News

The State Senate acted on several bills this week that crack down on sex offenders, including legislation to make it less attractive for those convicted of the crime to move to Tennessee. Senate Bill 2398 allows any county or city to establish a community notification system by a two-thirds vote of the local legislative body. This community notification system will … Read More

The Senate State and Local Government Committee has approved legislation to help senior citizens who participate in Tennessee’s property tax freeze program. Senate Bill 1128 requires the base tax for property tax freeze programs to be recalculated in any year in which the actual tax due is less than the previously established base tax for the property. Currently, it is … Read More

“Erin’s Law” which focuses on preventing child sexual abuse met final Senate approval this week. Senate Bill 2421 encourages schools across the state to provide age-appropriate instruction to students on personal body safety and how to report sexual abuse, including occurrences that could potentially happen in the home. The bill is named after Erin Merryn, an Illinois native who was … Read More

(NASHVILLE, Tenn.), March 27, 2014 — The State Senate approved a wide range of legislation this week, including several key bills aimed at improving education in Tennessee. Meanwhile, the Education and Commerce and Labor Committees have completed their business, joining three other standing Senate Committees which had already closed for the 2014 legislative session. This means that action will shift … Read More

Legislation which aims to prevent electric shock injuries and drowning deaths near marinas and boat docks in Tennessee has received final approval in the State Senate with all members signing on the bill. The “Noah Dean and Nate Act” requires marinas to install ground fault protection, post notices about the danger of electrical leakage into waters surrounding a marina, and … Read More

The Tennessee Senate overwhelmingly approved three key bills on Monday that will block federal intrusion into Tennessee’s curriculum, reform the state’s textbook commission and prevent data-mining of student information in the state’s public schools. Passage of the legislation comes after the Senate Education Committee conducted fact-finding hearings last year to address concerns regarding Common Core. The Committee also held multiple … Read More

(NASHVILLE, Tenn.), March 20, 2014 — Some of the most important bills of the 2014 legislative session advanced in the Senate this week as committees are working to complete their business in anticipation of adjournment in April. This includes two major bills approved by the Senate State and Local Government Committee which vouchsafe citizens’ right to vote prior to annexation. … Read More

The House and the Senate has approved and sent to the governor legislation amending Tennessee’s “Right to Farm Act” to help farmers who supplement their income through agritourism. The bill expands the definition of “agriculture” under current law to include entertainment activities conducted in conjunction with, but secondary to, commercial production of farm products and nursery stock. Agritourism, or agricultural … Read More

Legislation to help ensure that physicians and their patients have more information regarding what their health insurance covers and the protocols necessary to receive preauthorization approval has been approved by the State Senate. Senate Bill 1142 amends the state’s “Utilization Review Act” by requiring that healthcare insurers, or third party payers, publish or post on the Internet at least the … Read More

(NASHVILLE, Tenn.), March 13, 2014 — The legislative pace quickened on Capitol Hill this week as several important bills to combat the manufacture of methamphetamine in Tennessee advanced out of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The action came after compelling testimony was heard from the state’s top law enforcement authorities about the scope of the problem and its impact on users, … Read More