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.

Gov. Bill Lee is pushing for a major revision to Tennessee charter school law to create ways for operators to bypass their local elected school boards.

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.

While the $447 million initiative has been touted as a “universal” program for anyone interested, Republican leaders included a key provision: Students living in the country illegally will be prohibited from participating.

In a letter to representatives of both the Board of Judicial Conduct and the Board of Professional Responsibility, state Sen. Brent Taylor asked for investigations into both Steve Mulroy and Judge Paula Skahan. 

State Rep. John Gillespie, R-Memphis, and state Sen. Raumesh Akbari, D-Memphis, have proposed a bill allowing Shelby County to ask voters if they want to raise the local-option sales tax from 2.75% to 3.75%.

Gov. Bill Lee’s inclusion of a proposed Downtown safety program comes as the city has embarked on a plan for hardening security on FedExForum game nights.

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State of the State: Gov. Lee proposes $1B toward $30B road projects backlog

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee on Monday proposed more than $1 billion into road projects financed by a one-time use of general state tax money and a plan to shift $80 million annually from the sales tax on tires.

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.

Tennessee lawmakers fast-tracked Gov. Bill Lee’s $5.5 million proposal to create a state immigration division and allocate funding for training grants for local law enforcement agencies seeking immigration agreements to cooperate with federal authorities.

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.”

The governor and the legislature’s GOP leaders are seeking even more funding for the program’s first year than the legislative analysis identifies.

The Tennessee House is warning lawmakers and the crowds watching legislative floor sessions that they could be booted from the room if their behavior is deemed out of line.

Critics of Tennessee’s voucher proposal allege the program is financially unsustainable in the long term and will siphon funds away from public schools.

U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Memphis, has called on the Senate to reject several of Trump’s appointees, including Robert Kennedy Jr

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.

Despite the snowy weather, Tennessee Department of Transportation SmartWay cameras showed steady traffic on the Interstate 55 and Hernando DeSoto bridges. Streams for other interstate routes in the city showed minimal weather-related disruptions.

State Sen. Brent Taylor lists allegations he says are grounds for the removal of Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy. “He does not follow the law,” Taylor said.

Lee was joined on the tour by Lt. Gov. Randy McNally and Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton — but not xAI founder Elon Musk. 

“You cannot accept anymore that the lowest performing school system in our state is in Shelby County,” State House Speaker Cameron Sexton said while in Memphis. “There’s too many people. There’s too many new jobs coming in. It’s too important for our success.”