VETS Legislation Offers In-State Tuition Rates and Academic Support for Veterans Legislation creating a statewide support structure that offers in-state tuition rates for veterans pursuing higher education in Tennessee overcame its first hurdle this week with a unanimous vote from the Senate Education Committee. The Veterans Education Transition Support (VETS) Act encourages enrollment of veterans and removes barriers known to … Read More
Legislation Seeks Justice for Victims of Crime and their Families
(NASHVILLE, Tenn.), February 13, 2014 — The Senate Judiciary Committee voted to approve two bills this week to help crime victims and their families from being further victimized by an unjust court process. The vote on Senate Bills 1796 and 1797 came after compelling testimony from the families of Knoxville residents Channon Christian and Chris Newsom, who were carjacked, brutally … Read More
Governor Haslam presents conservative budget proposal prioritizing education and jobs
(NASHVILLE, Tenn.), February 6, 2014 – The budget moved front and center on Capitol Hill this week as Governor Bill Haslam presented his proposal to fund state government for the 2014-15 fiscal year that will begin in July. Haslam’s “State of the State / Budget Address” was also highlighted by the announcement of his “Tennessee Promise” legislation to make two … Read More
Environment Committee hears report on the health of Tennessee’s forests
The Senate Environment, Conservation and Tourism Committee heard testimony this week from Tennessee Forestry Commission Chairman John Ross and State Forester Jere Jeter about the health of Tennessee’s forests. Forests cover half the state and provide more than 60,000 jobs. They also help promote clean water, wildlife habitat and recreation for all Tennesseans. Ross and Jeter provided members of the … Read More
Fight Against Human Trafficking in Tennessee Continues
Senate Judiciary Committee approves legislation continuing fight against human trafficking in Tennessee The Senate Judiciary Committee approved several new anti-human trafficking laws that will raise awareness and help limit wide-ranging human trafficking activity currently taking place in the state. The General Assembly passed a series of bills addressing human trafficking after a 2011 Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) report showed … Read More
Wine in Grocery Stores Passes Senate
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 was approved 23 to 8 by the State Senate on Thursday. The referendum bill applies to communities that currently allow retail package stores, liquor-by-the-drink establishments or both. Thirty-six states, including six of Tennessee’s border states, … Read More
Beretta investing $45 million in Tennessee
World’s Oldest Firearms Manufacturer Picks Tennessee to Locate New jobs Lawmakers joined Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Beretta USA officials this week to announce the company will expand its U.S. operations by building a new firearms manufacturing plant in Tennessee. Beretta, global manufacturer of high-quality sporting and military firearms, will invest $45 million in a state-of-the-art manufacturing and R&D facility … Read More
Report says Tennessee Fiscally Sound
Despite good financial status, state has immediate and long term challenges (NASHVILLE, Tenn.), January 30, 2014 – The fiscal health of Tennessee state government is sound, according to a report released to lawmakers by Comptroller of the Treasury Justin Wilson this week. State law directs the Comptroller to make quarterly reports to the Fiscal Review Committee concerning the state’s financial … Read More
Drug Abuse is focus of Capitol Hill Week
(NASHVILLE, Tenn.), January 23, 2014 – Senate Committees heard a variety of reports this week, including an update on the state’s war on prescription drug abuse. Dr. Robert Pack, Professor and Associate Dean of the East Tennessee State University College of Medicine, told members of the Senate Health and General Welfare Committee that the state’s Controlled Substance Monitoring Database shows … Read More
Traffic fatalities are down by 33 percent in Tennessee over the past decade
Tim Wright and Don Lindsey from the American Automobile Association (AAA) and Kendall Poole from the Governor’s Highway Safety Office updated the Senate Transportation Committee this week with good news regarding the safety status of Tennessee’s roads. Traffic fatalities have gone down by 33 percent from 2003 to 2013. A major contributing factor in reducing highway deaths is that 84.8 … Read More