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 :
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
State Rep. Joe Towns' bills could affect thousands of dollars in penalties levied against the Memphis Democrat by the Registry of Election Finance.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Republican state lawmakers are hoping to pass a law banning abortion in the state if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade.
House Minority Leader calls for governor to retain authority to negotiate waiver with federal government without legislative approval.
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."
The potential for fraud has some Tennessee legislators, including Memphis Rep. Mark White and Memphis Sen. Raumesh Akbari, cautious about broader school choice options.
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.
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.
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.
The proposed elimination of the so-called "gym tax" could reduce state revenue by $10 million but save fitness clubs 10 percent on fees.
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.
House Criminal Justice Subcommittee sends measure dealing with violence acts to summer study.
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.
Gov. Bill Lee is proposing a $40 million investment in school safety to protect teachers and students and avert violence, mainly through funding for school resource officers.
The House Criminal Justice Subcommittee passed legislation this week stripping the subpoena power of police oversight committees, sidestepping opposition from Memphis legislators.