Republican Initiative To Secure Our Tennessee Schools Becomes Law
Republican lawmakers passed an initiative this year that will help secure our Tennessee schools and provide additional safety resources to protect Tennessee’s future leaders. The initiative proposes a $30 million investment for the school safety grant fund and additional changes to existing law to prioritize the distribution of these grants to help secure school resource […]
General Assembly Approves Charter School Commission Bill
Members of the General Assembly have approved an initiative creating a new charter school commission. House Bill 940 – which is part of the Governor’s legislative agenda this year – establishes a 9-member independent charter commission to ensure that all Tennessee charter schools can best serve the state’s student population that relies on these institutions […]
Tennessee Education Savings Account Pilot Program Approved
Members of the House also approved the Tennessee Education Savings Account Pilot Program this year. A small part of a much larger plan to build upon our recent improvements in education, House Bill 939 gives some of our poorest children a fighting chance at a high-quality education. The pilot is capped at 15,000 students and […]
House Continues Tax Cuts For Hardworking Tennessee Citizens
The House continued reducing taxes for hardworking Tennesseans and their families this year by slashing more than $35.2 million dollars as part of the Fiscal Year 2019-2020 budget. As part of these cuts, lawmakers overwhelmingly supported House Bill 1262, which repeals the professional privilege tax on accountants, architects, athlete agents, audiologists, chiropractors, dentists, engineers, landscape […]
Legislation Tossing Gym Tax Becomes Law
Governor Lee has officially signed legislation that tosses the $6 million amusement tax on small gyms. House Bill 1138 eliminates the amusement tax on small gyms, fitness studios, and similar entities across Tennessee. It levels the playing field for these facilities so they can compete against their larger counterparts, which obtained an exemption from this […]
Sergeant Baker Act Passes The General Assembly
This year, the General Assembly also approved House Bill 258, known as the Sergeant Baker Act. This initiative removes the intermediate appeal to the court of criminal appeals in death penalty cases and provides for automatic direct review by the Tennessee Supreme Court for convictions for which a death sentence is imposed. Additionally, House Bill […]
General Assembly Enhances Agriculture Education In Tennessee
Republican leaders supported legislation enhancing agriculture education in Tennessee. House Bill 945 – which is part of Governor Lee’s legislative agenda this year – establishes the Agriculture Education & Youth Participation Task Force. The goal of the 11-person task force is to encourage and promote agricultural education opportunities so our students are better prepared for […]
Republican Lawmakers Create Balance Within Community Oversight Boards
In 2019, House Republicans passed House Bill 658, which creates balance within community oversight boards across Tennessee. The legislation balances both the interests of our citizens to voice their opinion while also protecting the fundamental rights of officers and their families from malicious or politically focused persecution. As amended, community oversight boards can obtain subpoena […]
Republicans Continue To Protect Sanctity Of Life
This year, Republican lawmakers continued their commitment to protecting the sanctity of life and fighting for our unborn children. In early March, House Republicans approved the Heartbeat Bill. This measure prohibits abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected but makes an exception if the life of the mother is in jeopardy. Weeks later, House Bill […]
5th Annual Memorial Day RUCK March
The 5th Annual Ruck March, in Jefferson County, sponsored by VFW Post 3380, will be held on May 27th, and the walk will begin at the Jefferson City Community Center @ 7am. Registration is at 6:30 am. The 8 mile march will end at Brazelton Lodge, across from 1st Baptist Church in Dandridge. “The Ruck […]
Swim Lessons: When to Start & What Parents Should Know
Learning to swim should be a priority for every family. It’s an important life skill that can play a key role in helping to prevent drowning―a top cause of death among children. Children, and their parents, need to learn how to swim to help keep time in the water safe and fun! Here are some […]
TDH Reminds Women to Make Their Health a Top Priority
The Tennessee Department of Health joins the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Women’s Health in celebrating National Women’s Health Week May 12 – 18, 2019. This nationwide initiative brings awareness to the importance of women’s health and empowers women to take small, manageable steps for longer, healthier and happier lives. “So often as […]
JCHS Recieves Recognition in Best High Schools Rankings
Jefferson County High School received recognition in the 2019 U.S. News Best High Schools rankings. The rankings include data on more than 23,000 public high schools in 50 states and the District of Columbia. More than 17,000 schools were ranked on their performance on state tests, graduation rate, and how well they prepare students for […]
Dandridge DAR Attends Tennessee Conference
“Be Ye a Doer” was the theme of Denise Doring VanBuren’s opening speech at the 114th Conference of the Tennessee Society Daughters of the American Revolution (TSDAR) April 25-28 in Franklin, TN. Ms. VanBuren, First Vice President General, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR), urged the 565 attendees from across the state to […]
