Budget Discussion Begins On House Floor This week in Nashville, lawmakers began discussion and debate regarding the state’s annual budget amongst the full legislative body on the House floor. As originally proposed, the $37 billion budget cuts taxes, puts $132 million in the state’s Rainy Day Fund, fully funds Tennessee’s educational system, and focuses in on…

(NASHVILLE) — This week, Republican lawmakers passed legislation sponsored by State Representative Jimmy Eldridge (R—Jackson) that improves workers’ compensation benefits for Tennesseans. House Bill 325, part of Governor Haslam’s legislative package for the year, authorizes the Tennessee Bureau of Workers’ Compensation to use money from the Subsequent Injury & Vocational Recovery Fund to provide job recovery…

(NASHVILLE) — This week, Republican lawmakers passed legislation sponsored by State Representative Roger Kane (R-Knoxville) that allows American Sign Language to be used to satisfy foreign language requirements in Tennessee high schools. House Bill 462, also known as the American Sign Language Bill, was initiated by Molly Ridgeway, a nonverbal student at Maryville College, and her…