Lamar’s child sex trafficking bill dead for the year
House Criminal Justice Subcommittee sends measure dealing with violence acts to summer study.
Sam Stockard
Reporter
50 recent articles by Sam Stockard:
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February 2019
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Memphis lawmakers demand end to shackling pregnant women
Legislation sponsored by Sen. Raumesh Akbari and Rep. Karen Camper, both Memphis Democrats, would end the practice of chaining pregnant women and require prenatal, postpartum care.
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Kyle bows out of U.S. Senate talk
State Sen. Sara Kyle of Memphis says she will concentrate on another term in the General Assembly in 2020 rather than seeking the U.S. Senate.
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Governor proposing repeal of 'gym tax'
The proposed elimination of the so-called "gym tax" could reduce state revenue by $10 million but save fitness clubs 10 percent on fees.
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Parkinson code of conduct bill ekes through House subcommittee
Democratic Rep. Antonio Parkinson's bill requiring school boards to set rules governing visitors' actions and dress while on campuses narrowly escaped defeat in a House subcommittee Tuesday.
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Public records harassment bill likely to be amended to back online transparency
Open records advocates want to make sure records custodians can't take court action against people simply to keep them from getting information in Memphis and elsewhere around the state.
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Suspended license payments bill spurs Miller’s legislation
Legislation enabling people to schedule payments for fines and fees on suspended licenses pushed Rep. Larry Miller of Memphis to move forward with a bill of his own.
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Lawmakers aware of fraud in states with vouchers, education savings accounts
The potential for fraud has some Tennessee legislators, including Memphis Rep. Mark White and Memphis Sen. Raumesh Akbari, cautious about broader school choice options.
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Diverse coalition backs easier restoration of felon voting rights
An ex-convict invited by President Trump to the State of the Union address is helping lead efforts to streamline the voter restoration process for people who "pay their debt to society."
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Camper delivers Medicaid expansion message to governor
House Minority Leader calls for governor to retain authority to negotiate waiver with federal government without legislative approval.
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Republicans try to get ahead of Roe v. Wade reversal
Republican state lawmakers are hoping to pass a law banning abortion in the state if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade.
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Registry of Election Finance wants explanation from Towns, Hardaway
State Rep. Joe Towns of Memphis failed to file a third-quarter report in 2018, while the pre-general report last year of state Rep. G.A. Hardaway’s, also of Memphis, lacked sufficient information, official says.
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Memphis lawmakers hope to pull down state, federal money for immigration enforcement
House Minority Leader Karen Camper and Senate Minority Chairman Raumesh Akbari say local governments need financial help housing undocumented immigrants following the enactment of the state's sanctuary cities law.
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Hefty price tag sidelines Miller’s driver’s license bill
A bill by Memphis legislator Larry Miller would mesh with a federal court ruling and stop Tennessee from suspending driver’s licenses based on a person’s inability to pay fines and fees.
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Memphis Democrats call Medicaid expansion a ‘moral’ decision
Democratic House members, including state Rep. Lamar London of Memphis, call Republican proposals on healthcare an empty message and urge immediate vote to expand Medicaid to serve 290,000 uninsured Tennesseans.
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Towns trying to revive state horse racing commission
Hoping to keep gambling dollars from slipping out of Shelby County, state Rep. Joe Towns is sponsoring legislation to revive the Tennessee Horse Racing Commission and bring races to Memphis.
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Camper castigates legislation limiting police oversight boards
House Minority Caucus leader Karen Camper of Memphis says a proposed bill that would reduce the authority of police oversight boards is an effort by Republican leaders to control local government.
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Legislation would cut campaign finance penalties, let lawmakers pay with campaign accounts
State Rep. Joe Towns' bills could affect thousands of dollars in penalties levied against the Memphis Democrat by the Registry of Election Finance.
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Sen. Kyle joining fight for medical marijuana
State Sen. Sara Kyle of Memphis is getting into the mix as legislative Democrats and Republicans sponsor legislation to legalize medical cannabis in effort to treat pain and cut down use of deadly opioids.
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Republicans seek TennCare flexibility as Democrats call for Medicaid expansion
Senate leaders, governor discuss request for federal block grant and possible TennCare savings that could be used to fund health-care vouchers for under-insured Tennesseans in Memphis and elsewhere.
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Memphis lawmakers leading Early Education Caucus
Rep. Mark White of Memphis is chairing a group of legislators who will concentrate on finding new ways to improve education for students in prekindergarten through third grade.
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Robinson’s career-technical education bill could align with governor’s vocational plan
State Sen. Katrina Robinson’s proposal to put career and technical education in middle schools could mesh with Gov. Bill Lee’s newly unveiled vocational education plan.
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University of Memphis won’t drop Confucius Institute despite lawmaker’s concerns
Knoxville representative says universities should close Confucius Institute programs because it’s a “front for communist propaganda and intelligence gathering.” The University of Memphis is keeping its program, however.
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Governor backs bill pulling subpoena power from police oversight boards
Gov. Bill Lee says he favors pulling the ability to compel testimony from police oversight committees, even though Knoxville's board has had that authority for 20 years without incident.
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Governor soft pedals on JLL contract
Gov. Bill Lee appears noncommittal on his support for a heavily-debated statewide contract that outsources facilities management at colleges and Tennessee agencies with a maximum payout of $1.9 billion.
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Republican House leaders plan police oversight board restrictions
House Republican leaders are proposing legislation that would strip city boards of the ability to subpoena witnesses and documents and limit ability of cities to appoint members based on demographics.
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Kyle reviving ‘MaKayla’s Law’ legislation as lawmakers take aim with firearms bills
Bill would punish adults for leaving guns unsecured for children to shoot others; legislation reducing penalty for illegal handgun carry being rewritten
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Education savings accounts or vouchers: No matter the verbiage, lawmakers set for fight
Battle lines are being drawn for debate over education savings accounts – a method for using state dollars to send students to private schools – and Shelby County lawmakers will be in the thick of the fray. -
Legislation in works to protect state after Electrolux blindsiding
State Rep. G.A. Hardaway is planning to introduce a bill requiring companies that receive economic recruiting incentives to prove they're meeting job commitments or face penalties.
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School systems putting safety money into officers, technology
Shelby County school systems are steering millions of dollars in new safety and security funds into technology and officers as part of a state plan to protect students and staff. -
Parkinson, Hardaway cast doubt on House social media rules
House members say rule against livestreaming to social media hurts ability to communicate with Memphis constituents.
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January 2019
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Fetal heartbeat bill draws support of governor, key Republican leaders
Some groups believe fetal heartbeat bill would run into constitutional problems, with state attorney general calling it "suspect."
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Boyd requests $3 million for UTHSC opioid addiction program
UT interim president says program provides "direct impact" for Memphis and could help addicts statewide.
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State House committee chairmen can prohibit livestreaming
Republican leaders say social media recordings can cause distractions and affect the state's video of committee meetings.
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Parkinson ‘trending nationally’ on schools code of conduct legislation
A Memphis legislator interviews with numerous news organization about pending legislation requiring districts to adopt parental rules, potentially for dress codes.
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Commissioner Nichols starts job facing loss of $15 million in federal funds
Family First Prevention Services Act set to replace state's waiver program for providing behavioral and mental health services to children in state custody.
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House passes MLK resolution year after pulling Memphis celebration money
A year after the state House of Representatives pulled $250,000 from Memphis' bicentennial celebration as retribution for the removal of Confederate monuments, local legislators are hoping the body is moving in a new direction.
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Rep. Cooper bill would let prisoners apply for Reconnect scholarships
Worried that prisoners are learning nothing as they sit in cells, state Rep. Barbara Cooper is sponsoring a bill enabling inmates to earn college credits using Tennessee Reconnect money.
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State not seeking Memphis megasite money for next budget unless it lands a major employer
Economic and Community Development commissioner contends the state has enough resources on hand to make the Memphis Regional Megasite in Haywood County "shovel-ready."
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Rep. Larry Miller’s bill would require top election officials to vacate office
The secretary of state and coordinator of elections would have to leave their posts if they seek public office under legislation sponsored by state Rep. Larry Miller of Memphis.
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Governor won’t commit to increasing K-12 spending
Lee says every department being asked to prepare budgets as if they're putting a 2 percent cut into place.
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State Rep. Hardaway calls on governor to make shutdown strategy
Memphis representative says Gov. Bill Lee should make short-term and long-term plans to cope with programs for low-income residents, law enforcement and military during the federal government shutdown.
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Parkinson pushes expedited expungement fee
Offenders eligible for expungement could pay a $250 fee to speed up the process of clearing their criminal record.
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Legislation would let schools crack down on revealing clothes
Rep. Antonio Parkinson of Memphis wants to require school districts to set codes of conduct for people who visit campuses to maintain a better standard of "decorum."
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Camper wants Gov. Lee to be tougher than Haslam on critical issues
House Minority Leader Karen Camper is hoping new Gov. Bill Lee will twist some legislative arms on tough issues as his term starts, a departure from now-former Gov. Bill Haslam’s often laidback style. -
Lee says Shelby-Memphis economy crucial for Tennessee, commits to completing megasite
New governor says recruiting business to Shelby County, finishing megasite a key part of making state prosper.
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Lee remembers ancestors in seeking unity of Tennesseans
Bill Lee is sworn in as Tennessee's 50th governor during a Saturday inauguration ceremony in Nashville's War Memorial Auditorium.
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Gov. Haslam appoints Akbari to juvenile justice panel
State Senate Democratic Caucus chair Raumesh Akbari hopes to delve into juvenile justice, changing the law on status offenses such as truancy and allowing "blended sentencing" that could keep juveniles from graduating to adult offenses.
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Haslam has high hopes for Memphis megasite as he leaves office after eight years
Outgoing Gov. Bill Haslam said failure to land industry a major regret as he discusses the ups and downs of a busy eight years in office and weighs U.S. Senate run.
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Lamar bill could cut sentences for child sex trafficking victims caught in violent acts
A Memphis representative’s legislation would allow minors to be sentenced as juveniles, rather than adults, stemming from the Cyntoia Brown case.
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