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 […]
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 […]
Tennessee Cooking Up a Healthier Summer for Rural Children
The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) is seeking rural communities as it opens the application process for organizations to participate in this year’s Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). The goal of the SFSP is to ensure that children 18 and younger who benefit from meal programs during the school year continue to have that […]
Republican Leaders Introduce Right to Work Constitutional Amendment
Republican leaders have introduced a resolution that would add Tennessee’s Right to Work law to the state constitution. The resolution is sponsored by more than a dozen high ranking Republican House members. It guarantees future generations of Tennessee workers their right to work regardless of whether they choose to join a union. Tennessee’s Right to […]
AG Slatery Applauds New Law Curbing Unwanted Robocalls
Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III applauds the passage of new federal legislation known as the Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence Act (TRACED). The TRACED Act is the first federal law designed to combat the rampant problem of robocalls, which increased by more than 36% in 2018. The law will prioritize industry-wide implementation […]
State Senator Frank Niceley (R-Strawberry Plains) Named 2019 Senate Legislator of the Year
State Senator Frank Niceley (R-Strawberry Plains) was recently named the “2019 Senate Legislator of the Year” by the County Officials Association of Tennessee (COAT). COAT is a is a non-profit association of county clerks, state court clerks, registers of deeds, and trustees which advocate for elected officials and their constituents from all Tennessee counties. “Senator […]
168th Military Police Battalion to Deploy and Honor Local Hero
The Tennessee National Guard announced today that the Dyersburg based 168th Military Police Battalion will deploy to Cuba this winter. More than 100 Soldiers assigned to the unit have been training for over one year in preparation for their year-long deployment to Naval Station Guantanamo Bay. “The 168th is one of the most distinguished and […]
Tennessee Department of Human Services Announces Next Steps for Investing Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant Surplus
The Tennessee Department of Human Services announced next steps for investing surplus funds from the state’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant, as well as plans for responsibly maintaining the fund’s reserves. “Unprecedented growth in our state’s economy has created a sharp decline in our TANF qualified population and also generated a generous […]
Tennessee National Guard Unveils New Solar Power Initiative
It shouldn’t be any guess as to which primary color is the U.S. Army’s favorite… GREEN! The various shades of earth tones in a soldier’s uniform reflects the terrain in which they operate. Just as nature conceals soldiers from the enemy, they are devoted to protecting the U.S. homeland from harm. Over the last few […]
Tennessee Higher Education Launches Veteran Education Initiative: New Portal Will Convert Military Training to Civilian Credit
The Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) today announced the Tennessee Service member Opportunity Portal (TN-SOP), an interactive database which translates prior military experience to academic credit at Tennessee public colleges. “United States military training is rigorous and provides world class instruction, and it is only appropriate that our colleges recognize this training and provide a […]
Education Commissioner Unveils ‘Best for All’ Strategic Plan
Education Commissioner Unveils ‘Best For All’ Strategic PlanAcademics, Whole Child, and Educators are top priorities for Tennessee NASHVILLE— Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn today presented the department’s strategic plan to more than 1,000 statewide educators at the 2019 LEAD conference held in Nashville. The plan, called “Best for All,” sets priorities for the department in serving […]
Tennessee ACT Participation at All Time High
Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn announced today that a total of 63,829 students from Tennessee’s 2019 graduating class took the ACT, earning an average composite score of 20. This represents a 98 percent participation rate, which is an all-time high in the state. Of those students, 41.7 percent earned a score of 21 or higher, making […]
Department of Safety and Homeland Security To Implement Driver Services Enhancements
The Department of Safety and Homeland Security will implement the following enhancements in the highest volume centers in an effort to better serve the citizens of Tennessee: Hire additional Driver License Examiners, Road Skill Testers and Greeters, whose primary objective is to vet each person that comes to the center ensuring they have the required […]
New Child Well-Being Report Focuses on Challenges Rural Counties Face
The differing challenges faced by Tennessee’s urban and rural counties, as well as those that are shared, are explored in KIDS COUNT: The State of the Child in Tennessee, released today. This report, produced by the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth, the Annie E. Casey Foundation Tennessee KIDS COUNT® partner, is released in conjunction with […]
