Jefferson County Not Exempt From Moratorium On Annexation
House Bill 475/ Senate Bill 279 will put a moratorium on annexation in the State of Tennessee. As amended in the House, the Bill, which was designed to halt annexation without public vote in areas that are not zoned commercial or industrial, would have excluded several counties in the State. Jefferson County was included in […]
“TNStars 529 Day” Means Fun Deals, Special Prizes and College Savings Incentives for Tennessee Families
Five bucks and some change will give Tennesseans access to some of the state’s best-known family-friendly attractions later this month. At select locations across the state, people can visit a minor league baseball game, a museum or zoo on May 29 for only $5.29 each. People can also register online to win prizes and perks […]
UT Extension offers Domestic Kitchen Certification Course in Nashville
Individuals who use a domestic kitchen to prepare, manufacture and sell food to the public can ensure their facilities meet Tennessee Department of Agriculture regulations through an upcoming course presented by the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture’s Department of Food Science and Technology and UT Extension. Domestic Kitchen – Tennessee Food Safety Certification, will […]
State Library and Archives Hosts Workshop on Exploring Family Trees
Many families have great stories to tell – which can often be unearthed by searching through family videos, photo albums, or journals passed down from generation to generation. However, for some people, the idea of starting such a project is daunting. The Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA) has just the event to ease the […]
Prohibition Exhibit at State Library and Archives and Online
It was the constitutional amendment that tried – often unsuccessfully – to put Americans on the path to sobriety and in the process created a booming market for Tennessee’s providers of illegal moonshine whiskey. The 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which launched the Prohibition era in 1920, was called the country’s “noble experiment.” That […]
Legislation to Curb Rx Abuse & Pill Mills Passes
Major legislation sponsored by State Representative Jeremy Faison (R-Cosby) designed to curb the abuse of prescription drugs in Tennessee is on its way to Governor Bill Haslam for his signature. Faison said the bill is a result of “comprehensive and collaborative effort by citizens, legislators, law enforcement and medical professionals to enhance and tighten the […]
Learn Facts about the Women’s Suffrage Movement in Tennessee Online
On this date 94 years ago, Mary Cordelia Beasley Hudson etched her place in history by becoming the first woman to legally vote in Tennessee. Hudson cast her vote – for the winning candidate, she proudly noted – in a Camden mayoral election just five days after a law giving women the right to vote […]
Tennessee History Day Winners Qualify for National Competition
Sixty-five students from the Volunteer State have qualified for a trip to Maryland this summer after their projects were judged the best of the best at Tennessee History Day over the weekend. History Day is an event in which students in grades six through 12 present history-themed projects in a variety of formats – including […]
Fiscally Conservative Balanced Budget Passes General Assembly
In the final week of the legislative session, the House of Representatives passed Tennessee’s annual budget with an 83 – 14 vote. The bill’s passage was the culmination of months of tireless work crafting a fiscally responsible and balanced budget. The $32.6 billion budget cuts taxes, puts $100 million in the state’s Rainy Day Fund, […]
Recent Poll Shows Strong Support For General Assembly, Education Initiatives
Tennesseans give high marks to the Governor, the Legislature, and education reforms passed into law according to a recent poll commissioned by StudentsFirst, a non-profit organization advocating reforms in public education. The group had a well-respected polling organization, Public Opinion Strategies, conduct the statewide poll to test voter attitudes about Republican lawmakers’ education reform agenda […]
Governor and Commissioner Release Transportation Improvement Plan for 2013-2016
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) Commissioner John Schroer this week released the three-year transportation program, featuring approximately $1.5 billion in infrastructure investments for 80 individual project phases in 47 counties, as well as 15 statewide programs. Tennessee is one of only five states that do not borrow money to fund […]
Young Historians Descend on Downtown Nashville for Tennessee History Day
With state employees and other downtown office workers home for the weekend, a special group of students will be converging on downtown Nashville Saturday to compete in Tennessee History Day. About 400 sixth- through 12-graders will be participating, with the winners advancing to the National History Day finals in College Park, Maryland June 9-13. History […]
Preventing Greater Uncertainty in Labor-Management Relations
Last week, the House passed legislation I introduced to address the ongoing legal chaos that surrounds the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). On January 4, 2012, President Obama made three so-called recess appointments to the NLRB while the Senate was regularly meeting in pro forma session. These appointments were unprecedented—no other president has bypassed the […]
Legislation Providing Hall Income Tax Relief for Senior Citizens Heads For Governor’s Signature
More senior citizens will qualify for Hall income tax relief under legislation approved by the Tennessee House of Representatives this week. House Bill 192 is part of Governor Bill Haslam’s legislative package to provide tax relief to citizens across the state. The Hall tax is imposed on income derived from interest on bonds, notes, and […]
Pension Reform Plan Passes House and Senate, Awaits Governor’s Signature
A set of reforms designed to improve the long-term stability of the state’s pension plan was approved by the state House of Representatives Thursday. The bill will not affect the retirement benefits for current state employees, higher education employees, or teachers or those who are already retired. The proposed changes will only apply to state […]
Tennessee’s Financial Literacy Program Seeks to Double Its Outreach Efforts
Fueled by a strong fundraising effort Tuesday night, the Tennessee Financial Literacy Commission plans to double its unique outreach efforts this year. The Financial Literacy Commission, a nonprofit organization administered by the Tennessee Treasury Department, raised more than $150,000 from private donors at a reception and dinner held at the State Capitol. Those funds, supplemented […]
