There are 425 article(s) tagged Bill Lee:
The Tennessee Legislature broke an impasse Thursday night and was set to pass a $39.4 billion budget for fiscal 2021 dealing with a $1 billion shortfall caused by the COVID-19 crisis, wrapping up a short but chaotic session surrounded by protest.
Gov. Bill Lee is proclaiming Friday, June 19, as Juneteenth in Tennessee, but he stops short of demanding removal of the Nathan Bedford Forrest bust from the State Capitol.
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.
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.
State Rep. Jesse Chism, who stood between the National Guard and peaceful protesters on the steps to the State Capitol Monday night, is opposed to sending Tennessee troops to the nation's capital as they mobilize.
The Department of Revenue will look at the sales taxes reported by businesses statewide and prepare to make payments ranging from $2,500 for the smallest to $30,000 for the largest ones, as the state distributes federal CARES Act funds.
Mask distribution has been halted until results of an independent test of the Renfro mask and chemicals used in its manufacturing are confirmed.
The Tennessee National Guard mobilizes 1,000 troops to stop potential rioting in the nation’s capital over the death of George Floyd.
State Rep. Tom Leatherwood is pushing for a full review of Tennessee’s state of emergency law and executive order rules, while state Rep. G.A. Hardaway says a legislative oversight panel could be convened for the rest of a state of emergency.
With nearly 40% of the state's COVID-19 deaths coming from nursing homes, Tennessee is ready to put sanctions on long-term care facilities if they fail to complete virus testing of staff and residents.
Despite COVID-19 cases continuing to spread statewide, with Tennessee counting 373 more Thursday, Gov. Bill Lee is rejecting a request by the Tennessee Black Caucus to issue an executive order allowing universal absentee voting.
Gov. Bill Lee's Office isn't worried about President Donald Trump’s demand for houses of worship to open, saying he never ordered churches to close but did urge alternative services to avoid spreading COVID-19.
The Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators is asking Gov. Bill Lee in letter form to end a program allowing personal information of COVID-positive people to be shared with law enforcement. Otherwise, it says people should refuse to give their addresses when tested.
Grappling with finances in the pandemic era, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee says the entire budget is up for review, including funds tied to the Education Savings Account, though he favors keeping the program intact as the Legislature gets ready to convene June 1.
With more than 12% of Tennessee prison inmates testing positive for COVID-19, an inmate advocate is raising questions about the cleanliness of facilities while challenging the state's numbers and policies.
With the spread of COVID-19 appearing to weaken, the state’s Economic Recovery Group announced Friday, May 15, it will lift capacity restrictions on restaurants and retail in areas not covered by local directives, such as Shelby County.
Gov. Bill Lee said Tuesday a stronger supply of personal protective equipment could allow him to change a decision requiring the state Department of Health to share information about COVID-positive patients with law enforcement to help first responders.
Gov. Bill Lee and state Election Coordinator Mark Goins say fear of catching COVID-19 does not qualify as a reason to vote by mail as the state faces two legal challenges of its absentee ballot rules.
State leaders say they plan to use federal CARES Act money to keep from "extinguishing" the state’s $1.2 billion unemployment insurance trust fund.
The Tennessee Caucus of Black State Legislators is asking Gov. Bill Lee’s Administration to stop giving names and addresses of COVID-19-positive people to law enforcement, contending it will cause people who don't trust the government to avoid testing.
With a $700 million budget shortfall looming, House Minority Leader Karen Camper said the state needs make the Education Savings Account program its first cut.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee says the goals of preserving lives and livelihoods has been a difficult balance at times. And Tennessee Health Commissioner Dr. Lisa Piercey says testing statewide is moving toward focusing on clusters and outbreaks of the virus just as local health officials are making the same shift.
Gov. Bill Lee’s Economic Recovery Group, stacked with state commissioners and business lobbyists, leaned heavily toward business demands to restart the economy, mainly because it was afraid many would go under without a reboot
House and Senate leaders could run into disagreement on whether to concentrate only on the state’s budget in a COVID-19 economic disaster or take up hot social items such as abortion restrictions, constitutional carry and even the Bible bill when the Legislature returns June 1.