Tennessee has more registered voters than any time in state history according to Secretary of State Tre Hargett and Coordinator of Elections Mark Goins who spoke about voter participation and election security in the Senate State and Local Government Committee this week. The state also set a record in voter turnout for an August election in 2018 and for a mid-term (non-presidential) election in November 2018. Goins pointed to a
Governor Bill Lee announced a major initiative this week to increase access to career and technical education for K-12 students as part of his education agenda for 2019. The Future Workforce Initiative calls for an increase in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) training for students in K-12 schools. Lee said the initiative will help ensure that Tennessee students are first in line for high quality technology jobs in emerging
(NASHVILLE, Tenn.), February 14, 2019 – Legislation strengthening penalties against those convicted of harming a minor during a drive-by shooting overcame its first hurdle with passage in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday. Senate Bill 10 is named the JaJuan Latham Act for a 12-year-old, Knoxville boy who was killed in a drive-by shooting while in the back of his father’s parked car. JaJuan had just attended a “Stop the
Vocational Education / GIVE Act — Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced his first legislative initiative, the Governor’s Investment in Vocational Education (GIVE), to expand access to vocational and technical training for Tennessee students. Senate Bill 805 is a two-pronged approach that utilizes regional partnerships to develop work-based learning and apprenticeship opportunities. The program provides funding for high school juniors and seniors to utilize four, fully-funded dual enrollment credits for trade
Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee members were briefed by the Tennessee Farm Bureau and the Department of Agriculture (TDA) this week on the effects of the federal Agriculture Improvement Act enacted by Congress last year. The new law, also known as the “farm bill,” aims to be the nation’s food security policy. “Certainly, farmers and rural communities are the ones that benefit from certain titles of the program,” said
Tennessee will begin issuing licenses compliant with the federal REAL ID Act of 2005 beginning July 1 according to testimony provided to the Senate Transportation and Safety Committee this week. Lori Bullard, Assistant Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, briefed members of the Senate Transportation Committee about the act which established minimum security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards. The purpose of the measure was
Bills began flowing through committees this week as state senators start a thorough examination of the issues before the General Assembly in 2019. As proposals start moving through the legislative process, citizens will find the General Assembly’s legislative website a very valuable tool to keep up with the latest information. This includes easy live access to legislative proceedings via video streaming at www.capitol.tn.gov. In addition to live streaming, the website
(NASHVILLE, Tenn.), February 7, 2019 – The pace quickened on Capitol Hill this week as lawmakers faced the deadline to file bills for the 2019 legislative session. State senators also moved several important proposals through committees, including two resolutions to amend Tennessee’s Constitution which were approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee. One resolution would allow voters to change the way Tennessee’s Attorney General is selected, while the other lets them
Direct Support Professionals / DIDD – A report conducted by the State Comptroller’s office shows that funds appropriated to raise the pay of direct support personnel who care for some of Tennessee’s most vulnerable citizens is being used for the purpose intended. The positive report, which was delivered to members of the Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee, supports a proposal making the funds added to last year’s budget permanent.
Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) Chief Engineer Paul Degges gave Senate Transportation Committee members an update this week regarding the status of projects underway as a result of the Improving Manufacturing, Public Roads, and Opportunities for a Vibrant Economy (IMPROVE) Act passed in 2017. The Act identified 962 road and bridge projects across all 95 Tennessee counties over the next 14 years to alleviate a $10.5 billion backlog. Degges said