General Skrmetti Takes Next Step in Lawsuit against Biden Administration
To prevent a new U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) rule from inflicting substantial financial damage on the American people, Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, in partnership with 24 other state attorneys general, took the next step in his previously announced lawsuit against President Biden’s administration by filing a motion for preliminary injunction. The DOL rule […]
General Skrmetti Joins Coalition in Lawsuit Against US AG Garland, ATF on Pistol Brace Rule
Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti joined a 24-state coalition in filing a lawsuit against U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and its director that seeks to enjoin a recently issued final rule governing “Stabilizing Braces,” commonly known as pistol braces. The rule, called Factoring Criteria for Firearms with […]
Summer Food Service Program Sponsor Application Period Opens for 2023
The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) is announcing its participation in the 2023 Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and the opening of this year’s application period. The goal of the Summer Food Service Program is to ensure children 18 and younger, who benefit from meal programs at school, continue to have that same access […]
TDOE, TERA Releases 2022 Tennessee Educator Survey Results
Today, the Tennessee Department of Education and Tennessee Education Research Alliance (TERA) released key findings and responses from the 2022 Tennessee Educator Survey from more than 39,000 educators, totaling over half of the state’s educator population. Responses from the 2022 survey are vital to informing the state’s work on improving educator experiences in Tennessee. As […]
Attorney General Skrmetti Calls on Congress to Rein in the Biden Administration’s Emergency Covid Powers
Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti joined a coalition of 15 state attorneys general in calling on Congressional leaders to end President Biden’s Administration’s continued use of pandemic emergency powers. Though President Biden himself has declared that “the pandemic is over,” his Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continue […]
Tennessee Joins DOJ in Filing Complaint against Google Regarding Harmful Advertising Practices
Nashville- Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti announced today he joined the Department of Justice and seven state attorneys general in filing a civil antitrust suit against Google. The complaint alleges Google has monopolized multiple key digital advertising technologies, collectively referred to as the “ad tech stack.” Website publishers and advertisers depend on this technology to […]
Grow Your Own Teacher Apprenticeship Opportunities Continue to Strengthen Tennessee’s Educator Pipeline
Today, the Tennessee Department of Education announced additional registered teacher occupation programs are now available for aspiring educators through Tennessee’s Grow Your Own (GYO) initiative—immediately expanding opportunity to train future teachers and strengthening the teacher pipeline in Tennessee. To further strengthen the state’s educator pipeline, two additional educator preparation providers (EPPs) – the University of Memphis and Arete Memphis […]
Gov. Lee Delivers Second Inaugural Speech – ‘Tennessee: Leading the Nation’
Today, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee addressed Tennesseans during his second inauguration at 11 a.m. CT on Legislative Plaza. His remarks as prepared for delivery are below: Thank you to every person here – for being here today to celebrate our great state and her rich history. Lt. Governor McNally, Speaker Sexton, members of the General […]
Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti Files Amicus Brief in Opposition to VA’s New Abortion Rule
Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti announced today he joined a coalition of 17 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief in the Western District of Texas in the case of Carter v. McDonough. In September 2022, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) reversed long-standing agency practice and adopted an interim final rule that purports to authorize […]
TDMHSAS Celebrates Successful Launch of 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS) is releasing new data showing the response to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in the state. The three-digit number for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline launched in mid-July 2022 after two years of planning, preparation, and expansion. In Tennessee, that included distributing about […]
Tennessee Ends 2022 with Continued Low Unemployment
Tennessee ended 2022 with continued low unemployment across the state. The seasonally adjusted rate for December came in at 3.5%, which was unchanged from November. For the entirety of 2022, the statewide unemployment rate reached a low of 3.2% and never went above 3.5%. In a year-to-year comparison, the statewide unemployment rate is down 0.1 […]
Tennessee Promotes “Healthy Communities, Healthy Babies” for National Birth Defects Awareness Month
The Tennessee Department of Health is recognizing National Birth Defects Awareness Month in January 2023 to encourage healthy choices and habits for prospective parents to help lower their risk of having babies born with birth defects. Birth defects are structural changes that can affect almost any part of the body. In Tennessee, more than 3,000 […]
Gov. Lee Unveils Transportation Plan for Rural and Urban Tennessee
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee presented his administration’s strategic infrastructure plan to accommodate Tennessee’s record growth, address traffic congestion and meet transportation needs across rural and urban communities. In the coming weeks, the Lee administration will introduce the Transportation Modernization Act of 2023. Tennesseans are invited to view the full presentation here. “As Tennessee continues to experience tremendous […]
TennCare to Restart Renewals
Congress passed legislation which will end the Medicaid continuous enrollment requirement related to the COVID-19 pandemic on April 1, 2023. At that time TennCare will be required to reverify the eligibility status of everyone receiving TennCare or CoverKids benefits. One of TennCare’s top priorities during this process is to make sure all eligible members do […]
VITAL POLICY – Gardenhire Files Bill to Expand School Vouchers in Tennessee, Legal Claims of ESA Opponents Exhausted
After a lengthy court battle, Education Savings Accounts (ESAs), commonly called school vouchers, are available to parents in two Tennessee counties under a pilot program narrowly approved by the legislature in 2019. ESAs provide low and middle-income families with vouchers so they can move their children to private schools. Multiple Tennessee senate members aim to […]
Study Examines Increased Reliance on Temporary Staff in Long-Term Care Facilities
A new study by the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office of Research and Education Accountability examines the use of temporary nursing staff by nursing home and assisted care facilities. The use of temporary staffing agencies has sharply increased over the last few years due to worsening staffing shortages resulting from the effects of the pandemic. In 2019, […]
