Representative David Byrd: District 71 Capitol Hill Update

Greetings. Thanksgiving is almost here. The new 112th General Assembly will begin January 11th 2022. Since both the House and Senate are in a downtime, in continuing effort to keep constituents updated and informed throughout the year on our current laws passed from year’s recent house session, this week will address future unemployment benefits, apprenticeships and Agriculture.

Unemployment Benefits – Public Chapter 560 puts more money in the pockets of persons who are unemployed while giving businesses greater opportunity to attract workers. Effective December 2023, it raises unemployment benefits up to $50 per week and puts the number of weeks a person can receive them on a sliding scale based on the state’s unemployment rate. This brings Tennessee in line with surrounding states in both the benefit amount and the number of weeks a person is qualified to receive them. The floor is 12 weeks if the unemployment rate is 5.5% or less. The number of weeks benefits are available goes up one week per half percentage increase in the rate of the state’s unemployment until it reaches 20 weeks.

Apprenticeship Programs / Enhances Quality Program for In-Demand Careers – Public Chapter 397 creates the Office of Apprenticeship within the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development to administer pre-apprenticeships, youth apprenticeships and registered apprenticeships. The legislation streamlines the application process and provides greater oversight to enhance the quality and completion rates and aids in recruiting sponsors in traditionally underrepresented industries which offer higher-paying, in-demand jobs, like health care and information technology.

Farms / Critical Infrastructure – Public Chapter 418 aligns farms and farm machinery with the Class E felony currently codified for vandalizing critical infrastructure. Farm and farm machinery include real property, vehicles, equipment, machinery, animals and crops contained on a farm.

Farmers / Tractor Lemon Law – Public Chapter 411 acts as a tractor lemon law that would require manufacturers to either replace or refund the full purchase price of farm machinery under certain circumstances.

Greenbelt Law / Taxpayer Refund – Public Chapter 383 helps farmers and other property taxpayers who are eligible for the state’s Greenbelt Law by deleting a prohibition when an error has occurred and the taxpayer paid the incorrect amount. It also gives taxpayers two extra weeks to meet the application deadline with the tax assessor’s office, extending it from March 1 to March 15.

State Fair – Public Chapter 543 provides for the Tennessee state fair to be held at the Wilson County fairgrounds.

As always, I am truly humbled and honored to be your voice on Capitol Hill. If there is ever any issue I can assist with, please reach out to my office by calling 615-741-2190 or emailing me at [email protected]