Latest Tennessee state government News

Texas Supreme Court upholds ban on youth gender transitions. It's the largest state with such a law

Jun. 28, 2024 15:26 PM EDT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The Texas Supreme Court upheld the state’s ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youths Friday, rejecting pleas from parents that it violates their right to decide on and seek medical care for their children. The 8-1 ruling from the all-Republican...

Tennessee law changes starting July 1 touch on abortion, the death penalty and school safety

Jun. 28, 2024 11:53 AM EDT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — After Tennessee lawmakers spent months debating a slew of new laws during their legislative session, many of those statutes will go into effect Monday — ranging from abortion travel restrictions for minors, allowing the death penalty for child rape convictions and many...

Tennessee is sued over law that criminalizes helping minors get abortions without parental approval

Jun. 24, 2024 18:29 PM EDT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — As Tennessee prepares to become the second U.S. state to enact a ban against adults helping minors get an abortion without parental permission, a state Democratic lawmaker and reproductive rights activist on Monday filed a legal challenge alleging the statute is...

Supreme Court will take up state bans on gender-affirming care for minors

Jun. 24, 2024 10:31 AM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Monday jumped into the fight over transgender rights, agreeing to hear an appeal from the Biden administration seeking to block state bans on gender-affirming care. The justices’ action comes as Republican-led states have enacted a variety...

Things to know about the gender-affirming care case as the Supreme Court prepares to weigh in

Jun. 24, 2024 10:11 AM EDT

The U.S. Supreme Court said Monday that it will hear arguments on the constitutionality of state bans on gender-affirming care for transgender minors. The issue has emerged as a big one in the past few years. While transgender people have gained more visibility and acceptance in many...

Openings expected Wednesday in Menendez corruption trial

May. 14, 2024 21:18 PM EDT

NEW YORK (AP) — Opening statements were expected to occur Wednesday in the New York corruption trial of Sen. Bob Menendez after the jury selection process is completed in the morning, a federal judge said Tuesday. Judge Sidney H. Stein also made rulings that will define what...

New lawsuit renews challenge to Tennessee laws targeting crossover voting in primary elections

May. 09, 2024 17:37 PM EDT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A group of Tennesseans who say they were intimidated into not voting in a primary election or were threatened with prosecution after they did vote has filed a legal challenge to two state laws meant to prevent crossover voting. A law passed last year...

140,000 people did their taxes with the free IRS direct file pilot. But program's future is unclear

Apr. 26, 2024 17:06 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The IRS said Friday that more than 140,000 taxpayers filed their taxes through its new direct file pilot program and participants saved roughly $5.6 million in fees they would have otherwise spent with commercial tax preparation companies. The government pilot...

Tennessee lawmakers OK bill penalizing adults who help minors receive gender-affirming care

Apr. 25, 2024 22:34 PM EDT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee's GOP-controlled Statehouse on Thursday gave their final approval to legislation penalizing adults who help minors receive gender-affirming care without parental consent, clearing the way for the first-in-the-nation proposal to be sent to Gov. Bill Lee's desk for...

Tennessee House kills bill that would have banned local officials from studying, funding reparations

Apr. 24, 2024 19:33 PM EDT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee’s Republican-dominant House on Wednesday spiked legislation that would have banned local governments from paying to either study or dispense money for reparations for slavery. The move marked a rare defeat on a GOP-backed proposal initially...