Tennesseans Invited to Comment on Charging to Inspect Public Records
The Office of Open Records Counsel (OORC) has been asked by the Tennessee General Assembly to review issues surrounding the inspection of public records, and the office is asking Tennesseans to weigh in. Legislation was introduced in the 2015 Session of the 109th General Assembly that would permit charges for inspecting public records. While a […]
TDEC Issues Administrative Order Against TVA
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) issued a Commissioner’s Order today to the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) directing the investigation, assessment and remediation of all coal ash disposal sites across Tennessee. This Order follows the federal coal combustion residual (CCR) rule, and not only ensures the state is kept abreast of TVA’s progress […]
New Safety Measures, Faster Handgun Permit Process for Military
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam, along with Adjutant General Max Haston and Safety and Homeland Security Commissioner Bill Gibbons, announced today temporary security measures and an accelerated handgun carry permit process for members of the military. Following Haslam’s directive in the wake of the tragic shooting in Chattanooga last week, the Tennessee National Guard, starting on […]
Directive by Gov. Bill Haslam
Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam today issued a directive to Adjutant General Max Haston to review security policies and procedures at National Guard armories, storefront recruiting facilities, and other installations and take appropriate steps to ensure the safety of Guardsmen, citizens, and property. He also instructed Department of Safety and Homeland Security Commissioner Bill Gibbons to […]
Tennessee Promise Saturday at Tennessee State Parks
Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) Commissioner Bob Martineau, in partnership with Governor Haslam’s Drive to 55 initiative, today announced Tennessee Promise Saturday, a student volunteer day to be held in all Tennessee State Parks on Saturday, July 18. The Tennessee Promise, part of Governor Haslam’s Drive to 55 initiative to increase the number of […]
Tennessee Becomes 17th State to Allow Terminally Ill Access to Investigational Medications
Governor Bill Haslam has signed HB0143—the Tennessee Right To Try Act into law. The Right To Try Act allows doctors to prescribe treatments to the terminally ill that are being used in clinical trials but are not yet on pharmacy shelves. Right To Try expands access to potentially life-saving treatments years before patients would normally […]
Haslam Announces Federal Disaster Assistance for 35 Counties
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam announced today the federal government will provide assistance to 35 counties still recovering from the severe winter storm of February 15 to February 22, 2015, that took 30 lives and caused widespread damage. “This deadly and devastating storm required a comprehensive and coordinated response from many, and this federal assistance will […]
TACIR Report Recommends Changes to Tennessee’s Annexation Laws
An unprecedented moratorium on most annexation in Tennessee will soon be lifted, and a new scheme requiring consent from landowners or referendums for all annexations will go into effect. The state legislature made this change in 2014 and tasked a state policy group, the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations, with reviewing the new law […]
Former Grainger Co. School Bookkeeper Admits to Gift Card Scheme
Tennessee Comptroller investigators have discovered at least $1,515.16 is missing from Bean Station Elementary School in Grainger County. Investigators learned the former bookkeeper at Bean Station Elementary School used a school provided credit card to purchase $515 in gift cards that she later used to buy fuel for her personal vehicle. The former bookkeeper […]
State Library and Archives’ ‘Heritage Project’ Finalist for National Award
A program launched by the Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA) to produce short documentaries of the people, places and events that make Tennessee distinctive is one of four finalists for a national award. TSLA’s Tennessee State Heritage Project is in the running for the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) IDEAS Award. IDEAS […]
$1.375 Billion State-Federal Settlement with Standard & Poor’s
Tennessee Attorney General Herbert Slatery announced today that Tennessee, the U.S. Department of Justice, 18 states and the District of Columbia have reached a settlement with Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (S&P) resolving allegations that S&P misled investors when it rated structured finance securities in the lead-up to the 2008 financial crisis. The settlement […]
State Representative Jeremy Faison Introduces Bill to Decriminalize Cannabis Oil
State Representative Jeremy Faison (R–Cosby) officially filed House Bill 197 today in Nashville, a piece of legislation designed to decriminalize the possession of cannabis oil in Tennessee for the purpose of treating children who suffer from intractable, life-threatening seizures. The motivation behind filing House Bill 197 by Representative Faison occurred after learning of the plight […]
Applications Now Available for Industrial Hemp Production
The Tennessee Department of Agriculture is now accepting applications from farmers and producers interested in growing industrial hemp. In 2013, the Tennessee General Assembly enacted Public Chapter 916 tasking the department with development of a licensing and inspection program for the production of industrial hemp in Tennessee. As provided in Sec. 7606 of the 2014 […]
Andrew Farmer Officially Sworn In; Appointed Chairman of House Criminal Justice Subcommittee
The House of Representatives officially gaveled into session this week, marking the beginning of the 109th General Assembly in Tennessee. As part of the opening day ceremonies, State Representative Andrew Farmer (R–Sevierville) took the oath of office and was officially sworn into the Tennessee House of Representatives. In addition, Rep. Farmer was appointed as Chairman […]
New 2015 State Maps Now Available
The official 2015 Tennessee Transportation Map is now available for travelers. This year’s map contains new information to assist motorists, and features a special cover to commemorate the Tennessee Department of Transportation’s centennial. The 2015 map contains historical photographs that look back at the development of Tennessee’s highway system over the last 100 years. It […]
Representative Faison Officially Sworn In as Member of 109th General Assembly
The House of Representatives today officially gaveled into session, marking the beginning of the 109th General Assembly in Tennessee. As part of the opening day ceremonies, Representative Jeremy Faison (R-Cosby) took the oath of office and was officially sworn into the Tennessee House of Representatives. Legislators are looking to build upon the success of the […]
