Briefly...
~ ~ ~
Juvenile detention capacity: The Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Affairs (TACIR) recently released a report detailing the availability of pre- and post-adjudication detention capacity across the Volunteer State. The commission concluded that currently funded projects will likely meet the state's needs for post-adjudication capacity, following the General Assembly's appropriation of more than $333 million for three new facilities. The commission recommends funding a new juvenile detention center in West Tennessee to be used in part for temporary placements for juvenile offenders in DCS custody. Additionally, several oversight reforms are recommended to improve the Tennessee juvenile justice system.
Paid leave for foster parents: Lawmakers on Monday approved pro-family legislation encouraging state employees to foster children. House Bill 957, sponsored by State Rep. William Slater, R-Gallatin, adds fostering a child as a qualifying event for a Tennessee state employee to receive six weeks of paid leave. Employees are currently entitled to this benefit for the birth or adoption of a child or the serious illness of a family member. The companion version of House Bill 957 is still advancing in the Senate.
Consistency in employment laws: State Rep. Chris Todd, R-Madison County, on Monday passed legislation to help ensure labor and employment laws are uniform across Tennessee. House Bill 900 restricts local governments from implementing burdensome regulations on private employers and protects businesses from compliance confusion caused by varying local mandates. The proposal was approved by the Senate in 2025 and now heads to Gov. Bill Lee's desk to be signed into law.
Vehicular assault: House Bill 359, as amended, updates the definition of "serious bodily injury" specifically for the criminal offense of vehicular assault. Sponsored by House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland, the bill removes the age restriction from the criteria involving a broken bone, expanding it from applying only to children 12 years old or younger to any broken bone, regardless of the victim's age. The other elements of the definition remain unchanged: a substantial risk of death, protracted unconsciousness, extreme physical pain, or protracted loss or substantial impairment of a function of a bodily member, organ or mental faculty. Lamberth amended the bill following an injury accident involving a law enforcement officer in Sumner County on Dec. 27. Hendersonville Police Cpl. Braxton Craig suffered serious injuries, including broken bones, when he was struck by a suspected drunk driver who hit his patrol car after crossing a double yellow line. House Bill 359 passed in the House and is still advancing through the Senate.
Student fitness: Legislation to promote student health and wellness in Tennessee schools passed in the House chamber Thursday. House Bill 1466 by State Rep. Scott Cepicky, R-Culleoka, will require public schools in the Volunteer State to administer the Presidential Fitness Test to assess students' strength, endurance and flexibility. The Tennessee Department of Education will provide guidance to local education agencies and public charter schools on the requirements associated with the test. Students can receive the Presidential Fitness Award if they meet the parameters set forth by the President's Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition. The proposal is still advancing in the Senate.
Economic development: The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD) this week announced Recticel Group, a Belgian company specializing in insulation products, has selected the Volunteer State for its first insulated panels facility in the United States. The company offers insulation solutions through 13 facilities in six nations. It will create nearly 80 jobs and invest $50 million in Maury County to produce insulated panels for the U.S. market under the name Trimo North America.
James K. Polk Day: The House on Monday passed legislation to designate November 2 annually as James K. Polk Day to honor President Polk's service to Tennessee and the nation. House Bill 1479, sponsored by State Rep. Gino Bulso, R-Brentwood, recognizes the 11th president's accomplishments and role in fulfilling the Manifest Destiny of the United States to be a beacon of liberty and freedom across North America. The companion version of House Bill 1479 is still advancing in the Senate.
Capitol protection zone: The House chamber passed House Bill 1504 on Thursday, designating a Capitol Hill protection zone to bolster safety measures for state government officials, employees, and the public. The bill, sponsored by House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland, designates a defined security area encompassing key state buildings and surrounding grounds in Nashville. The protection zone includes the State Capitol, Capitol annexes, War Memorial Building, Legislative Plaza, Cordell Hull Building, Supreme Court Building, State Library and Archives Building, John Sevier State Office Building, James K. Polk State Office Building, William R. Snodgrass Tennessee Tower, World War II Memorial Building, Rachel Jackson Building, Andrew Jackson Building, and adjacent grounds, roads, and sidewalks. The bill authorizes the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security commissioner to assign POST-certified state facility protection officers to the zone, granting them concurrent law enforcement authority with local agencies, including the power to arrest, carry firearms and investigate crimes.
Upper Cumberland Regional Airport: The House on Monday passed legislation to enable commercial air service at the Upper Cumberland Regional Airport. House Bill 1691, sponsored by State Rep. Paul Sherrell, R-Sparta, will restructure the airport as an independent airport authority, granting it expanded powers and flexibility needed to support commercial flights. The airport is currently governed under Tennessee’s Interlocal Cooperation Act, which places its operations under multiple local governments. The companion version of House Bill 1691 will be considered on the Senate floor in the coming weeks.
School bus drivers: The House on Monday passed legislation allowing school bus drivers with controlled diabetes to cross state lines in accordance with federal law. House Bill 1546, sponsored by State Rep. Jake McCalmon, R-Franklin, will benefit several school districts in Tennessee where drivers are required to enter neighboring states. The bill is still advancing through the Senate.
Public schools: The Finance Ways and Means Subcommittee on March 4 will consider a measure to require public and charter schools to verify the lawful presence of enrolling students. House Bill 793, sponsored by House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland, sought to challenge Plyler v. Doe, a 5-4 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 1982 that gave children who were illegally in the U.S. the right to a free public education. The Senate companion version passed in 2025, which gave local school districts the option to charge tuition. The House version was placed on hold last year to ensure Tennessee’s $1.1 billion in federal education funding would not be put at risk. As amended, the House version only requires local school districts to submit an accurate headcount to the Tennessee Department of Education while protecting student privacy. The bill aims to provide greater transparency on the issue, empowering the state to make informed decisions that prioritize students and taxpayer dollars.
Hybrid electric vehicles: The House this week passed House Bill 1874 by State Rep. Greg Martin, which updates the definition of hybrid electric vehicle in Tennessee law as being propelled by a combination of an electric motor and an internal combustion engine or other power source. The new definition better aligns with the federal government's requirements and will provide clarity on what qualifies for the additional hybrid electric vehicle fee.
2026 Tennessee Educator Survey: This week, the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) and the Tennessee Education Research Alliance (TERA) at Vanderbilt University invited teachers, administrators and certified school staff to participate in the 2026 Tennessee Educator Survey. The survey will help shape strategies and goals for education across Tennessee. Responses, which are voluntary and confidential, will be received through April 10. Schools with participation rates above 90% will be eligible to enter a lottery for a $5,000 staff appreciation gift.
Music City Loop: Gov. Bill Lee this week announced the approval of The Boring Company's lease and permit for the Music City Loop by the Tennessee Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration. The privately-funded transit tunnel is one of the largest infrastructure projects in the nation and will connect downtown Nashville to the Nashville International Airport, as well as lower Broadway to West End. The total transit time from downtown to the airport is expected to be 8 minutes, according to Lee's office.
Economic development: Durable Products announced this week its plans to expand manufacturing operations in Cumberland County, according to the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development. The company will create more than 130 jobs and invest nearly $30 million. The company specializes in diverse manufacturing capabilities, including compression molding, rubber extrusions, die cutting and material processing.
A Home for Every Child: The Tennessee Department of Children's Services (DCS) will join the Trump Administration's "A Home for Every Child" initiative to expand the number of foster families and improve outcomes for children in the Volunteer State, according to Gov. Bill Lee. The initiative, led by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families, aims to improve the foster home-to-child ratio and utilize effective prevention services to reduce the number of children entering foster care. More information on the initiative can be found on the federal department's website here.
Economic development: Documotion Research announced Thursday it would expand its manufacturing operations in Maury County. The company, which produces and distributes linerless labels, will create 48 new jobs and invest $9.1 million by adding 40,000 square feet of space for manufacturing and maintenance operations in Columbia, according to the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development.
Rounding cash transactions: The House approved legislation this week to allow businesses to round cash payments to the nearest nickel since the U.S. penny is no longer in production. House Bill 1744, sponsored by State Rep. Charlie Baum, R-Murfreesboro, allows private businesses and financial institutions to round cash transactions up or down to the nearest five cents when exact change is unavailable. The U.S. Mint struck its final pennies in November under an order from President Donald Trump, after reporting an $85.3 million loss on penny production in fiscal year 2024. Businesses are still required to calculate and report sales tax to the penny. House Bill 1744 is still moving in the Senate.
Safe at Home Law updates: The House approved several changes to Tennessee’s Safe at Home Law this week, which allows victims of domestic violence and other crimes to use a substitute address to keep their home address hidden from their abusers. House Bill 1552, sponsored by State Rep. Dennis Powers, R-Jacksboro, allows an adult sibling living with a victim to be a co-applicant, clarifies that a Tennessee order of protection is not required for victims moving from another state, and adds the state’s first-in-the-nation domestic violence offender registry, created by Savanna’s Law, to the official offender registry system, barring those offenders from participating in the program. House Bill 1552 now heads to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk for his signature.
National FFA Week: Members of the Future Farmers of America (FFA) from across the Volunteer State visited the State Capitol on Thursday in celebration of National FFA Week. Tennessee FFA is the seventh largest state association in the nation with more than 34,000 members and 260 local chapters, according to the Tennessee FFA. The FFA welcomes students of all backgrounds and is not just for future farmers, but any student who has a passion for leadership and public speaking.
Senate Speaker Randy McNally: Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, on Feb. 26 announced he will not seek re-election to the Tennessee State Senate in 2026, concluding a legislative career spanning nearly five decades. During his tenure, McNally helped lead the Tennessee General Assembly through a period of historic financial stability and economic growth. McNally was first elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives in 1978. After four terms in the House, he was elected to the state Senate in 1986. By the end of his current term in November, McNally will have served 48 years in the legislature. When a new Speaker of the Senate is elected in January, McNally will have completed a decade in the position.
~ ~ ~
TOP
