The General Assembly approves $42.6 billion budget Provides significant investments in education, health care, and economic development The House and Senate of the 112th General Assembly on Thursday successfully approved a no-debt $42.6 billion budget that provides strategic investments in education, health care, public safety and economic development initiatives. As a result of careful spending decisions and…

House Republicans pass historic criminal justice reform The Tennessee House of Representatives approved two major criminal justice reform bills this week in Nashville.  Both are proposals from Gov. Bill Lee’s legislative package and are part of his efforts to reform criminal justice in Tennessee. The bills reflect changes recommended by the Tennessee Criminal Justice Reinvestment…

Republicans welcome Sen. Lamar Alexander, Candace Owens Republicans on Monday welcomed former Governor and U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander along with conservative commentator Candace Owens to Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville. The General Assembly gathered in a joint session to present a resolution to Alexander, recognizing and honoring the senator for his lifetime of service to…

House Republicans make Covid relief tax deductible for business Tennessee businesses will be eligible to receive more pandemic assistance through a bill that will exempt relief funds from state taxes. Republican leaders on Monday night successfully guided unanimous passage of House Bill 776 which exempts Covid-19 relief payments received between March 1, 2020 and Dec. 31,…

The General Assembly approves constitutional carry House Republicans this week passed historic legislation restoring Tennesseans’ constitutional right to self-defense. House Bill 786 removes encroachments on law-abiding citizens who wish to exercise their Second Amendment right to carry a handgun while increasing penalties for criminals who steal guns or possess them illegally. Tennesseans who are at least…

Legislation strengthens state’s TANF program to assist families in achieving self-sufficiency and build a thriving Tennessee House Bill 142, legislation strengthening and improving the state’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, advanced through the Government Operations Committee on Monday. The bill was recommended by a group appointed to study possible changes to the program, which…

House Republicans propose to protect consumer privacy Republican leaders this week announced a proposal that protects Tennesseans’ right to privacy and returns control of personal information back to consumers. The Tennessee Information Protection Act requires large technology companies to fully disclose to consumers what information is being collected about them through their online activities. When consumers interact…

Republicans introduce bills protecting first responders Republican leaders this week advanced legislation aimed at further protecting first responders through the Criminal Justice Committee on Wednesday. House Bill 511 was amended to add new language under the current definition of terrorism that creates new protections for law enforcement, paramedics, firefighters, correctional officers, department of corrections…