Second Meeting Of Legislative Task Force On Opioid Abuse Kicks Off At East Tennessee State University
This week at East Tennessee State University (ETSU), the second meeting of the legislative task force on opioid and prescription drug abuse kicked off. House Speaker Beth Harwell helped lead the discussion with stakeholders from across the state who attended the meeting to speak out about Tennessee’s growing drug epidemic. Dr. Robert Pack, director of […]
Legislation To Help Adults Without A Degree Access Higher Education Moves Forward In House
Legislation spearheaded by House Republicans to help adults without a degree access higher education moved forward this week after getting a positive nod from the House Government Operations Committee. House Bill 531, named the Tennessee Reconnect Act, would make Tennessee the first state in the nation to offer all Tennessee adults without a degree access […]
General Assembly Passes Property Tax Relief Bill For East Tennessee Fire Victims
This week in Nashville, House members passed legislation to provide additional support to East Tennessee families that had property damaged by wildfires that swept through Sevier County and surrounding areas last November. The bill calls for prorating the 2016 tax assessment for a homeowner’s real property or a business owner’s personal property, if it sustained […]
Key House Republicans Pass Legislation Providing Property Tax Relief To East Tennessee Fire Victims
Monday evening, House members unanimously passed legislation co-sponsored by Representative Dale Carr (R-Sevierville) and Representative Andrew Farmer (R-Sevierville) that provides additional support to East Tennessee families whose properties were damaged by last November’s wildfires. House Bill 52 calls for prorating the 2016 tax assessment for a homeowner’s real property or business owner’s personal property, if […]
House Republicans Move Forward With Critical Legislation To Combat Welfare Fraud
At the end of February, House Republicans moved forward with critical legislation designed to combat welfare fraud in Tennessee by passing House Bill 227 on the full House floor. Once passed by the Senate, the bill will travel to the desk of Governor Bill Haslam to be signed into law. House Bill 227, referred to […]
Broadband Accessibility Act Gains Momentum
Earlier this week, House Republicans advanced House Bill 529 through the Business and Utilities Subcommittee, with the legislation gaining much-needed momentum as it continues its path to the full House floor for a final vote. House Bill 529, the Tennessee Broadband Accessibility Act, was created after the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (TACIR) produced […]
House Republicans Encourage Growing And Selling Of Tennessee-Based Agricultural Products
House Republicans moved forward with legislation to help encourage the growing and selling of Tennessee-based agricultural products across the state. As filed, House Bill 299 is a pro-small business bill that removes governmental regulations and red tape that have placed undue burdens on the distribution of homegrown, locally produced food products. Currently, all food manufacturers, […]
Senate approves legislation making it easier for veterans to determine how their military training can count as credit in Tennessee’s colleges and universities
Legislation that will make it easier for veterans to determine how their military training can count as credit in Tennessee’s colleges and universities was approved by the Tennessee Senate on Monday. Senate Bill 1232, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris (R-Collierville), also grants in-state tuition to anyone currently living in Tennessee who is using […]
State Rep. Andy Holt Pays Traffic Camera Tickets With Monopoly Money, Introduces New Legislation To Fight Them
On Thursday, Tennessee State Rep. Andy Holt (R-Dresden) took to Facebook Live where he paid two traffic camera tickets with Monopoly money and a photographed image of a $50 bill. On one of the payments, Holt wrote “In the spirit of justice,” before sending it off to processors. Holt says he did the video in […]
House Leaders Advance Legislation Establishing Long-Term Care For Those With Autism Spectrum Disorder
Members of the House Health Committee advanced legislation thatthat would establish a long-term system of care for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families. House Bill 384establishes the Tennessee Council on Autism Spectrum Disorder. This 16-person advisory council would make recommendations and provide leadership in program development regarding matters concerning all levels of […]
New Proposal Targets Illegal Opioid And Prescription Drug Suppliers
As House Republicans boost their efforts to combat the opioid and prescription drug epidemic in Tennessee, new legislation has been introduced that would impose tougher penalties on illegal opioid and prescription drug suppliers. House Bill 786 would enable law enforcement to charge illegal suppliers with voluntary manslaughter when they cause death to a user by […]
Tennessee Business Expansions On Rise Across State
In 2016, Tennessee was named State of the Year for Economic Development by Southern Business & Development Magazine based on project totals and the variety of industries that invested in the state and created jobs. So far in 2017, Tennessee is well on its way to living up to this recognition, with multiple major job […]
Tennessee State Building Commission Chooses Ann McGauran As State Architect
The Tennessee State Building Commission voted unanimously to appoint Ann McGauran as State Architect. McGauran is the first woman to serve Tennessee in this capacity since the position was created in 1955. McGauran is a Senior Architect and Facilities Management Professional who has more than 25 years of architectural and project management experience. Since 2014, […]
Legislation aims to ensure transparency, full vetting and public input regarding guides to practice for all licensed professions in Tennessee
Senate Commerce and Labor Committee Chairman Jack Johnson (R-Franklin), Senate Government Operations Committee Chairman Mike Bell (R-Riceville) and Representative Dan Howell (R-Georgetown) held a press conference today to announce the introduction of new legislation to ensure transparency, full vetting and public input regarding “guides to practice” for all licensed professions in Tennessee. Guides to practice […]
Senate Speaker Pro Tempore Jim Tracy Files Legislation Calling for Photos on EBT Cards Used for SNAP and TANF Benefits
Senate Speaker Pro Tempore Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville) has filed legislation requiring photos to be added to the state’s Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards, the method used for delivering Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to eligible Tennesseans. The bill aims to deter theft and the selling or trafficking of the cards, while ensuring eligible Tennesseans continue to receive the […]
Senate Approves Resolution Calling for Convention of States
The Senate approved a resolution today calling for a convention of states in Nashville for the purpose of planning a future Article V Convention. The convention would be the first formal meeting of the states since 1861. Senate Joint Resolution 9, sponsored by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Brian Kelsey (R-Germantown) provides that the convention of […]
