Legislature Moves Forward With Confirmation Of University Governing Boards
Earlier this year, the legislature moved forward with the confirmation of 48 appointments to Tennessee’s new university governing boards, giving the higher education institutions involved increased autonomy to support student success as the state continues its Drive to 55 initiative: the goal of getting 55 percent of Tennesseans equipped with a college degree or certificate […]
Tennessee Treasury Returns Record Amount Of Unclaimed Property To Tennesseans In 2016
The Tennessee Treasury Department returned a record amount of unclaimed property in 2016 to Tennesseans across the state, marking a 28% increase over the prior year. In total, 41,827 claims were processed in 2016, totaling more than $34 million with an average claim amount of $817. Unclaimed property is money that has been turned over […]
Tennessee Names First Female State Architect
Earlier this year, the State Building Commission voted unanimously to appoint Ann McGauran as Tennessee State Architect. With the appointment, McGauran becomes the first woman to serve the state in this capacity since the position was first created in 1955. McGauran is a senior architect with more than 25 years of architectural and project management […]
Tennessee Film Industry Stakes Claim As National Leader
Over the last several years, movie and television production from within the state has cast Tennessee onto the national and international stage, exposing audiences from around the world to the many benefits Tennessee has to offer. In the process, the film and production industry has played a major role in boosting the state economy, employing […]
House Speaker Beth Harwell Creates Legislative Task Force On Opioid Abuse
Earlier this year, House Speaker Beth Harwell (R-Nashville) created a task force on opioid and prescription drug abuse. The task force’s immediate goal was to work on legislation for the year, but its efforts will be ongoing to determine the best strategies for tackling the opioid epidemic. Tennessee is consistently ranked at the top of the […]
Tennessee Department Of Transportation Releases Updated Three-Year Bridge Funding List
Today in Nashville, State Representative Andrew Farmer (R–Sevierville) joined with the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) in announcing TDOT’s updated three-year bridge project list. The list was officially updated following passage in late April of Governor Haslam’s “Improving Manufacturing, Public Roads, and Opportunities for a Vibrant Economy” (IMPROVE) Act, a comprehensive infrastructure funding plan passed by the General Assembly […]
Attorney General Slatery Praises EPA Decision to Repeal WOTUS Rule
Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III today joined West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel, and 19 other state attorneys general in applauding the repeal of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Waters of the United States Rule (WOTUS). EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt signed a notice to withdraw the Obama-era rule. “We fully […]
Governor Haslam’s Weekly Wrap-up
Governor Haslam, Commissioner Rolfe to Make Economic Development Trip to Europe Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe will travel to Europe from June 26 to June 30 for an economic development trip designed to strengthen ties with European businesses and increase foreign direct investment (FDI) in Tennessee. […]
Tennessee AG Leads Nationwide Investigation to Combat the Opioid Crisis
Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III today announced Tennessee is one state leading a bipartisan coalition of a majority of Attorneys General from across the country as part of an effort to combat the opioid epidemic. The Attorneys General are conducting comprehensive investigations into the widespread prescribing and use of opioids, as well as the […]
Canine Influenza Detected in Dogs in Tennessee
The state veterinarian is advising dog owners to monitor their pets due to reports of canine influenza in Tennessee. The UT College of Veterinary Medicine recently confirmed detection of canine influenza (CI) in four dogs in East Tennessee. The illness in three of the dogs is believed to have originated at a dog show in […]
Representative Andrew Farmer Appointed To National Law, Criminal Justice, & Public Safety Committee
State Representative Andrew Farmer (R–Sevierville) has been appointed to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Law, Criminal Justice, and Public Safety Committee by the Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives, Beth Harwell. The NCSL Law, Criminal Justice, and Public Safety Committee addresses underlying principles for a balanced state-federal system and takes policy positions to preserve state sovereignty […]
Tennessee Department of Education Awards Nearly $5 Million to Increase Number of High Quality School Options for Students
Education Commissioner Candice McQueen has announced the 10 schools selected to receive a total of $5 million as part of the state’s Charter School Program (CSP) grants. This funding will support newly authorized, non-profit operators through start-up and replication of successful high-quality school options for students and families in Tennessee. “All of our students deserve […]
Speakers Create and Appoint Blue Ribbon Task Force on Juvenile Justice
Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge) and Speaker Beth Harwell (R-Nashville) this week announced the formation of the Joint Ad Hoc Tennessee Blue Ribbon Task Force on Juvenile Justice. The task force will be co-chaired by Speaker Harwell and Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris (R-Collierville). The task force will study, evaluate, analyze, and undertake a comprehensive review of the state’s […]
Norris Appointed to Lead Tennessee Blue Ribbon Task Force on Juvenile Justice
Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris (R-Collierville) has been appointed to co-chair Tennessee’s new Juvenile Justice Realignment Task Force that will undertake a comprehensive review of the state’s juvenile justice system. The announcement regarding the formation of the task force, which is comprised of top leaders from all three branches of Tennessee government, was made by […]
AG Slatery Urges President Trump to Protect Individual Rights from Federal Overreach
Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III is joining a coalition of 16 state attorneys general in asking President Trump to lead a regulatory reform effort to protect individual rights from regulatory overreach. In a signed letter to President Trump, the coalition, led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, says reforms are necessary to bring the […]
New Law Will Enable Tennessee To Draw Additional Federal Funds To Help Local Ambulance Services
Major legislation that will enable Tennessee to draw additional federal funds to help local ambulance services continue to transport patients was recently signed into law by Governor Bill Haslam. The new law, sponsored by Senate State and Local Government Committee Chairman Ken Yager (R-Kingston), is expected to bring in approximately $19.7 million in federal funds […]
