships and game-changing education reform for skills which are in high demand has created a steady pipeline of qualified workers. It has led to Tennessee being ranked first in the South Central Region for workforce development according to Site Selection Magazine. Tennessee is leading the way nationwide in post-secondary education initiatives, including Governor’s Investment in Vocational Education (GIVE) program, Drive to 55 ini...
The budget moved front and center on Capitol Hill during the week of February 8th as Governor Bill Lee presented his proposal to fund state government with improvements prioritizing education, health care, and job development, particularly Tennessee’s rural communities. Lee’s State of the State / Budget Address was also highlighted by an accounting of Tennessee’s COVID-19 response and plans for a full economic recovery. Consistent with conservative principles, the budget does not propose new t...
Top ranking is testament to innovative post-secondary education initiatives Tennessee’s innovative workforce partnerships and game-changing education reform for skills which are in high demand has created a steady pipeline of qualified workers. It has led to Tennessee being ranked first in the South Central Region for workforce development according to Site Selection Magazine. Tennessee is leading the way nationwide in post-secondary education initiatives, including Governor’s Investment in Voc...
The General Assembly passed major legislation during the week of January 18th to address unprecedented student learning losses as a result of COVID-19 related school closures and time spent away from the classroom. It was the 62nd Extraordinary Session in the history of the state. Tennessee Learning Loss Remediation and Student Acceleration Act – Research data estimates a 50% decrease in proficiency rates in 3rd grade reading and a 65% decrease in proficiency rates in math due to the effects of...
The 112th General Assembly has begun as state lawmakers gathered on Capitol Hill during the week of January 12th to take the oath of office, elect officers and organize the business of the 2021-2022 legislative sessions. This was highlighted by approval of a historic Tennessee Medicaid block grant waiver amendment agreement with the federal government that will improve quality and access to health care in the state. Tennessee is the first state in the nation to receive such an agreement. In...
January 14, 2019 --- State Senator Joey Hensley (R-Hohenwald) has been reappointed to the leadership of the Senate’s most powerful committee, the Finance, Ways and Means Committee. The announcement was made by Lt. Governor Randy McNally as the General Assembly wrapped up organizational duties for the 2021-2022 sessions. The committee has the responsibility of considering all measures dealing with the appropriation of state funds and has oversight regarding legislation pertaining to bonds, p...
We will convene on January 12th to begin the 2021 session of the 112th General Assembly. Health care will be a top priority during the 2021 legislative session with the COVID-19 pandemic and a wide variety of other important issues to be discussed by the General Assembly. Lawmakers will look for ways to support healthcare systems, lower costs, increase access, and improve quality of care for all Tennesseans. Below is a look into some of the health-related legislation that the General Assembly plans to take up this session. Vaccines – The T...
Education The General Assembly will convene on January 12th to begin the 2021 session of the 112th General Assembly. Recovery from the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic will be one of the top things on our agenda, along with education expansion, increasing quality healthcare services, and responding to the pandemics effect on the state’s budget. Below is a look into some of the legislation topics that the legislature will be proposing regarding education. Recovering Learning Loss – Education will be front and center when the Gen...
New law ensures 911 operators are trained for CPR – Legislation is set to become effective January 1 to ensure 911 operators across the state are prepared to provide cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) instructions to a caller in an emergency situation. Previously, not all counties allowed 911 operators to run callers through CPR instructions. According to the American Heart Association, each year an estimated 350,000 sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) events occur in the United States in an o...
Legislation aids in fight against food insecurity -- A new law passed this year which aims to encourage the donation of food and grocery products to nonprofit organizations for distribution to needy individuals. It aligns Tennessee’s donor liability protection standard with the federal standard of gross negligence. The measure explicitly allows liability protection for the donation of past-date foods and extends liability protection to individuals and organizations that donate directly to individuals for personal use, as long as the food is a...
Shop Small and Shop Local this Holiday Season Never has it been more important to support our local businesses by shopping local and shopping small. During the Coronavirus pandemic and economic downturn, our local small businesses have been hit harder than their corporate counterparts. The struggle endured by many small businesses affects not only the business owners but the local economy and workforce as well. Whether it’s retail or restaurants, small businesses depend on our communities and our communities depend on them. Small businesses a...
Preparation for the upcoming session on January 12th Preparations are already underway for the most important task we will undertake next year – our state budget. From funding such priorities as education, health care services, public safety and our roads, the appropriations bill is the most far reaching bill passed each legislative session. The importance of this legislation is highlighted by the fact that passage of the budget is the only duty prescribed for the General Assembly by Tennessee’s constitution. During the week of November 16t...
State Government and Government Efficiency Legislation calls for transparency in public records – A new law was passed during the 2020 legislative session which puts in place new provisions and penalties for governmental entities that purposefully destroy documents to avoid a public records request. It requires that written and electronic documents that could be subject to a public records request be kept at minimum 12 months. The transparency legislation provides that prior to authorizing the destruction of public records, a governmental entit...
Veteran related legislation and Affordable Housing Legislation helps THDA low interest loan program serve first-time homebuyers and veterans – Legislation to increase the Tennessee Housing Development Authority’s (THDA) Great Choice Mortgage Program’s debt limit was approved this year. The program, which uses tax-exempt bonds to make low-interest mortgages to first-time homebuyers and veterans, was created to make homeownership more available and affordable for Tennesseans. The Tennessee Gener...
Election Laws With early voting beginning, I wanted to address legislation that was passed during the 2020 session regarding voting, election laws, and upholding the integrity of the election process. Please join me in exercising your right and getting out to vote, whether that be through early voting or coming out on November 3rd for election day! You can use the GoVoteTN app to find voting locations near you and to get information on candidates in your district. New law aims to strengthen inte...
Businesses, Tax Equity, and Workers Resolution gives voters an opportunity to embed the state’s Right to Work law into Tennessee Constitution -- A resolution allowing voters to embed the state’s Right to Work (RTW) law into Tennessee’s Constitution was approved during the 111th General Assembly. The measure protects the right of Tennesseans to join or refuse to join a labor union or employee organization, saying it should always be a “fundamental civil right.” Currently, there is legislati...
4 Transportation Improvements General Assembly enacts legislation improving transportation options for Tennesseans with disabilities and the elderly - Legislation designed to improve transportation options for Tennesseans with disabilities and the elderly was approved by the 111th General Assembly. The Tennessee Accessible Transportation and Mobility Act of 2020 creates an office within the Tennessee Department of Transportation to focus solely on expanding and improving accessible transporta...
Corrections, Courts, and Crimes TRICOR moves to bring job training to those housed in county and city jails – Under a new 2020 law, the Tennessee Rehabilitative Initiative in Correction (TRICOR) is now authorized to provide job training to individuals incarcerated in Tennessee’s county and city jails. TRICOR is an organization operating within the Tennessee Department of Correction that provides job training to inmates in an effort to make them workforce ready and reduce the state’s recid...
It was the Constitution that made the War for Independence a Revolution Celebrate Constitution Day and Freedom Week Our nation is about to celebrate a very important birthday on September 17th. On September 17th many years ago, 39 delegates of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia signed the greatest protection of life, liberty, and property the world has ever seen – the U.S. Constitution. It is altogether appropriate that we stop and reflect on this amazing document and what it means t...
Corrections, Courts, and Crimes. Revised statute seeks to protect children from relative sex offenders - The General Assembly voted this year to clarify a 2019 law prohibiting sexual offenders or violent sexual offenders from staying overnight at a residence in which a minor resides or is present. A lawsuit was filed after passage of the legislation pertaining to parents and children who fall under the statute’s provisions. I sponsored this new law which addresses the matter by authorizing a D...
Higher Education The 2020-2021 budget includes $38 million in capital maintenance across higher education institutions from the Higher Education Capital Maintenance Fund and $2 million non-recurring statewide security grants. It also includes $1 million for additional Veteran Reconnect grants. In addition, a correctional education investment of $4.43 million was approved in recurring funds and $984,600 in non-recurring funds. The legislation below was passed during the 2020 session to improve...
3th General Assembly - 2020 Session Education related Legislation The 2020-2021 budget continues Tennessee’s efforts to prioritize education and boost student achievement. The budget invests $50.3 million to fully fund growth and inflation in the state’s Basic Education Program (BEP). It also fully funds the growth in the Department of Children’s Services to take care of children who are in state custody. Education is of the upmost importance and is something that we should continue to impro...
