Is Tennessee ready for the slippery slope of legislating by phone?

by Deborah Gibson

During the pandemic, members of local and state governing bodies have been allowed to conduct meetings electronically per executive order by Gov. Bill Lee.

They have not had to hold physical meetings in a physical place. They can hold meetings on Zoom or even by telephone conference call, as long as they allow the public real-time live audio or video access and follow other rules.

In some instances, this has meant that the governing body is on videoconference, and the public must show up physically at city hall to watch them through a government computer.

It has not been idea...