Tennessee Promise Program Gives More Tennesseans College Opportunities
The Tennessee Comptroller’s Office has completed an extensive evaluation of the Tennessee Promise Scholarship Program, which was created by the General Assembly in 2014 to give more high school graduates an opportunity to earn an associate degree or technical diploma. Research by the Comptroller’s Office of Research and Education Accountability (OREA) shows that a larger […]
Secretary Hargett Encourages Tennesseans to Help Run Elections in Their Community as Poll Officials
Today on National Poll Worker Recruitment Day, Secretary of State Tre Hargett encourages Tennesseans to serve as poll officials for the Nov. 3 State and Federal General Election. “Thousands of Tennesseans, especially students and young adults, stepped up to serve as poll officials for the August election,” said Secretary of State Tre Hargett. “With tremendous […]
Secretary of State Tre Hargett Encourages Voters to Prepare Now to Vote in November Election
Secretary of State Tre Hargett is encouraging voters to prepare now to vote in the presidential election on Nov. 3. Tennesseans should make sure their voter registration is up-to-date and make decisions about whether they will vote in-person or absentee by-mail if eligible.“We want every eligible Tennessean to be ready to vote in the November […]
Tennessee Property Owners Score Early Win in Lawsuit Against Warrantless Trespassing, Surveillance on Private Land
Today, Benton County Circuit Court Judge Charles McGinley denied the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency’s (TWRA) motion to dismiss a lawsuit from Tennessee landowners Terry Rainwaters and Hunter Hollingsworth. They joined forces with the Institute for Justice (IJ) in April to sue TWRA for ignoring their “No Trespassing” signs by entering and installing cameras on their land. Today’s […]
Tennessee Applies For Lost Wages Assistance Grant
The state of Tennessee will submit its application to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to receive grant funding to pay an additional weekly unemployment benefit to claimants who meet the eligibility requirements of the Lost Wages Supplemental Payment Assistance program (LWA). If approved, the grant will fund a $300 weekly payment. This new LWA payment […]
Tennessee’s Free Hunting Day Set for Saturday, Squirrel Season to Open
Tennessee residents are allowed to hunt without a license on Saturday, Aug. 22 which coincides with the opening day of squirrel season. Free Hunting Day is an event the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency annually provides in hopes of increasing interest in hunting. Squirrel hunting is one of Tennessee’s oldest and favorite traditions. The day serves […]
Legislative Upate – General Assembly reconvenes for 61st extraordinary session
This week, the General Assembly reconvened in Nashville for the 61st Extraordinary Session in Tennessee history. As part of this historic special session, four new committees were created so that every House member had the opportunity to work on the three issues that comprised Governor Lee’s call for the session. These panels focused on setting […]
Secretary of State Partners with the Department of Health to Distribute Free Car Hangtags to Help Prevent Heat-Related Child Deaths
This week, the office of the Secretary of State is partnering with the Department of Health to distribute free car hangtags to help prevent heat-related child deaths in cars while making it easier to register to vote. The Department of Health will receive 150,000 hangtags to distribute through regional Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, […]
AG Slatery Urges Congress to Consider Pandemic Liability Protections
Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III, along with 21 other state attorneys general, co-signed a letter to Congress urging the adoption of the protections contained in the Safe to Work Act. The legislation would help mitigate the threat of frivolous COVID-related litigation for much-needed goods and services while still ensuring victims have legal options where […]
Gov. Lee Announces $150 Million in Relief Funds for Tennessee Non-Profits
Today Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and the Financial Stimulus Accountability Group announced $150 million in Coronavirus Relief Funds will be made available to Tennessee non-profits to assist their ongoing efforts to address the ongoing health and economic impacts of COVID-19. “The COVID-19 pandemic has placed enormous strain on all aspects of our society, and non-profit […]
Agritourism Bill Signed Into Law by Governor Lee
State Representative Jeremy Faison (R-Cosby) and Senator Frank Niceley (R-Strawberry Plains) sponsored legislation in the 111th General Assembly to protect Agritourism venues from liability. House Bill 2371 and Senate Bill 2423 shield Agritourism professionals and farm businesses from liability that may result from damage to a participant’s property during a Agritourism activity. In passing this […]
Unemployment Rates Decrease in Every Tennessee County
Record-high unemployment rates recorded in counties across Tennessee in April experienced sizable decreases as the state slowly reopened in May 2020, according to preliminary data released by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. All 95 of Tennessee’s counties had lower unemployment rates in May, compared to the number of individuals who could not […]
Legislation Expires in Tennessee General Assembly on Civil Asset Forfeiture – Reporting Standards and Due Process Delayed
By David Seal With the conclusion of the 111th Tennessee General Assembly, adjourning sine die, a number of bills of great interest have expired. Among those are civil asset forfeiture bills sponsored by Representative Martin Daniel (R-Knoxville) and Senator Frank Niceley (R-Strawberry Plains). HB 340 / SB 362 as amended would have repealed a code […]
Tennessee Department of Education Announces COVID-19 Child Wellbeing Task Force
Thursday, the Tennessee Department of Education announced members and objectives of the statewide COVID-19 Child Wellbeing Task Force, which was convened to support the holistic needs of Tennessee children in response to extended school building closures. Governor Bill Lee charged Commissioner Schwinn to convene the COVID-19 Child Wellbeing Task Force in response to the pandemic’s long-term effects on Tennessee’s school districts and students. The goal of the taskforce is to […]
Tennesseans Now Able to Use SNAP Benefits on Amazon & Walmart Online
Tennesseans who utilize the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to feed their families now have a new resource to help during the COVID-19 pandemic. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved Tennessee for a pilot program that allows SNAP benefits to be used to buy food online with Amazon and Walmart. SNAP recipients […]
AG Slatery Urges Apple, Google to Ensure All Contact Tracing Apps Protect Personal Information
Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III and a bipartisan coalition of 38 attorneys general asked Google and Apple to ensure all contact tracing and exposure notification apps related to COVID-19 adequately protect consumers’ personal information. Specifically, the coalition asked Google and Apple to guarantee that such apps, when available to consumers, are affiliated with a […]
