Four rookie lawmakers reflect on legislative session
First-term Tennessee legislators Heidi Campbell, John Gillespie, Torrey Harris and Eddie Mannis say they’ve learned to be tough but find friends across the aisle as well.
Topic: Tennessee General Assembly
RSSThere are 239 article(s) tagged Tennessee General Assembly:
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June 2021
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Did House Bill 580 negate critical race theory or prove it?
Here’s how a handful of white legislators changed how Black history is taught in Tennessee.
Related story:
Teachers at Grizz Prep, surrounded by history, pledge to ‘teach truth' about race
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Lawmakers look to dissolve state Health Dept. over teen vaccines
Republican state lawmakers floated the idea of “dissolving and reconstituting” the Tennessee Department of Health Wednesday, June 16, because of vaccine messaging they said amounted to “coercion.”
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General Assembly committee leadership short on diversity
Since Bill Haslam was elected governor in 2010, Republicans have held control of Tennessee’s state government, with the party controlling the trifecta of the House, Senate and governor’s office. No Black politician has chaired a full, standing committee since then.
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May 2021
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Opinion: We live in the Great State of Mediocrity
Tennessee ranked 29th in U.S. News & World Report’s Best States ranking for 2021. ‘Here’s the scientific explanation, and I’ll try to be brief: Our state legislature is mean-spirited, small-minded, short-sighted. And cheap.’
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Legislative session ends with satisfied Republicans, disappointed Democrats
Lawmakers wrap up legislative session viewed differently by Democrats and Republicans.
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West Tennessee lags in legislative leadership
The two urban areas of Memphis and Nashville control the minority Democratic leadership in state politics, but Memphis and West Tennessee are underrepresented among the Republican majority.
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Controversial protest measure stalls in legislature
A bill that would give drivers immunity for hitting protesters in some instances is not moving forward this year.
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April 2021
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Voting law changes moving slowly in Tennessee
Despite major voting law reforms in some states, such as Georgia, few major changes have been made so far in Tennessee.
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Knoxville school shooting prompts delay of gun ‘sanctuary’ measure
Three hours after a school shooting in Knoxville, the Tennessee House of Representatives decided Monday, April 12, to delay a bill making the state a “Second Amendment Sanctuary.”
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Legislation takes aim at protesters
A bill in the Tennessee General Assembly would create harsher penalties for paid protesters and outside agitators, but opponents say the issues addressed by the legislation aren’t legitimate concerns.
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March 2021
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Some felons may regain the right to vote
Thousands of Tennesseans convicted of certain felonies would regain the right to vote under a proposal from two Nashville Democrats in the General Assembly.
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Human trafficking self-defense bill makes progress
Victims of human trafficking would be allowed to use force in self-defense under a bipartisan bill making its way through the Tennessee General Assembly.
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Resolution seeking judge’s removal fails in subcommittee
The effort to remove the judge who ruled last year that the COVID-19 pandemic was a valid reason for Tennesseans to vote by mail failed Tuesday, March 9, in a House subcommittee.
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State Senate approves Kyle’s child care bill
Demand for child care far exceeds supply in Tennessee, but a bill passed Monday, March 8, by the state Senate could give state employees more options.
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February 2021
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Bill would allow business owners to vote where they own business
Business owners would be able to vote in elections where the business property is located, even if the owner doesn’t live in the same place as the business, under a bill being considered by the Tennessee General Assembly.
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Senate committee advances ‘right to work’ constitutional amendment
A Tennessee Senate committee on Tuesday, Feb. 23, advanced a right-to-work constitutional amendment, one step in a long process to place the amendment on the November 2022 ballot for final approval by voters. -
Democratic legislators outline slate of education proposals
Democratic lawmakers proposed a package of legislation Thursday, Feb. 18, that would increase teacher pay and bring more nurses, counselors and social workers into Tennessee schools.
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January 2021
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Legislators approve handful of education-related measures to end short special session
Intent on returning kids to classrooms, reversing months of “learning loss” and improving literacy, the Tennessee General Assembly approved a handful of bills Thursday and Friday, Jan. 21-22, and $110 million in spending.
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Education bills advance as special legislative session continues
Legislators passed four bills Thursday, Jan. 21, during the third day of a special education session amid protests from Democrats, education advocates and at least one Republican.
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Tennessee legislators begin advancing bills in education special session
Tennessee legislators began a special session on education Wednesday, Jan. 20, by advancing three bills to Senate committee and five others to subcommittees, including two bills that would raise teacher pay.
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Tennessee lawmakers return for 2021 session
Tennessee’s legislative session is likely to stretch for several months, with a special session called by Republican Gov. Bill Lee on tap starting Jan. 19 to address education challenges that have popped up amid the virus outbreak.
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December 2020
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Shelby lawmakers outline priorities for 2021 legislative session
Memphis-area legislators say Medicaid expansion, school funding and criminal justice reform will be among the biggest issues that face when the General Assembly convenes Jan. 12.
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August 2020
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Elected official recuperating after catching COVID-19
House Minority Leader Karen Camper is recuperating at her Memphis home under the care of a physician after contracting COVID-19.
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Hamilton County state representative hospitalized with COVID-19
State Rep. Mike Carter, who missed last week's legislative special session, has been hospitalized with COVID-19 in the intensive care unit at a Chattanooga hospital.
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