Latest Tennessee state government News
140,000 people did their taxes with the free IRS direct file pilot. But program's future is unclear
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
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
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...
Tennessee would criminalize helping minors get abortions under bill heading to governor
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee is poised to become the second state in the nation to make it illegal for adults to help minors get an abortion without parental consent, a proposal that is likely to face immediate legal challenges should Gov. Bill Lee sign it into law. ...
Tennessee bill to untangle gun and voting rights restoration is killed for the year
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee lawmakers have killed a bipartisan bill for the year that would have let residents convicted of felonies apply to vote again without also restoring their gun rights. Democratic Rep. Antonio Parkinson and Republican Sen. Paul Bailey advanced the...
Nashville school shooting families accuse senator of using bill to get his way in records lawsuit
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Family members representing the six people killed in a Nashville school shooting last year have filed an ethics complaint against a Tennessee state senator, arguing he is being self-serving by both suing for the release of the shooter’s writings and filing legislation to...
Tennessee bill untangling gun and voting rights restoration advances, but faces uncertain odds
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee residents convicted of felonies can apply to vote again without restoring their gun rights under a bipartisan bill that faces some GOP skepticism as it advances late this session. The effort by Democratic Rep. Antonio Parkinson and Republican Sen....
Editorial Roundup: Tennessee
Kingsport Times-News. April 3, 2024. Editorial: Proposed law is an overreaction to Memphis case What may well be the worst case of police brutality on record was the Jan. 7, 2023, fatal beating of Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man pulled over for no apparent...
Tennessee state senator hospitalized after medical emergency during floor session
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee state Sen. Steve Southerland experienced a medical emergency during a floor session Monday and was taken to the hospital. Other senators came to his aid and removed Southerland from the Senate chamber, before emergency personnel attended to him and...
Tennessee politicians strip historically Black university of its board
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Trustees of Tennessee's only publicly funded historically Black university were removed Thursday under legislation signed into law by Republican Gov. Bill Lee. Black lawmakers and community leaders said state leaders, a majority of whom are white, are unfairly targeting...
