Representative Faison Files Proposed Legislation to Protect Farm Tourism Businesses from Liability
State Representative Jeremy Faison (R-Cosby) has filed proposed legislation to protect agritourism businesses from claims of property damage by participants. The proposed legislation amends a Title 43 law that was enacted as part of a sweeping tort reform movement in 2009. House Bill 2371 strengthens protections that were previously enacted to create immunity from liability […]
Tennessee Needs at Least $54.8 Billion of Public Infrastructure Improvements
Tennessee needs at least $54.8 billion worth of public infrastructure improvements during the five-year period of July 2018 to June 2023—a $4.8 billion (9.7%) increase from the year before—according to a new report by the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (TACIR). More than $3.7 billion of this year’s increase is attributable to increases in […]
Jefferson County Commission Stands Up for Property Rights, State Legislators File Proposed Bills
After County Commission made a resolution on January 21, 2020 that aims to protect private property rights, bills were filed in the Tennessee General Assembly to better protect property owners from eminent domain that is initiated by government for private benefit and economic development. The framers of the constitution limited property takings to “public use” under […]
State Senator Frank Niceley (R-Strawberry Plains) Named 2019 Senate Legislator of the Year
State Senator Frank Niceley (R-Strawberry Plains) was recently named the “2019 Senate Legislator of the Year” by the County Officials Association of Tennessee (COAT). COAT is a is a non-profit association of county clerks, state court clerks, registers of deeds, and trustees which advocate for elected officials and their constituents from all Tennessee counties. “Senator […]
168th Military Police Battalion to Deploy and Honor Local Hero
The Tennessee National Guard announced today that the Dyersburg based 168th Military Police Battalion will deploy to Cuba this winter. More than 100 Soldiers assigned to the unit have been training for over one year in preparation for their year-long deployment to Naval Station Guantanamo Bay. “The 168th is one of the most distinguished and […]
Tennessee Department of Human Services Announces Next Steps for Investing Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant Surplus
The Tennessee Department of Human Services announced next steps for investing surplus funds from the state’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant, as well as plans for responsibly maintaining the fund’s reserves. “Unprecedented growth in our state’s economy has created a sharp decline in our TANF qualified population and also generated a generous […]
Tennessee ACT Participation at All Time High
Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn announced today that a total of 63,829 students from Tennessee’s 2019 graduating class took the ACT, earning an average composite score of 20. This represents a 98 percent participation rate, which is an all-time high in the state. Of those students, 41.7 percent earned a score of 21 or higher, making […]
Department of Safety and Homeland Security To Implement Driver Services Enhancements
The Department of Safety and Homeland Security will implement the following enhancements in the highest volume centers in an effort to better serve the citizens of Tennessee: Hire additional Driver License Examiners, Road Skill Testers and Greeters, whose primary objective is to vet each person that comes to the center ensuring they have the required […]
New Crackdown on Robocalls Announced by FTC
Nashville, TN- The Tennessee Attorney General’s Office is participating in today’s “Operation Call it Quits,” a nationwide effort by the Federal Trade Commission and its law enforcement partners to stem the tide of universally loathed illegal robocalls. “Operation Call it Quits” includes four new cases and three new settlements from the FTC alone. Collectively, the […]
Department of Agriculture to Accept Additional Hemp Growing Applications
In effort to broaden the opportunity and impact of the industrial hemp program for farmers and industry, the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) is reopening the application period for industrial hemp grower and processor licenses through June 1, 2018. “This is a proactive effort to assist Tennessee farmers who are looking to diversify, and we […]
General Assembly Passes Property Tax Relief Bill For East Tennessee Fire Victims
This week in Nashville, House members passed legislation to provide additional support to East Tennessee families that had property damaged by wildfires that swept through Sevier County and surrounding areas last November. The bill calls for prorating the 2016 tax assessment for a homeowner’s real property or a business owner’s personal property, if it sustained […]
Haslam Issues Statement on Guidance Released by U.S. Departments of Justice, Education
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today issued the following statement on the guidance to schools released by the U.S. Departments of Justice and Education: “The White House itself has said what they issued last week is not an enforcement action and does not make any additional requirements under the law. Congress has the authority to write […]
Haslam Statement on Senate Bill 1556
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam made the following statement after signing Senate Bill 1556: “Although Senate Bill 1556 has received attention for its perceived focus, my job is to look at the actual substance of the legislation. After considerable thought and discussion with counselors both for and against the bill, I have decided to sign Senate […]
Injury from Falls a Leading Cause of Death for Tennessee Seniors
A simple fall may be just a nuisance for many people, but for a senior adult it can be a matter of life or death. Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam has declared September 23, 2014 as Falls Prevention Awareness Day to promote simple ways to prevent and reduce falls among older adults. “Falls and the resulting injuries can […]
GOP Divided As Some Extreme Right Take Run At TN Supreme Court – The Post Interviews Chief Justice Wade
Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Gary Wade will be in Dandridge this weekend for an open house event designed to spotlight the question of judicial retention on the upcoming August ballot. The question of judicial retention makes its way onto the ballot in eight year cycles, and the August 2014 ballot will see 23 questions […]
Governor Haslam Signs Landmark Local Government Pension Reform Bill into Law
Governor Bill Haslam has signed into law a bill that is designed to assure Tennessee local government entities fully pay the annual payment to their public employee pension plans in order to protect the financial stability of local governments and to protect workers’ pensions. This groundbreaking legislation, the first of its kind in the nation, […]
