1404, 2019

Senate Judiciary Committee votes to strengthen Tennessee’s pro-life stance with approval of Human Life Protection Act

(NASHVILLE, Tenn.), April 11, 2019 –  The Senate Judiciary Committee voted this week to strengthen Tennessee’s pro-life stance with approval of the Human Life Protection Act.  Senate Bill 1257 seeks to proactively trigger the restoration of Tennessee’s abortion law prior to the Roe v. Wade ruling, if and when the power to regulate abortion is returned to the states, to protect the life of unborn children. When the United States

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3103, 2019

In Brief: 3/31/2019

In Brief Statewide Standardization / Food and Drink Regulations – A bill was approved by State Senators this week continuing legislative efforts to protect Tennessee’s top status as a business-friendly state.  Senate Bill 431 would prevent a patchwork of local ordinances from hundreds of jurisdictions in Tennessee governing the sale or use of such items as straws, plastic bags and the regulation of food item content, like the “big gulp”

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3103, 2019

Senate Commerce Committee approves “Katie Beckett Waiver Bill” to expand TennCare coverage for in-home care to children with severe disabilities

Legislation seeking to expand TennCare coverage for in-home care for children with severe disabilities, regardless of their parents’ income, overcame its first hurdle this week with unanimous approval by the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee.  Action on Senate Bill 476 followed powerful testimony from parents struggling to provide home care for severely disabled children with acute needs and whose incomes exceed current TennCare limits.  In order to implement the TennCare

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3103, 2019

Senate gives final approval to key bills in Governor Bill Lee’s legislative package

Final Senate approval was given to several key bills in Governor Bill Lee’s legislative package this week on a wide range of issues from attacking Tennessee’s deadliest illegal drug to providing students with more work-based and apprentice opportunities, giving them a jumpstart on a high-demand career.  Other measures passed by the Senate include a criminal justice reform measure and bills to increase the supplement provided to police and firefighters for

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3103, 2019

State Senators approve legislation continuing General Assembly’s ongoing efforts to combat Human Trafficking

(NASHVILLE, Tenn.), March 28, 2019 –  Several bills continuing the Tennessee General Assembly’s ongoing efforts to combat human trafficking advanced this week.  While the crime is largely underreported, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) Director David Raush testified to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday that 98 cases of human trafficking were opened in the state last year, 75 of which involved minors.  Experts believe, however, that as many as 94

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2203, 2019

In Brief: 3/22/2019

Opioid Prescribing Practices — The full Senate approved legislation this week amending limits placed on opioid prescriptions under the TN Together legislation approved by the General Assembly last year.  The purpose of the bill is to remove unintended barriers that could prevent patients receiving post-operative and palliative care medications from receiving legitimate, effective pain management treatment, while still keeping opioids out of the hands of abusers. Senate Bill 810 allows

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2203, 2019

State Senators continue efforts to support veterans and their families through legislative initiatives

Tennessee has received high marks from veterans’ groups for legislation enacted to support service members and their families over the last several years. This week, the Senate passed legislation continuing these efforts. This includes Senate Bill 1197 which aims to make the relocation process smoother for military families. The legislation allows a dependent child of a service member who is relocated to Tennessee on a military order to enroll in

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2203, 2019

Senate takes action on key education bills

(NASHVILLE, Tenn.), March 21, 2019 –  State senators approved several key education bills this week, including three proposals to increase school safety, a bill improving the state’s public charter school authorization process and a measure enhancing agricultural education.  Senate committees also conducted hearings on the proposed budgets of 14 departments and agencies of state government, as lawmakers continue a thorough review of Governor Bill Lee’s spending plan for the 2019-2020

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0903, 2019

3/9/2019: In Brief

Mental Health Parity — A resolution calling for mental health parity was approved by the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee this week.  Senate Joint Resolution 181 states that substance use disorder and opioid use disorder are diseases and should be insured in the same manner as other diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.  More than two million people in the United States suffer from substance use disorders related to

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0903, 2019

Bills approved in Senate Committees aid firefighters and police officers

Senate committees approved two separate bills this week aiding firefighters and police officers.  Senate Bill 1442 creates a presumption that any conditions or impairments of full-time firefighters caused by certain occupational cancers occurred while on the job, and establishes eligibility for worker’s compensation benefits. The cancers include non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, colon cancer, skin cancer or multiple myeloma. Eligible firefighters must have been exposed to heat, smoke, and fumes; or carcinogenic, poisonous,

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