“The biggest challenge we are going to face in education moving forward is defining the intent of our legislators.” 

In this installment of “Minor Offenders, Major Offenses,” we look at how lawmakers intend to build on the mandatory-minimum “truth in sentencing” law with bills that treat juveniles as adults in more circumstances. Many of the tough-on-crime proposals pivot from former Gov. Bill Haslam’s moderate juvenile justice reform effort in 2018.

Tennessee lawmakers on Wednesday, March 8, delayed a vote on a bill that would expand permitless gun carry to 18-year-olds and allow permit holders to carry any firearms, not just handguns. No law enforcement agencies support it.

The amendment would provide students with another way to measure reading proficiency outside of the single, English Language Arts TCAP score currently used under the new law.

Bill Lee proposed $100 million for anti-abortion crisis pregnancy centers, one of which he co-founded; he is also proposing a $2.2 million uncompetitive grant to a campaign donor’s foundation.

U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen talks about a new strategy for bringing home federal funding with the new Republican majority and the state’s two Republican Senators show up for CPAC’s return to Washington. The Daily Memphian’s D.C. Scorecard tracks the city’s representatives in Washington D.C.

Currently, the state has several official symbols, including horses, insects, minerals and trees. But nothing as delicious as pies. 

Gov. Bill Lee signed off on legislation, which bans adult cabaret from public property or anywhere minors might be present without issuing a statement or a public ceremony. The bill goes into effect July 1.

The protests of proposed state laws that would outlaw drag various forms of drag shows came as Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee attended the Wednesday, March 1, opening of the Whitehaven YMCA.

Related story: 

Back in the swim of things: $11.5M YMCA opens in Whitehaven

Concerns about rental properties in the Bartlett area have drawn the attention of officials in the suburb, in the county and at the state legislature.

None of the health care-related organizations that contribute the most heavily to Tennessee politicians is publicly opposing legislation that bans transgender health care for youth despite support for that care from leading medical associations.

Related story:

Tennessee House passes trans youth care ban, Bill Lee expected to sign

If the ban becomes law in Tennessee, doctors would be prohibited from providing gender-affirming care to anyone under the age of 18, including prescribing puberty blockers and hormones — and could even be penalized.

Related story:

Health care groups and big political donors silent on trans youth bill

Years after the wine in grocery stores battle was fought, a new battle is brewing — over spirit-based seltzers. 

House Speaker Cameron Sexton and Gov. Bill Lee say they don’t want to deal with the requirements that accompany federal funding for education and HIV prevention and Tennessee is in the financial shape to replace it.

While emissions from sectors such as energy production have fallen in the past few decades, those from agriculture — especially livestock and corn — are growing in most places. 

Mayor Jim Strickland made a $684 million improvement proposal. Gov. Bill Lee earmarked $350 million for FedExForum and Liberty Stadium renovations in Tennessee’s budget plan. Where do things go from here? Some questions and answers.

Tennessee Senate lawmakers approved the expansion of an education voucher program, currently just for Shelby and Davidson Counties, that allows public tax dollars to be given to families to pay for private schooling to Hamilton County.

Two members of the Tennessee National Guard were killed during a flight-training mission. The helicopter crashed around 3 p.m. local time and caught fire.

If the Shelby County Commission adopts a resolution of no confidence in Halbert, 88,481 voters have to sign a petition to put a recall question on the ballot. Republican state Rep. Mark White’s bill brings that down to 5,899.

According to the Shelby County Health Department, nearly 7,000 residents were living with HIV as of 2021, and the county ranks third nationally in incidence rates of new HIV cases. 

The first dollars from the 2021 investment for the Mental Health Trust Fund will be spent in fiscal year 2025. A Republican senator said, “I thought we should have just used that money... It just languishes in the Treasury.”

In a General Assembly dominated by Republicans, an incident over the dress code was the first test of how freely Pearson can express his values — without antagonizing colleagues whose help he’ll need to pass legislation.

Amtrak has proposed a new service that would connect Atlanta to Chattanooga and Nashville, but the Tennessee Department of Transportation could push for a Memphis-Nashville line.

His ex-boyfriend said Harris shouted at him and pushed and grabbed him, then he “ransacked” his apartment.

Memphis is hoping to expand ways state money can be used.