There are 55 article(s) tagged Raumesh Akbari:
U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, first elected in 2006, plans to seek reelection in 2020 and 2022, but it's no secret that more than a few Democrats are positioning themselves to run for the seat the moment he decides to step aside.
Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare in Memphis is suspending court activity during a review of its delinquent bill policies and concerns raised by lawmakers.
Tennessee’s new “hands-free law,” which took effect Monday, seeks to curb distraction-related crashes across the state and particularly in Shelby County, which leads the state in such accidents. The measure is among a number of new state laws that became effective Monday.
NASHVILLE – Legislative leaders had to promise money for rural schools and remove Knox and Hamilton counties from Gov. Bill Lee’s education savings account bill to push it to passage in the 2019 General Assembly.
Six groups, including a Memphis-based law firm, filed suit this week challenging Tennessee’s new third-party voter registration law, contending it violates “fundamental” constitutional rights with the threat of civil and criminal penalties.
NASHVILLE – The Legislature has passed legislation allowing people to obtain a conceal-carry handgun permit without taking live-fire training.
Tennessee should enfranchise ex-cons and regulate voter registration drives.
The state Senate has pulled $2.5 million from Gov. Bill Lee’s planned $10 million Memphis riverfront redevelopment grant, with plans to redirect the money to a Germantown Performing Arts Center amphitheater.
The Tennessee Senate approved legislation Thursday penalizing paid voter registration drives that turn in large numbers of incomplete forms and fail to train workers, legislation spurred by a 2018 Tennessee Black Voter Project drive.
The state Senate passed Gov. Bill Lee's education savings account bill Thursday after a 20-13 vote, enabling public dollars to be used for private education.
Rather than go home for the year without passing substantive abortion legislation, the House and Senate on Monday both adopted bills banning abortions if federal law is reversed.
With a vote set for Monday, Shelby County Democratic lawmakers are castigating a bill from the Secretary of State’s Office penalizing paid voter registration drives for failing to undergo training and for turning in incomplete forms.
State Rep. G.A. Hardaway is set to meet with the state attorney general's office to discuss matters dealing with the constitutionality of Gov. Bill Lee's education savings account plan.
The state Senate overwhelmingly approved legislation Thursday carried by state Sen. Brian Kelsey establishing a charter commission with authority to overrule local school boards and run charter schools.
Senate and House pass subpoena guidelines for community oversight boards mirroring Memphis’ rules requiring its Civilian Law Enforcement Review Board to go through the city council.
A legislative conference committee adopted an amended community oversight board bill Monday mirroring Memphis’ guidelines, despite opposition from state Sen. Raumesh Akbari.
The Senate Education Committee approved Gov. Bill Lee’s education savings account initiative Wednesday, paving the way for public dollars to follow students to private schools.
The balloting among party leaders Saturday appears to be a choice between Michael Harris and state Sen. Raumesh Akbari after state Rep. London Lamar withdrew Thursday.
Three Democratic state legislators from Memphis say on "Behind The Headlines" that the dollar figures in Gov. Bill Lee’s school voucher proposal aren’t enough to protect the per pupil funding to the public schools from which those children would exit.
House and Senate Republican leaders are on different wavelengths when it comes to passage of a fetal heartbeat bill restricting abortions.
The Senate Education Committee passed a heavily-amended charter schools bill this week marked by support from Democratic state Sen. Raumesh Akbari and the bill’s sponsor, Republican state Sen. Brian Kelsey, both of Shelby County.
The state Senate passed legislation Thursday removing an appellate court review from death penalty cases, despite efforts by Shelby County Democrats who opposed it.
Memphis Democratic senators oppose bill even though it would allow oversight boards to have a private investigator seek subpoenas from a judge.
Saying he wants to blot out “one of the worst parts of our history,” state Rep. Joe Towns is renewing legislation to eliminate slavery and involuntary servitude from the Tennessee Constitution.
Gov. Bill Lee calls for eliminating the $180 state expungement fee to make it easier for people to wipe their records clean, advocates say. The move drew wide praise from those in Memphis.
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.
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.
The potential for fraud has some Tennessee legislators, including Memphis Rep. Mark White and Memphis Sen. Raumesh Akbari, cautious about broader school choice options.
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."
House Minority Leader calls for governor to retain authority to negotiate waiver with federal government without legislative approval.
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.
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.
State Rep. Joe Towns' bills could affect thousands of dollars in penalties levied against the Memphis Democrat by the Registry of Election Finance.
Bill Lee is sworn in as Tennessee's 50th governor during a Saturday inauguration ceremony in Nashville's War Memorial Auditorium.
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.
The 111th General Assembly takes the oath of office Tuesday to prepare for a session in which it will attack numerous issues ranging from health care to sports betting and education vouchers.
Gov. Bill Haslam commutes the life prison sentence for a woman convicted of killing man when he picked her up for prostitution at age 16.
Legislation sponsored by Senate Minority Chairwoman Raumesh Akbari would authorize sports betting in Tennessee and set up a gaming commission to oversee the industry, with 10 percent of the revenue going to state and local governments and community colleges and technical schools.
The Shelby County legislative delegation will have five new faces and one member moving to the Senate from the House as the 111th General Assembly convenes Jan. 8.
Criminal justice reform promises to be a recurring theme in the 111th General Assembly in 2019, along with medical marijuana and possibly an immigration issue affecting in-state tuition.
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