Competing bills battle to restrict community bail funds
While sponsors argue the bills enhance public safety, community leaders say limiting how often community funds can bail people out would be detrimental.
Topic: Tennessee Legislature
RSSThere are 164 article(s) tagged Tennessee Legislature:
-
March 2026
-
-
Bill in state Legislature targets adults who coerce minors into crime
A bill sponsored by two local lawmakers would add situations where an adult coerced a minor into committing a crime to the list of reasons a sentence might be enhanced.
-
Tennessee would be required to use federal funding to feed low-income students under new bill
Gov. Bill Lee has declined federal funding to help feed low-income students over the summer. A bipartisan group of lawmakers wants to change that.
-
Here’s what happened at the Tennessee Capitol last week
It was a busy week for state politics, with lots of updates on immigration and bills concerning pharmacy ownership and bail reform.
-
Tennessee moves forward with act to ban ‘West Bank’ term
A controversial bill about what to call an area of land in the Middle East makes its way through the Tennessee Legislature.
-
Two Democrats eye August state primary for chance to challenge Brent Taylor
All 13 state House incumbents and three state senators representing Shelby County have checked out qualifying petitions for the August ballot. The filing deadline for primary challengers is March 10.
-
8Ball — along with GloRilla, Three 6 Mafia and other Memphis musicians — recognized by Tennessee Legislature
February 2027 is set to be Tennessee’s first Tennessee Songwriter Month. 8Ball was recognized for his significant cultural impact and as a pioneer of Memphis hip-hop.
-
-
February 2026
-
Tennessee’s felony law when local officials vote for ‘sanctuary’ policies is ruled unconstitutional
Earlier last year, the GOP-supermajority state Legislature and Republican Gov. Bill Lee approved legislation to aid the Trump administration with immigration enforcement.
-
State House bill lets private businesses, citizens reject same-sex marriage
The Tennessee House of Representatives passed a bill Thursday, Feb. 19, that lets private businesses refuse to recognize same-sex couples.
-
Trigger bill would require Tennessee schools to track, report student immigration status
House Bill 1711 is the second piece of legislation currently in the Tennessee General Assembly that could require educators to report the legal status of public school students.
-
Governor wants constitutional ban on state property tax
Tennesseans will vote on an amendment to ban state property taxes this November — even though Tennessee hasn’t imposed the tax since 1949.
-
School board elections, superintendent contract ‘irrelevant’ with MSCS takeover looming, lawmakers say
The Memphis-Shelby County Schools board is about to decide on the district’s leadership, and candidates are campaigning for school board seats. But two sponsors of a state bill say little, if any, of that matters.
-
New bill would bar some Tennesseans from running for Congress
Memphis lawmaker Brent Taylor sponsors a bill to keep naturalized and dual citizens out of party primaries.
-
-
January 2026
-
2020 Black Lives Matter protest organizer to challenge Cohen for Congress
Already facing Rep. Justin J. Pearson, Steve Cohen faces a new challenger; one who was active during the George Floyd protests in Memphis years ago.
-
New year, new laws: Tennessee legislation that takes effect on Jan. 1, 2026
Changes to immigration, cannabis regulation and changes to retirement are among the new laws beginning in 2026.
-
-
June 2025
-
Vaughan talks future legislative ideas, reelection plans at Collierville chamber
Rep. Kevin Vaughan weighed in on the suburb’s reliance on Memphis Light, Gas and Water and on the Memphis-Shelby County Schools state takeover.
-
Everybody Speeds: Where HAL 9000 meets the Highway Patrol
The way to curb speeding at first glance might be to put more police officers on the street. But it’s not that simple.
-
-
April 2025
-
Varlas: Legislators have TSSAA in their crosshairs. And that’s not good.
The state governing body for high school athletics is facing the possibility of a government takeover. Or outright dissolution.
-
Controversial bail-denial amendment sent to ballot
The Tennessee General Assembly passed three possible amendments, including one that could allow judges to deny bail to defendants accused of certain crimes.
-
Downtown safety funds survive state whittling of local programs
Rep. G.A. Hardaway, along with other Memphis lawmakers, expressed concern over the reductions and outright elimination of many Memphis organizations and programs.
-
Opinion: The right to bail is under attack in Tennessee
“I know what it feels like to sit in jail awaiting trial, uncertain of what comes next, with no meaningful opportunity to defend yourself or reclaim your freedom. That’s not what justice looks like.”
-
-
March 2025
-
Other school districts could be snared in state’s MSCS takeover plans
The Senate proposal would expand Tennessee’s voucher program to some rural and poor school districts, whether state officials believe other takeover measures are necessary or not.
-
New anti-transgender bathroom bill heading to Gov. Lee’s desk
A proposal in Tennessee that would require educational institutions that house students overnight to separate bathrooms “by immutable biological sex” is headed to Republican Gov. Bill Lee’s desk for his approval.
-
Opinion: For the children, educate undocumented students
“Educating children helps society to flourish. Denying education is a recipe for stagnation, more crime and increased misery for all.”
-
Gun switches could be outlawed if new bill becomes law
Tennessee currently has no law on the books that deals explicitly with gun switches.
-