Senate Committees Completing Business for Year

adminNews

State Senate Committees working hard to wind down the business of the 2013 legislative session NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Senate Committees worked at full steam this week as they wrapped up budget hearings for various agencies and departments of state government and moved a number of important bills to the Senate floor for final action.  The Senate Energy, Agriculture and Natural … Read More

Judiciary Committee Strengthens Rape Laws

adminNews

Legislation allows prosecutors to charge DNA profile as a person in rape cases The Senate Judiciary Committee has approved legislation by a former emergency room doctor that will give Tennessee prosecutors a new weapon in rape cases where the Statute of Limitations is about to expire.  Under the measure sponsored by Senator Mark Green, MD, (R-Clarksville), prosecutors will soon be … Read More

Tennessee Energy Independence Act advances

adminNews

The Senate Energy, Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee has approved the Tennessee Energy Independence Act which is an attempt to promote the utilization of an abundant resource of natural gas produced in the United States.  Senate Bill 852, sponsored by Senate Republican Caucus Chairman Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro), establishes a rebate program modeled after one in Pennsylvania that would pay up … Read More

Workers’ Compensation reform tops busy week on Capitol Hill

adminNews

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Legislation that reforms Tennessee’s workers’ compensation system to make the state more attractive to job creation, while protecting injured employees, topped a busy week on Capitol Hill.  Senate Bill 200 would cut costs to businesses, create more predictability, improve the efficiency of claims management, simplify the physician selection process for injured employees and reduce benefit delays to … Read More

Judicial Redistricting Consensus Plan Unveiled

adminNews

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Senate Judiciary Committee voted this week to approve a consensus plan to redraw Tennessee’s judicial districts.  Passage of Senate Bill 780 follows a press conference unveiling the plan earlier in the week attended by Supreme Court Chief Justice Gary Wade, Tennessee Trial Judges Association President Chancellor Daryl Fansler, Tennessee Judicial Conference President Robert Holloway and Tennessee Bar Association … Read More

Senate approves online public notices

adminNews

Legislation calling for online distribution of public notices by newspapers passes Senate as nation observes government “Sunshine Week” NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The State Senate has approved legislation requiring newspapers that print public notices to post them on the Internet.  Senate Bill 461 is supported by the Tennessee Press Association.  Action on the bill was taken during “Sunshine Week,” an annual time … Read More

Legislation restructures TN’s DUI laws

adminNews

Makes them easier for law enforcement, lawyers and citizens to understand  NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Senate Judiciary Committee approved legislation on Tuesday rewriting Tennessee’s DUI laws to make them more understandable by prosecutors, defense lawyers and citizens.  Senate Bill 186 comes from Tennessee Safety and Homeland Security Commissioner Bill Gibbons who said the state’s DUI laws have received so many additions … Read More

Two bills passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee build on legislature’s ongoing efforts to attack the problem of human trafficking in Tennessee

adminNews

Two bills were approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee this week that build on the legislature’s ongoing efforts to attack the problem of child prostitution and human trafficking in Tennessee.  The legislation is part of a series of bills designed to enhance penalties against those who patronize or promote the illegal act.   According to a 2011 Tennessee Bureau of … Read More

Treasurer Lillard presents changes in retirement plan for new hires

adminNews

State Treasurer David Lillard appeared before the Pension and Insurance Committee this week to present his proposal to reform the state’s Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS) pension plan.  The proposed changes, which would only affect new employees hired on or after July 1, 2014, were brought to the legislature to ensure future generations of state employees, higher education employees and … Read More

Legislation Providing Hall Income Tax Relief for Senior Citizens Passes Tax Subcommittee

adminNews

NASHVILLE, Tenn. –  More senior citizens would qualify for Hall income tax relief under legislation approved by the Senate Finance Committee’s Tax Subcommittee this week.  Senate Bill 198 is part of Governor Bill Haslam’s legislative package to provide tax relief to Tennesseans.  The package also includes Senate Bill 199 to reduce the state sales tax on food from 5.25% to … Read More