0903, 2019

Budget proposal includes initiatives to modernize health care and make it more affordable

Governor Bill Lee announced several initiatives in his State of the State / Budget Address on Monday to modernize health care and make it more affordable.  This includes providing $11 million in new funds to serve thousands of additional vulnerable Tennesseans in the state’s Behavioral Health Safety Net and Regional Mental Institutes not covered by insurance.  It also provides $8.6 million to fund graduate medical education at Tennessee’s medical schools

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0903, 2019

Senate Judiciary Committee votes to strengthen penalties for trafficking fentanyl and its derivatives

Gov. Lee outlines public safety initiatives in State of the State / Budget Address The Senate Judiciary Committee approved legislation this week strengthening penalties for possessing or trafficking fentanyl, carfentanil, sufentanil, remifentanil, or any analogues, mirroring the same weights used to define punishments for heroin.  Senate Bill 798 makes it a Class B felony to knowingly manufacture, deliver or sell 15 grams or more of these substances, while penalties would

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0903, 2019

Proposed budget prioritizes education improvements

GIVE Act expanding access to vocational and technical training advances through the Senate Education Committee The centerpiece of Governor Lee’s 2019-2020 budget is funding for a series of proposals designed to improve education opportunities for Tennessee students, preparing them for the jobs of the future. This includes $25 million for the Governor’s Investment in Vocation Education (GIVE) Act, expanding access to vocational and technical training for Tennessee students.  The legislation

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0903, 2019

Governor Lee presents conservative budget proposal highlighting job growth, public safety and education improvements

(NASHVILLE, Tenn.), March 7, 2019 –  Governor Bill Lee presented his first State of the State / Budget Address to the General Assembly Monday evening outlining his proposals for the 2019-2020 budget year.  The proposed budget continues Tennessee’s strong fiscal stewardship which has earned the state triple-A bond ratings with the nation’s top credit rating agencies and recognition as one of the best financially managed states in the U.S.  It

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0103, 2019

3/1/2019: In Brief…

More jobs coming to the Volunteer State – Two major job announcements this week show Tennessee is open for business, as the Volunteer State continues to enjoy historic low unemployment rates.  JNJ Express announced that the transportation company will invest $83.6 million and create 610 jobs over the next five years by expanding their operations in Memphis.  The other announcement was by the ICEE Company, who plans to invest $10.3

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0103, 2019

Legislation seeks to protect children from child abuse

Legislation aiming to protect child abuse victims advanced in the Senate Judiciary Committee this week.  Senate Bill 1403 amends current reporting requirements and expedites response time when a referral is made by a health or education professional.  The purpose of this bill is to get the eyes on the child as soon as possible to avoid further injury from the alleged perpetrator. The bill was prompted by the Tennessee District

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0103, 2019

Gov. Bill Lee prepares to give State of State / Budget Address on Monday

Announces major mental health, suicide prevention and criminal justice initiatives Governor Bill Lee announced major mental health, suicide prevention and criminal justice initiatives this week as he gets ready to give his first State of State / Budget Address on Capitol Hill Monday night.  The governor is also preparing regional State of the State addresses in Knoxville on Tuesday and in Memphis on Thursday.  On mental health, Gov. Lee is

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0103, 2019

Legislation seeks to reform and streamline state’s death penalty process by expediting appeals straight to the State Supreme Court

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted this week to reform the state’s death penalty appeals process by expediting cases straight to the Tennessee Supreme Court, eliminating an intermediate step to the Court of Criminal Appeals.  Senate Bill 400, the Sergeant Daniel Baker Act, is named for a Dickson County Sheriff’s officer who was brutally murdered during a traffic stop.  The killer then moved Baker’s car to a field where he set

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0103, 2019

Struggling hospitals in Tennessee hurt by flawed federal Medicare reimbursement formula

(NASHVILLE, Tenn.), February 28, 2019 – A resolution asking the federal government to change the flawed reimbursement formula currently paid to Tennessee hospitals for Medicare patients was approved by the full Senate on Thursday.  Enactment of a fair reimbursement rate would help struggling hospitals in Tennessee which receive disproportionately low payments compared to other areas of the country for the same services.  Reimbursements in the state are among the lowest

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2602, 2019

Franklin police chief named to Tennessee POST Commission

FROM: Williamson Herald – Governor Bill Lee announced Monday he has appointed Franklin Chief of Police Deborah Faulkner to the Tennessee POST Commission. The Tennessee Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) Commission is responsible for developing and enforcing standards and training for all Tennessee police officers. The commission also promotes continuing law enforcement training and is comprised of 18 members, including local law enforcement personnel, legislators and Tennessee citizens who

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