Gov. Bill Lee Introduces Constitutional Carry Legislation
February 27, 2020, Gov. Bill Lee announced that he is proposing legislation toadvance the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Tennesseans by implementing a Constitutional Carry law. “The Second Amendment is clear and concise and secures the freedoms of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms,” said Gov. Bill Lee. “I am pleased to announce […]
MyTN State Services Made Mobile
A new mobile app is making it easier for Tennesseans to access state government services. “MyTN” is now available for download from the Apple and Android store. Visit MyTN.gov to easily download to your device by clicking the Apple or Android store icons. “State government services are utilized by every citizen, and we want to provide access […]
Nashville Weekly Wrap
Governor’s Initiatives Begin Journey Through House This week in Nashville, almost three dozen administration bills began making their way through the House chamber. These initiatives build upon Tennessee’s recent momentum and are key components of Gov. Bill Lee’s agenda for the 2020 legislative year. Some of them include: House Bill 2223: Clarifies the Department of […]
Legislation Lowering Tennessee’s Business Income Tax Gains Support In House
A measure designed to lower Tennessee’s business income tax (excise tax) is gaining support in the House. House Bill 2301 is a fiscally responsible approach to attract new business to our state and to encourage small business owners to reinvest into their communities by beginning the process of lowering the excise tax from 6.5 percent […]
Tennessee Chamber of Commerce Hosts “Tools to Navigate the Opioid Crisis”
Bradley Jackson, the president & CEO of the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Friday hosted a regional event focused on engaging the East Tennessee business community about the impact of opioid abuse. The Tennessee Chamber partnered with the Blount Partnership, the Knoxville Chamber of Commerce, the Anderson County Chamber, the Oak Ridge Chamber, and […]
Not a Nice Surprise
Surprise medical billing is a real problem across the country and – since the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) – affects people everywhere. With the ACA’s government mandated changes, insurance companies narrowed physician networks to control costs, offering less robust coverage than we had before the government takeover of the health insurance market. […]
Early Voting Ends Tuesday
Time is running out for Tennesseans planning to vote early in the Presidential Preference Primary election. Early voting ends Tuesday, Feb. 25. Election Day for the Presidential Preference Primary is Tuesday, March 3. “Early voting offers Tennesseans a convenient opportunity to cast their ballots instead of waiting until Election Day,” said Secretary of State Tre Hargett. “Now […]
Dandridge Board of Mayor and Aldermen Send Property Rights Resolution to State Lawmakers
Citing a U.S. Supreme Court case and the U.S. Constitution, the Dandridge Board of Mayor and Aldermen made a resolution calling on state lawmakers to protect private property rights, specifically promoting recently filed house and senate bills that close a “blighted area” loophole that enables local government and housing authorities to condemn viable non-blighted property […]
SCHOOL SYSTEM BRINGS ACTIVE LEARNING PROGRAM TO AFTER SCHOOL STUDENTS
Both Dandridge Elementary and Mt. Horeb Elementary are now implementing the PowerUp Your School fitness and learning program as a part of their after-school activities thanks to support from the Jefferson County Schools Office of Coordinated School Health and student volunteers from Carson Newman University. “We’re excited to provide this opportunity for students in the […]
Legislation Declaring Tennessee The “Volunteer State” Moves Forward
Legislation officially designating the state of Tennessee as the “Volunteer State” is moving forward in the Tennessee General Assembly. House Bill 1562 designates the “Volunteer State” as the official nickname of Tennessee. While Tennessee has held this distinction since 1812, it is not currently documented in state law. The state of Tennessee has been referred […]
Representative Faison Files Proposed Legislation to Protect Farm Tourism Businesses from Liability
State Representative Jeremy Faison (R-Cosby) has filed proposed legislation to protect agritourism businesses from claims of property damage by participants. The proposed legislation amends a Title 43 law that was enacted as part of a sweeping tort reform movement in 2009. House Bill 2371 strengthens protections that were previously enacted to create immunity from liability […]
Researchers revise timing of Easter island’s societal collapse
The prehistoric collapse of Easter Island’s monument-building society did not occur as long thought, according to a fresh look at evidence by researchers at four institutions. “The general thinking has been that the society that Europeans saw when they first showed up was one that had collapsed,” said Robert J. DiNapoli, a doctoral candidate in […]
Comptroller’s Office Studies Student Growth Portfolios for Teacher Evaluation
The Tennessee Comptroller’s Office has released a new report that evaluates the use of portfolios in Tennessee’s teacher evaluation system. Portfolios contain collections of student work, selected by teachers, from two points in time during the school year to show students’ progress in mastering specified state academic standards. The portfolios are scored by fellow teachers, […]
Tennessee Needs at Least $54.8 Billion of Public Infrastructure Improvements
Tennessee needs at least $54.8 billion worth of public infrastructure improvements during the five-year period of July 2018 to June 2023—a $4.8 billion (9.7%) increase from the year before—according to a new report by the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (TACIR). More than $3.7 billion of this year’s increase is attributable to increases in […]
Jefferson County Commission Stands Up for Property Rights, State Legislators File Proposed Bills
After County Commission made a resolution on January 21, 2020 that aims to protect private property rights, bills were filed in the Tennessee General Assembly to better protect property owners from eminent domain that is initiated by government for private benefit and economic development. The framers of the constitution limited property takings to “public use” under […]
