Representative Faison’s Initiative Supporting Investments Made By Tennessee’s Teachers Passes
House Republicans have unanimously passed an initiative sponsored by State Representative Jeremy Faison (R-Cosby) that better protects retirement investments made by Tennessee’s teachers. House Bill 1592 — which recently passed by a 90-0 vote tally — requires that certain pension stabilization reserve trusts for our state’s teachers be used exclusively for the benefit of participants and beneficiaries of […]
Tennessee Starts 2018 With Continued Low Unemployment
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner Burns Phillips today announced that unemployment across Tennessee remained low at the start of 2018. Data released today revealed the preliminary statewide unemployment rate for January 2018 was 3.3 percent, which matched the revised rate for December 2017. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in January […]
Haslam Forms Working Group To Review School Safety, Make Immediate Safety Recommendations To Enhance Security
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today announced he has formed a working group of leaders from the executive branch, General Assembly, safety, education and mental health to immediately begin reviewing school safety in Tennessee and provide recommendations to enhance the security of school children. While all schools in Tennessee currently have safety plans in place, the […]
Senator Kelsey’s Constitutional Amendment to Ban Hall Tax Passes Senate in 26-3 Vote
A proposal by State Senator Brian Kelsey (R-Germantown) to amend the Tennessee Constitution to ban the Hall income tax passed the Senate by a vote of 26-3. Senate Joint Resolution 494 proposes additional language in Article II, Section 28 of Tennessee’s Constitution which would eliminate state and local governments’ authority to levy state or local tax […]
Tenn. Guard’s 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment to Deploy in Support of Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine
Maj. Gen. Max Haston, Tennessee’s Adjutant General, today announced that elements of the Knoxville based 278th ACR will deploy this summer as part of the Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine (JMTG-U). More than two hundred 278th Soldiers will assist the Ukrainian Armed Forces with the continued development of a premier Combat Training Center. The realization of the Yavoriv […]
Bridge Repairs to Impact Travel on I-40 in Knoxville
Motorists traveling on I-40 in Knoxville should be alert for lane closures that will have a significant impact on travel this weekend. Beginning at 8 p.m. on Friday, March 2, 2018 through 6 a.m. on Monday, March 5, 2018, I-40 West will be reduced to one lane near Mile Marker 385 (I-640 Interchange) as crews […]
Three Tennessee Schools to Receive $100,000 DON’T QUIT! Fitness Centers
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam announced today the National Foundation for Governors’ Fitness Councils (NFGFC), with Chairman Jake Steinfield, has selected Tennessee for its 2018 DON’T QUIT! fitness campaign. “I am incredibly grateful to Jake Steinfeld and the National Foundation for Governors’ Fitness Councils for helping improve the health and lives of children in Tennessee,” Haslam […]
January 2018 Revenues Less than Expected, While Year-to-Date State Revenues Remain More than Budgeted
Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration Commissioner Larry Martin today announced that overall January state tax revenues posted less than expected, while year-to-date state revenues remain more than budgeted. Revenues for January totaled $1.4 billion, and were 3.18 percent less than revenues received in the same time period one year ago, and were $25 million […]
State Senator Frank Niceley Receives Champion of Prosperity Award
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Americans for Prosperity-Tennessee (AFP-TN), the leading grassroots organization fighting for lower taxes and limited government in Tennessee, named state Senator Frank Niceley a “Champion of Prosperity.” “Senator Niceley is a favorite of our activists – he always has an interesting story to tell and a voting record that supports fiscally conservative principles, […]
Office of Open Records Counsel Finds 538 Statutory Exceptions to the Tennessee Public Records Act
The Tennessee Comptroller’s Office of Open Records Counsel (OORC) has released a new report detailing a list of statutory exceptions to the Tennessee Public Records Act. Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge) and Speaker Beth Harwell (R-Nashville) asked for the list to help evaluate which exceptions may need to be removed or placed in sunset. […]
State Representative Andrew Farmer Introduces Legislation That Cuts Costs For Tennessee’s Farmers
State Representative Andrew Farmer (R-Sevierville) today introduced legislation designed to cut costs on permit fees for Tennessee’s farmers. House Bill 1796 exempts operators of farm trucks weighing more than 9,000 pounds from obtaining farm or other seasonal operating permits when their vehicle is used to move horticultural, agricultural, and dairy products or livestock from the […]
Keep Con Artists Out of the Driver’s Seat When Using A Tax Refund to Buy a Car
The arrival of tax season has many auto dealers putting their sales promotions into high gear. Unfortunately, auto scammers don’t have consumers’ best interests in mind. The Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance’s (TDCI) Division of Consumer Affairs and the Tennessee Motor Vehicle Commission, a part of TDCI’s Division of Regulatory Boards, reminds consumers to […]
TDCI Consumer Affairs Releases 2017 Top 10 Consumer Complaints
The Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance’s (TDCI) Division of Consumer Affairs announces the top 10 complaint categories for 2017 by Tennessee consumers. For the second consecutive year, the home improvements category ranked as the No. 1 complaint category with more than 400 consumer complaints. The Division of Consumer Affairs received a total of 3,599 […]
Phil Roe’s Thoughts About the Bipartisan Budget Act
This week, the House and Senate reached a bipartisan, bicameral agreement on a long-term budget. While this agreement is by no means perfect, it is a huge step forward on a number of important fronts. Over the last 8 years, our national defense budget shrunk to the point that there were fears our defense capabilities […]
Haslam Appoints Gass Judge for Circuit Court in 4th Judicial District
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today appointed James L. Gass of Dandridge as Circuit Court Judge in the 4th Judicial District, filling a temporary appointment that had been made last October. On October 18, Haslam appointed Gass as special judge to fill a temporary vacancy due to the illness of Judge Richard R. Vance. Judge Vance […]
Senator Kelsey’s Constitutional Amendment to Ban Hall Tax Passes Judiciary Committee
A proposal by State Senator Brian Kelsey (R-Germantown) to amend the Tennessee Constitution to ban the Hall income tax passed the Senate Judiciary Committee by a vote of 7-1 yesterday. Senate Joint Resolution 494 proposes additional language in Article II, Section 28 of Tennessee’s Constitution which would eliminate state and local governments’ authority to levy […]
