(NASHVILLE) -- Monday evening, House members unanimously passed legislation co-sponsored by Representative Dale Carr (R-Sevierville) and Representative Andrew Farmer (R-Sevierville) that provides additional support to East Tennessee families whose properties were damaged by last November’s wildfires. House Bill 52 calls for prorating the 2016 tax assessment for a homeowner's real property or business owner's personal property,…

(NASHVILLE) — State Representative Dan Howell (R–Georgetown) has scored a major win with the official passage of legislation designed to combat welfare fraud in Tennessee. Once passed by the Senate, the bill will travel to the desk of Governor Bill Haslam to be signed into law. House Bill 227, referred to as the Program Integrity Act,…

(NASHVILLE) – Speaker Beth Harwell (R-Nashville) has appointed Sevier County Mayor Larry Waters to TACIR, the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Affairs. The commission consists of public officials from state and local government as well as private citizens whose primary mission is to provide research and in-depth analysis to improve the overall quality and effectiveness of…

(NASHVILLE) — This week, lawmakers unanimously passed legislation sponsored by House Republican Caucus Chairman Ryan Williams (R-Cookeville) aimed at increasing private employment opportunities for military veterans and their families. House Bill 165 encourages private employers to hire honorably discharged veterans, spouses of a veteran with a service-connected disability, unremarried widows or widowers of veterans who…

(NASHVILLE) – As House Republicans boost their efforts to combat the opioid and prescription drug epidemic in Tennessee, Representative Mary Littleton (R-Dickson) has introduced new legislation that would impose tougher penalties on illegal opioid and prescription drug suppliers. House Bill 786 would enable law enforcement to charge illegal suppliers with voluntary manslaughter when they cause death…

(NASHVILLE) — Monday evening, House members passed a joint resolution carried by House Republican Caucus Chairman Ryan Williams (R-Cookeville) that designates this April as “Child Abuse Prevention Month” in Tennessee. House Joint Resolution 32 raises awareness of child abuse and neglect issues throughout the state. It also establishes prevention and support for children and parents in…

Legislation Seeks to Provide At-Cost Tuition to Designated Individuals Representative Bryan Terry, MD (R-Murfreesboro) and State Senator Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville) announced the "Blood, Sweat, and Tears Tuition Act", a measure to allow certain individuals to receive "at-cost" tuition at Tennessee public universities. It is believed to be a landmark piece of legislation that has not…

(NASHVILLE) — House Majority Leader Glen Casada (R–Thompson’s Station) announced this week that State Representative Jay Reedy (R–Erin) has been chosen to shepherd House Bill 299 through the legislative process on behalf of Republican leadership. House Bill 299 is part of Governor Haslam’s legislative package for the year, which is traditionally handled by the House Majority…