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 […]
Disaster Recovery Request Approved By Small Business Administration
Following up on an inquiry by Governor Bill Haslam for disaster assistance after severe storms passed through several Tennessee counties in late January, the Small Business Administration formally approved the request earlier this week. This disaster declaration by the SBA provides access to low-interest loans for homeowners, businesses, and non-profit organizations affected by the January […]
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 […]
15 bill limit drastically reduces legislation filed
Republican House Speaker Beth Harwell announced this week that the number of bills filed for this legislative year have been drastically reduced due to the 15 bill limit approved by lawmakers in January. With the bill filing deadline having passed late last week, records show only 1,339 House bills were filed. The first session of […]
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 […]
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 […]
Department of Economic & Community Development Gives Positive State Outlook
During House budget hearings this week, Commissioner of Economic and Community Development Bill Hagerty presented lawmakers with a positive overview of the success Tennessee has had over the last several months in creating an environment statewide where businesses have the opportunity to grow and thrive. Since the election of Governor Haslam, Hagerty announced, nearly 80,000 […]
MADD Partners with Lawmakers to Advocate for Ignition Interlock Legislation
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) joined with legislators this week to call for the advancement of House Bill 353, a piece of legislation which would update state law to require the installation of ignition interlock devices for all future convicted drunk drivers in Tennessee. Interlock devices are small pieces of equipment attached to the steering […]
Governor Haslam Requests Disaster Recovery Assistance
Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam formally requested assistance from the Small Business Administration (SBA) to help individuals and businesses in Henderson, Carroll, Chester, Decatur, Hardin and Madison Counties recover from wind, tornado and flooding damages that occurred on January 29, 2013. The assistance, if approved by the SBA, will come in the form of low-interest disaster […]
Crime Prevention Bills Score First Legislative Victory
Republican lawmakers on the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee this week passed a series of bills which continue the push for crime prevention in Tennessee. Building on the success Republicans had during the 2011-2012 legislative session to cut down on crime across the state, this new crime prevention package addresses issues related to crimes against children, […]
State Library and Archives Exhibits Go on the Road
Visitors to Collierville’s public library can learn about some of the state’s most horrific natural and human-caused disasters from an exhibit on loan from the Tennessee State Library and Archives. The “Disasters in Tennessee” exhibit will be on display at the Lucius E. and Elsie C. Burch, Jr. Library, 501 Poplar View Parkway in Collierville, […]
State gets Federal Grant to help Expand Juvenile Court Screening Project
The state was recently awarded a federal Transformation Transfer Initiative (TTI) grant of $221,000 that will be used by the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS) to expand the juvenile court screening project, which will be led by Dr. Jeff Feix, Director of the Office of Forensic and Juvenile Court Services […]
