AG Slatery Responds to Sixth Circuit Decision Upholding 48 Hour Waiting Period for Abortions
The full Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals held that Tennessee’s 48-hour waiting period for abortions is constitutional. The Court’s ruling reverses the district court’s decision in Bristol Regional Women’s Center v. Slatery. In its opinion, the Court recognized that, “before making life’s big decisions, it is often wise to take time to reflect. The people […]
Tennessee Department of Health Offering Third Dose of mRNA Vaccine
The Tennessee Department of Health is acting upon recent guidance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding an additional dose of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine for moderately and severely immunocompromised individuals. On August 13, the CDC accepted ACIP recommendations for an additional dose of the […]
Gov. Lee Signs Executive Order Giving Parents Ability to Opt Out of School Mask Mandates
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed Executive Order 84 to give parents the ability to opt their child out of a local mask mandate enacted by a school or health board. Gov. Lee’s remarks as prepared for delivery are below: Thanks for joining today. Before we cover an important COVID-19 announcement, I want to express a heavy heart […]
Comptroller’s Office Examines the Cost of Online College Courses
The Tennessee Comptroller’s Office has released a new report examining the cost of online courses in Tennessee’s public colleges and universities. Tennessee’s public higher education institutions have offered online courses for more than two decades, and the prevalence of online courses has increased during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The report found that more than half […]
Vital Policy – Tennessee Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments in School Voucher (ESA) Case
When the Tennessee legislature enacted a school voucher pilot program in 2019, a lawsuit was immediately filed by Shelby County, the Nashville Metropolitan Government of Davidson County, and Metropolitan Nashville Board of Public Education asking the Chancery Court of Davidson County to declare ESAs unconstitutional, essentially an effort to stop the voucher program. The trial […]
Comptroller Encourages Counties to Be Prepared for 2021 Redistricting
Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury Jason E. Mumpower is making sure Tennessee’s 95 counties are ready to take action on the required 2021 redistricting and reapportionment process. Every ten years, following the U.S. Census, Tennessee counties must redistrict and reapportion their legislative bodies to ensure they are meeting the one person, one vote principle of […]
State to Intervene in Federal Lawsuit Challenging TennCare Block Grant
Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III has filed a motion to intervene in a lawsuit designed to challenge Tennessee’s Medicaid Block Grant waiver amendment. The Block Grant is the result of more than a year of discussions and negotiations with the federal government, input experts, providers, and stakeholders, and extensive planning by TennCare Officials. TennCare […]
April Unemployment Rate Highlights State’s Economic Recovery
Tennessee’s statewide unemployment rate for April 2021 decreased by double digits when compared to data from the previous year. In April 2020, the state’s jobless rate reached a record high during the economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Tennessee’s preliminary, seasonally adjusted rate for April is 5%, according to data released from the Department […]
Gov. Lee Pushes Return to Work, Economic Recovery – Ends All Federal Pandemic Unemployment Funding
Tuesday, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced the end of all federally funded pandemic unemployment compensation programs in Tennessee, effective July 3. “We will no longer participate in federal pandemic unemployment programs because Tennesseans have access to more than 250,000 jobs in our state,” said Gov. Lee. “Families, businesses and our economy thrive when we focus […]
AG Slatery Leads Coalition Urging Facebook to Abandon Launch of Instagram Kids
Nashville- Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III is leading a coalition of 44 attorneys general urging Facebook to abandon its plans to launch a version of Instagram for children under the age of 13. “Facebook has a record of failing to protect the safety and privacy of children,” said General Slatery. “Let’s not take their […]
Mental Health Month Offers New Opportunity to be Open and Honest
Around the world and right here in Tennessee, we celebrate May as Mental Health Month. After the last year, the opportunity to pause, reflect, and evaluate our own mental health and that of the people in our lives has never been more important. “How are you doing today?” It’s a question we asked each other […]
Governor and Commissioner Release Transportation Improvement Plan for 2022-2024
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and Tennessee Department of Transportation Commissioner Clay Bright today released TDOT’s annual three-year transportation program, featuring approximately $2.6 billion in infrastructure investments for 68 individual project phases in 45 counties across the state. The program supports Gov. Lee’s first Executive Order by funding work on 58 highway and bridge projects in […]
Gov. Lee Pushes Reopening, Focus on Economic Recovery – Ends Public Health Orders and Local Mask Authority
Tuesday, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced the end of statewide public health orders and signed Executive Order 80 to address economic and regulatory functions. EO 80 also ends the local authority to issue mask requirements in the 89 counties directed by the state health department. “COVID-19 is now a managed public health issue in Tennessee […]
Tennessee Department of Health To Resume Administration of Johnson & Johnson Vaccine
After an extensive analysis of the risks and benefits of the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted today to recommend to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that jurisdictions may resume their administration of the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccine without restrictions. The recommendation from the ACIP […]
County Unemployment Rates Inch Upward in March
Following a slight rise in the statewide unemployment rate in March, jobless statistics experienced minor increases in most of Tennessee’s 95 counties, according to newly released data from the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD). Five counties across the state did experience lower unemployment for the month, while rates went up in 86 counties, […]
Market Study Explores Tennesseans’ Perspectives on COVID-19 Vaccine
The Tennessee Department of Health released results from a third party, statewide quantitative and qualitative survey of more than 1,000 adult Tennesseans exploring sentiments around the COVID-19 vaccine. The COVID-19 vaccine is voluntary in Tennessee and this survey explored perspectives associated with choosing to receive the vaccine, like hesitancy or unwillingness in an effort to […]
