Benjamin Smith reports on state politics for The Daily Memphian. Ben studied journalism at The University of Alabama and wrote for magazines in Alexander City, Alabama. Ben currently lives in Nashville and enjoys music, basketball and reading.
There are 22 articles by Benjamin Smith :
A Tennessee subcommittee passed Rep. Mark White’s school takeover proposal. White suggested his proposal would have a new, narrowed focus on Memphis, likely allaying concerns from other school districts who could have become targets. At MSCS, anti-takeover protestors condemn ‘attack on democracy’Related story:
The proposal, aimed at removing juvenile access to vaping products and decreasing the industry’s reliance on China, would also pull many vapes off Tennessee shelves.
The bill gives local education agencies the ability to deny enrollment to students unlawfully present in the United States.
While in Nashville asking the Legislature for support for the Rock ’n‘ Soul Museum, Priscilla Presley was given the highest civilian award Tennessee can bestow.
A couple of bills that would completely eliminate the 4% sales tax on groceries were introduced to the 114th General Assembly — and they have bipartisan support.
The bill requires TDOT to work with local communities to create a policy regarding the collection and disposal of personal property used for camping near or around state and interstate highways.
A bill requiring Tennessee school districts to adopt a policy prohibiting students from using cellphones and other “wireless communication devices” during instruction time passed in the state House of Representatives Monday.
Two bills seeking to restrict the sale and manufacture of hemp-derived cannabinoids in Tennessee passed through the state House of Representatives Criminal Justice subcommittee last week.
Eighty-six members of the Greater Memphis Chamber traveled to Nashville to meet with state legislators, officers and cabinet heads to advocate for issues relevant to the local business community.
The bill comes as a separate bridge — America’s River Crossing — is slated to begin construction by the fall of 2026.
A large volume of court-reform bills filed by Shelby County legislators will appear in Tennessee House of Representatives and Senate committee hearings in coming weeks.
The former state senator’s most recent attempt to stay out of prison alleged government misconduct and that his legal counsel was ineffective.
“All we have is our voice, and you’ve restricted that by saying, ... ‘We don’t want to hear your voice,’” state Rep. Justin Jones, D-Nashville, said during a Jan. 14 rules committee hearing on bill limitations.
The first resolution proposes an amendment to expand the rights of crime victims, and the second would remove a defendant’s right to bail for certain violent offenses.
The legislation would directly challenge a more than 40-year-old precedent that ensures all children access to a free public education regardless of immigration status.
The House and the Senate passed the Education Freedom Act, legislation championed by Gov. Bill Lee.
The Tennessee House of Representatives passed a bill Thursday that creates a state Centralized Immigration Enforcement Division and makes it a class E felony for local officials to vote in favor of sanctuary city policies.
The Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators has a new leader in state Rep. Jesse Chism, D-Memphis.
The Education Freedom Act passed the state House Education Committe, the House Government Operations Committee, the House Finance Ways and Means Committee and the House Calendar and Rules Committee.
Gabby Salinas says she has been the beneficiary of support from all walks of life and both sides of the aisle. “That has really shaped me in my approach to the way I navigate politics.”
Critics of Tennessee’s voucher proposal allege the program is financially unsustainable in the long term and will siphon funds away from public schools.
Education, reproductive rights, immigration and tough-on-crime were in the spotlight last year. This year, the same topics will likely reemerge alongside new legislation focused on bail-bond reform, grocery taxes, school vouchers and more.
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