Jonathan Skrmetti, a partner at the Butler Snow LLP law firm and former federal prosecutor in the Memphis office of the U.S. Attorney for the Western Division of Tennessee, is the new chief deputy of the Tennessee attorney general’s office.

State Rep. G.A. Hardaway, still smarting from 2012 redistricting, says Tennessee’s Black Caucus will focus on the importance of voting in 2019 and could seek an independent commission to draw House districts after the 2020 census.

Senate Minority Chairman Raumesh Akbari, with an eye toward passage of a Florida referendum on felon voting rights, is planning to sponsor legislation automatically restoring the right to vote for people with low-level felony convictions.

Gov.-elect Bill Lee made another round of cabinet appointments Monday, announcing Williamson County Sheriff Jeff Long, a former police officer at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Memphis, will serve as Safety and Homeland Security Department commissioner.

The Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators is putting together a legislative agenda that could fit with one of Gov.-elect Bill Lee’s priorities — keeping felons from going back to prison.

As Gov.-elect Bill Lee works at disentangling himself from the family-founded Lee Company, state lawmakers say he must take steps to avoid even the appearance of conflict with government contracts the company holds.

Tennessee Gov.-elect Bill Lee says his first budget proposal will focus on capping growth in state government and shifting funds toward criminal justice reform and to more vocational, technical and agricultural education in public schools.

Tennessee Gov.-elect Bill Lee talked with The Daily Memphian at Muddy’s Bake Shop + Coffee in Cooper-Young before he spoke at the Greater Memphis Chamber’s annual luncheon Thursday, Dec. 6. Here is a transcript of the conversation, edited for clarity.

Freshman Sen. Raumesh Akbari will serve as chairman of the Senate Democratic Caucus in the 111th General Assembly, taking the post Tuesday by acclamation. Though the group is small in number, with five members compared to 28 in the Senate Republican Caucus, Akbari said the “energy is undeniable” and she believes the group can “kick it up another notch for 2020.”

State Sen. Brian Kelsey says closing Republican primaries could bolster the “integrity” of GOP elections and keep other groups from affecting them. But Tennessee’s governor-elect and sitting governor disagree with such a move.

The race is taking shape for the final two years of the District 32 Senate seat vacated by Mark Norris.

State Sen. Brian Kelsey lost his bid for Senate Republican Caucus chairman despite promising to raise $100,000 for the group’s campaign account by the start of the 2019 legislative session.

A president of the Tennessee Young Democrats and still not 30 years old, freshman Rep.-elect London Lamar is determined to make young people part of the political equation across the state.

State Sen.-elect Raumesh Akbari is “super excited” about the election of Rep. Karen Camper as leader of the House Democratic Caucus, a key position in the workings of the state Legislature.

Former state Rep. Johnnie Turner didn’t participate in Memphis sit-ins during the 1960s in search of glory. Nor did she hear the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. or ride the Memphis city buses fearing death during the 1960s thinking she would be recognized someday at a Nashville gala.

Former state Rep. Steve McManus, loaded with money from his previous House service, confirmed Friday he will enter the race for the vacant 32nd District Senate seat to fill two years remaining in the term of Mark Norris, who left the post to take a federal judgeship.

Calling Memphis a key part of Tennessee’s economy, Republican House Speaker-nominee Glen Casada says he will ensure the city receives its “fair share” of economic development projects through the state.

Former Shelby County Commissioner George Chism, who left the body after one term and ran for county trustee, is considering entering the special election for the 32nd District state Senate seat vacated by Mark Norris.

State Sen.-elect Raumesh Akbari is running for the Senate Democratic Caucus chairmanship, saying she wants to “tackle the role” of electing Democratic candidates across the red state of Tennessee.

Memphis attorney Lang Wiseman will serve as deputy to the governor and chief counsel for Gov.-elect Bill Lee. He is among the next governor’s staff appointments announced Tuesday and the only one from Shelby County so far.

State Rep. Kevin Vaughan of Collierville will not run in the special election to fill the District 32 seat vacated by Mark Norris.

The Tennessee Registry of Election Finance has assessed fines against three Memphis legislators for failing to file campaign finance reports, eliciting a blistering response from state Rep. Joe Towns, who contends the body is “out of control.”

Memphis Democratic Rep. Karen Camper won election Sunday within the House Minority Caucus to become the group’s leader, the first African-American caucus leader in Tennessee history.

Freshman state Rep. Jesse Chism is ready to ride a bit of a learning curve in his first year in the state House, yet he’s going in with strong convictions for more health care coverage and better backing of public schools.

Two Memphis state legislators are vying to become leader of the House Democratic Caucus in an effort to help the minority party regain stature in the Legislature. Reps. Karen Camper of District 87 and Joe Towns of District 84, both Memphis Democrats, are running for the top leadership position in the caucus along with Reps. Johnny Shaw of Bolivar and Bo Mitchell of Davidson County, a late entrant into the race.