Reporter
Sam Stockard is a Nashville-based reporter with more than 30 years of journalism experience as a writer, editor and columnist covering the state Legislature and Tennessee politics for The Daily Memphian.
There are 1058 articles by Sam Stockard :
In an effort to calm nerves, state Rep. Antonio Parkinson issued an apology Wednesday night for cursing during an outburst the previous evening as he tried to defend a slain Nashville teenager.
A $39.4 billion House budget plan for fiscal 2021 pulls $12.2 million Memphis and Shelby and another large chunk from Nashville and Davidson County and redistributes it to other cities and counties.
The Republican-controlled state Senate, attempting to stop a potential wave of COVID-19 lawsuits, passed legislation this week giving businesses and schools greater protection from liability.
State Rep. John DeBerry will run as an independent in the November election after the General Assembly passed legislation sidestepping a decision by the Tennessee Democratic Executive Committee to remove him from the ballot.
The House finance committee approved a $39.4 billion budget plan for fiscal 2021 Monday night that leaders said would make the state “structurally” sound in two years instead of three.
The House finance committee passed a bill Monday creating the observance of Juneteenth in Tennessee to recognize the freedom of the slaves in Texas 2 1/2 years after the Emancipation Proclamation. But it appears to be going nowhere in the Senate, like many other House measures.
As the House digs into a proposed $39.4 billion budget for fiscal 2021, lawmakers are coming to grips with the idea of building up reserves while cutting programs such as education in the COVID-19 pandemic.
State Rep. Antonio Parkinson says if NASCAR can ban the Confederate flag, the state Legislature can take action in response to George Floyd’s death, including passage of legislation designed to reform police techniques.
The state Senate approved a $40 billion budget for fiscal 2021, using a chunk of reserve funds to cover about $1 billion in tax shortfalls caused by the COVID-19 crisis, but refused to restore money for education and postpartum health care.
A Davidson County chancellor chastised the state Thursday for not following a court order on mail-in absentee voting during the COVID-19 pandemic and ordered it to put up a new form by Friday and tell county election officials to comply.
State Rep. John DeBerry has a chance to run in District 90 as an independent after the Senate approved a House-passed bill Thursday enabling to get back on the ballot after Democrats removed him.
Testing for COVID-19 of every nursing home and long-term care facility in the state will be completed by the end of the week, Gov. Bill Lee said.
Despite civil strife, Gov. Bill Lee refuses to say whether the Nathan Bedford Forrest bust should be removed from the State Capitol or the day of recognition for the Confederate general should be eliminated.
A Davidson County chancellor is allowing an appeal but refusing to lift an order requiring the state to offer absentee ballots to all voters worried about catching COVID-19 at August and November elections.
Tennessee will observe Nathan Bedford Forrest Day on July 13, but the governor won’t have to sign a proclamation recognizing the observance under legislation passed by the Senate Wednesday.
The House Health Committee pushed an abortion bill to passage Tuesday with limited understanding of an amendment placed on the legislation.
A group of Memphis and Nashville residents challenging the state’s absentee ballot law is trying to force the state to follow a chancellor’s ruling for universal vote-by-mail during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The state House and Senate sent conflicting signals Tuesday, June 9, on the fate of Nathan Bedford Forrest’s bust in the State Capitol and a special day honoring his life. A Senate panel voted to keep Forrest Day while state Rep. London Lamar persuaded a House committee to get rid of the special day.
A white state lawmaker from Ooltewah apologized to state Rep. Joe Towns, a black Memphis lawmaker, Monday evening, June 8, after making an off-hand comment about Kentucky Fried Chicken.
The Lee Administration will take about $600 million from its $4 billion in reserves to bolster the budget this year and next, but it won't go deep into those funds, instead opting to add more to the rainy day fund.
The Lee Administration is holding out hope it can use about $1 billion in CARES Act money to replace lost revenue, spending only about a fourth of $2.3 billion the federal government has sent Tennessee since the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
The state is planning to challenge a court ruling requiring expanded absentee voting during the COVID-19 pandemic and could be violating a chancellor's order to immediately send applications to any voter who requests one.
Gov. Bill Lee’s school voucher program is out for the 2020-21 school year that begins this fall.
The judge ruled in favor of two groups, including Memphis and Nashville residents who said their health could be jeopardized if they were forced to vote in person.
Gov. Bill Lee’s plan eliminates $58 million proposed for teacher pay increases and includes $50 million for an employee buyout program.