State Library and Archives to Host “Chronicles of the Cumberland Settlements” Workshop
As the 1700s drew to a close, the Revolutionary War was over, but life was far from peaceful in places like Tennessee’s Cumberland Valley. Settlers in the region fought against various Native American tribes, haggled with North Carolina over territory and wrangled with the Spaniards over control of the area’s waterways. That period in Tennessee’s […]
Commissioner Hagerty Addresses East TN Megasite During TN State House Budget Hearings
The Jefferson County Budget Committee is heading into the Budgeting season for the 2013-2014 fiscal year. In addition to the usual requests that are presented to the Budget Committee, EDOC by way of the Industrial Development Board is expected to request nearly $2 million additional dollars to continue the certification process for the proposed Megasite. […]
House Republicans Seek Changes To Legislative Per Diem
A bill that seeks to change the way per diems are granted to lawmakers in the Tennessee General Assembly moved out of the House Finance, Ways and Means Subcommittee this week. House Bill 80 will eliminate the lodging reimbursement for members living within a 50-mile radius of the Capitol. Currently, all members of the General […]
Republican Lawmakers Continue Push To Improve Tennessee Education
A proposal presented by Governor Bill Haslam and Republican lawmakers to improve education in Tennessee easily cleared the House Education Subcommittee this week. House Bill 190, referred to as the ‘Tennessee Choice & Opportunity Scholarship Act’, would give low-income families with students stuck in the lowest performing schools the opportunity to seek educational options outside […]
State Treasurer David Lillard Proposes Fiscally Responsible Pension Reform
State Treasurer David Lillard this week outlined his proposal to reform the state’s pension plan, the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS), to ensure future generations will receive the benefits promised to them during their time as state employees. The proposed changes, which would only affect new employees hired on or after July 1 of 2014, […]
Tennessee Roads & Bridges Rank High in 20 Year Report
A new study by the Reason Foundation examining 20 years of highway data finds Tennessee has improved in all seven key areas studied, one of only 11 states to do so. The report, “Are Highways Crumbling? State Performance Summaries”, looked at state highway data from 1989 through 2008. The report measures road performance in several […]
Treasurer Lillard Discusses Future of State Employee and K-12 Teachers Pension Plan
State Treasurer David H. Lillard, Jr. is recommending that the General Assembly adopt a number of reforms to the state’s retirement plan for public employees. The Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS) is a well-funded pension plan. The proposed changes will only apply to state employees, higher education employees, and teachers hired on or after July […]
TN House Representative Faison on Property Rights, Gun Rights & Small Business
Tennessee House Representative Jeremy Faison of District 11, which includes a portion of Jefferson County, has spent a considerable amount of time in Nashville recently as the 108th Tennessee General Assembly is currently in session. Though this is Faison’s sophomore year as a Representative, due to redistricting, it is his first term as a Representative […]
Constitutional Officers Tout Tennessee Financial Success
This week, State Treasurer David Lillard and Comptroller of the Treasury Justin P. Wilson discussed the positive financial position of Tennessee state government. Both Constitutional Officers credit the financial success the state has experienced over the last two years to conservative fiscal policies implemented by Governor Bill Haslam and the Tennessee General Assembly. Despite a poor […]
Faison’s Safe Commute Bill Sails Through Committee
Representative Jeremy Faison – (R) Cosby, passed HB 118 through the Civil Justice Committee on Wednesday. The “Safe Commute” bill is set to be heard on the House floor on Thursday, February 28, 2013. This bill creates an exemption for carry permit holders to store their firearms in a locked vehicle, out of sight, in […]
Common Core Leadership Council Begins Second Year of Work
Following the success of Tennessee’s first Common Core Leadership Council, the department of education today announces a new group of principals, supervisors and superintendents who will give districts a voice in the statewide transition to the Common Core State Standards. The new Leadership Council will advise the department on the Common Core transition plan and […]
Tennessee January Revenues
Tennessee tax collections continued an overall upward trend in January, even though sales tax collections were worse than the previous year. January sales tax collections represent retail activity that occurred during December. Finance and Administration Commissioner Mark Emkes today announced that overall January revenues were $1.1 billion, which is $15.4 million more than the state […]
Norris “LEAP” Law to Educate and Employ Tennesseans
Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris (R-Collierville) has filed legislation creating an innovative statewide initiative merging traditional college coursework with technical training to address the skilled labor shortage faced by Tennessee employers. Senate Bill 1330 creates the Labor Education Alignment Program (LEAP) allowing students at Tennessee’s technology centers and community colleges the opportunity to combine occupational […]
Senate Bills Could Have Wide Impact on Tennessee Elections and Directors of Schools
The 108th Tennessee General Assembly is in Session and there have been a significant number of Bills introduced for consideration. Two Bills that will have widespread impact on voters in Tennessee came from District 8 Senator Frank Niceley. Senator Niceley has sponsored a total of 47 Bills since January 30, 2013, including SB0471 and SB0916. […]
New 2013 State Maps Now Available
The official 2013 Tennessee Transportation Map is now available for travelers. This year’s map contains new information to assist motorists, including the recently completed State Route 840 in southern Middle Tennessee. This is the first state map in 26 years to show the completed route that bypasses Nashville and provides access to Interstate 40 east […]
State Library and Archives Commemorates Black History Month with Updated Online Exhibit
In celebration of Black History Month, the Tennessee State Library and Archives is introducing a greatly expanded version of one of its most popular online exhibits: “This Honorable Body: African American Legislators in 19th Century Tennessee.” Available at http://tn.gov/tsla/exhibits/blackhistory/index.htm, the revised exhibit offers many intriguing new features. The original site was created in 2006 at […]
