0402, 2019

Governor Lee prepares to present budget focusing on education, criminal justice reform, and mental health care and rural economic development

Newly inaugurated Governor Bill Lee wasted no time this week in getting to work on one of his most important responsibilities – construction of a state budget.  Commissioners of 25 state government departments and agencies presented their requests to the governor in meetings which were livestreamed for public view.  The governor noted his budget will focus on improvements in K-12 education, criminal justice reform, mental health, health care and rural

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0402, 2019

Veteran support programs are priority for Tennessee’s Higher Education Campuses

Veterans in Tennessee colleges and universities are receiving unprecedented funding and program support through several innovative initiatives that help them get their degree. In a meeting of the Senate Education Committee this week, Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) Executive Director Mike Krause said Tennessee set the goal to be the best state in the nation for student veterans. Each year, over 10,000 veterans enroll at Tennessee’s higher education institutions.  Of

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0402, 2019

Check-up on higher education shows state is exceeding goals set to increase the number of Tennesseans with a college or post-secondary degree

(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) — Tennessee is exceeding the ambitious “Drive to 55” goal to graduate 79,000 students with a college or post-secondary degree annually  by about 1,500 each year.  The news was part of a “State of Higher Education” report delivered by Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) Executive Director Mike Krause who appeared before members of the Senate Education Committee this week.  Drive to 55 was launched in 2013 with the

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General Assembly re-elects Tennessee Treasurer and Comptroller
2801, 2019

General Assembly re-elects Tennessee Treasurer and Comptroller

The opening week of the 111th General Assembly was also marked by re-election of two of the state’s three constitutional officers, Treasurer David Lillard and Comptroller Justin Wilson.  The state’s constitution provides that the legislature selects both of these officers in a joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives during the organizational session of each General Assembly.  The comptroller audits state agencies and county governments to ensure they

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2801, 2019

State Legislature organizes business, elects leadership as 111th General Assembly convenes

(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) –  The 111th General Assembly began as state lawmakers gathered on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, January 8th to take the oath of office, elect officers and organize the business of the 2019-2020 legislative sessions.  Families and friends crowded the Senate chamber and watched proudly as 18 state senators took the oath of office, which was the first order of business during the organizational session.    The next order

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