News

(NASHVILLE, Tenn.), March 6, 2014 – Passage of key legislation in the Senate Education Committee, including a bill rewriting the state’s Textbook Commission, topped a busy week on Capitol Hill. The commission, which is responsible for recommending an official list of textbooks for approval by the State Board of Education, came under fire by a group of parents last year … Read More

The Senate Judiciary Committee have approved legislation that would repeal the statute of limitations for rape, aggravated rape, rape of a child and aggravated rape of a child, as long as law enforcement or the district attorney general has been notified within three years of the offense. Senate Bill 2084 also provides a certain degree of retroactivity for claims in … Read More

Legislation that would let Tennesseans in certain communities vote on whether to allow the sale of wine in retail food stores via a local referendum has been sent to the governor for his signature. Action on the Senate Bill 837 came after the Senate approved amendments placed on the bill by the House of Representatives. Those amendments change the minimum … Read More

The Senate Finance Committee approved a pension reform bill this week for governmental entities outside the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS) to help ensure they have the adequate funding to pay retirees. Senate Bill 2079 requires that TCRS and each local government entity with a defined benefit pension plan calculate an actuarially determined contribution (ADC) which will include normal costs … Read More

(NASHVILLE, Tenn.), February 27, 2014 – Senate Committees worked at “full steam” this week as State Senators examined the budgets of thirteen agencies and departments of state government and approved a number of important bills. Among key legislation approved on final consideration this week was a bill creating a statewide support structure that offers in-state tuition rates for veterans pursuing … Read More

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted unanimously this week to approve a resolution calling for a convention of the states pursuant to Article V of the U.S. Constitution to require Congress to balance the federal budget each year. Joint Resolution 493 states that, in the absence of a congressional declaration of war or an economic recession, the total of all federal … Read More

TBI Releases New Report State Senators gave final approval to another bill in the legislative package designed to curb human trafficking in Tennessee. Under present law, the statute of limitations for prosecution for the offense of trafficking a child for a commercial sex act, soliciting sexual exploitation of a minor, or exploitation of a minor by electronic means is no … Read More

Legislation aims to attract new business to the state Legislation which is designed to help attract new businesses to the state met approval in the Senate Commerce Committee this week. Senate Bill 1763 allows new companies coming to Tennessee to base their unemployment insurance premiums on the past history of the state from which they are relocating. Under present law, … Read More

(NASHVILLE, Tenn.), February 20, 2014 – It was a short, but busy week on Capitol Hill as lawmakers returned from observing the President’s Day holiday to act on a wide variety of issues. Meanwhile, Senate Committees concentrated on reviewing the budget requests of several departments and agencies of state government this week. Among departments presenting their budget to committees was … Read More

The Senate State and Local Government Committee has approved legislation to help ensure that delegates to any future convention called to propose an amendment to the U.S. Constitution would be “faithful to” limits imposed by the Tennessee General Assembly.  The “Faithful Delegate” bill is similar in purpose to legislation in other states to ensure that Presidential Electors remain faithful to … Read More