Tennessee Lookout

30/01/2025

Tennessee House Republicans voted overwhelmingly in favor of sweeping immigration legislation Thursday, creating a new state enforcement office, providing grants to law enforcement, creating distinct licenses for noncitizens and making it a felony for public officials to back sanctuary policies -- which are already prohibited by a 2018 law.

Tennessee House Republicans voted overwhelmingly in favor of sweeping immigration legislation Thursday, creating a new enforcement office.

30/01/2025

In one of the most hotly-contested questions in modern Tennessee political history, the legislature narrowly approved a $430 million private-school voucher program that critics say will grow quickly to $1 billion and endanger the state’s budget.

In one of the most hotly-contested questions in modern Tennessee political history, the legislature narrowly approved a $430 million private-school voucher program that critics say will grow quickly to $1 billion and endanger the state’s budget. The House voted 54-44 in favor of Gov. Bill Lee’s ...

30/01/2025

The Tennessee General Assembly Wednesday approved a disaster relief package for northeast Tennessee communities still recovering from devastating floods wrought by Hurricane Helene.

The Tennessee General Assembly Wednesday approved a disaster relief package for northeast Tennessee communities still recovering from devastating floods wrought by Hurricane Helene. The package includes $110 million in aid to local governments over the next three years to meet interest payments on l...

29/01/2025

Tennessee lawmakers backing a private-school voucher plan got a bounce Wednesday from President Donald Trump, who was expected to sign an executive order to expand “school choice” programs nationwide, according to reports.

Tennessee lawmakers backing a private-school voucher plan got a bounce Wednesday from President Donald Trump.

29/01/2025

Tennessee is set to create an immigration enforcement division that would be exempt from the state’s Public Records Act.

29/01/2025

Tennessee House and Senate education committees passed the governor’s private-school voucher program Tuesday, speeding the $450 million first-year expense to final votes before week’s end.

Tennessee House and Senate education committees passed the governor’s private-school voucher program Tuesday, speeding the $450 million first-year expense to final votes before week’s end. Senators voted 8-1 to send the measure to the finance committee to be considered Wednesday. Senate Majority...

29/01/2025

As Gov. Bill Lee’s immigration enforcement plan moves swiftly through the Tennessee Legislature, one component of the bill — aimed at arresting local officials who support sanctuary policies for immigrants — drew scrutiny Tuesday.

A Tennessee measure aimed at arresting local officials who support sanctuary city policies for immigrants is 'constitutionally suspect.'

29/01/2025

Rural Tennessee communities and the state’s blossoming electric vehicle industry received a substantial boost from federal cash infusions under former President Joe Biden’s administration — some of which now face an uncertain future as President Donald Trump takes the reins.

Tennessee investments in the electric vehicle sector face an uncertain future as President Donald Trump halts infrastructure spending.

28/01/2025

The Trump administration will temporarily stop payments on multiple federal programs Tuesday evening, cutting off Americans who rely on what could be trillions in funding and likely setting off a legal challenge over Congress’ constitutional spending authority.

The Trump administration will temporarily stop payments on multiple federal programs Tuesday, cutting off Americans who rely on federal services.

28/01/2025

Just in from Senior Reporter Sam Stockard: East Tennessee Republican Rep. Kevin R***r talks pressure to vote for school vouchers. "Oh, you wouldn't believe," R***r told the Lookout.

Tennessee Rep. Kevin R***r, an East Tennessee Republican, says Gov. Bill Lee's office is pressuring him to vote for private school vouchers.

28/01/2025

State Rep. Mark White, chairman of the House Education Committee, said Monday he is putting together a bill that would enable the Department of Education to create a management group to run Memphis-Shelby County Schools without oversight by the school district’s board of education.

Rep. Mark White, a Memphis Republican, is filing a bill to allow a state takeover of Memphis Shelby County Schools.

28/01/2025

Gov. Bill Lee’s plan to use state resources for immigration enforcement will cost Tennessee taxpayers $20.5 million annually, an analysis from the state’s fiscal review committee found.

Gov. Bill Lee’s plan to use state resources for immigration enforcement will cost Tennessee taxpayers $20.5 million annually.

27/01/2025

“There’s a fiscal cliff that will occur with this down the road,” Rep. Jody Barrett, a Dickson Republican, said of a proposed school voucher plan, adding he believes in a decade the program could cost $1 billion a year, including “scholarships” and related expenses.

Tennessee Rep. Jody Barrett, a Dickson Republican, says a proposed school voucher plan will create a "fiscal cliff" in the state.

27/01/2025

"You don’t punish children for what their parents did." Sen. Todd Gardenhire, a Chattanooga Republican, wants to exempt school resources officers from flagging the children of undocumented immigrants for deportation.

Tennessee Sen. Todd Gardenhire of Chattanooga opposes measures allowing for children of undocumented immigrants to be deported from schools.

27/01/2025

Gov. Bill Lee surprised many when he inserted an “illegal immigration agenda” into his proclamation for a special legislative session that will focus primarily on a controversial private school voucher proposal and disaster relief for counties struggling to recover from Hurricane Helene.

Immigration policy experts say Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee’s immigration plan goes further in asserting power than any other non-border state.

27/01/2025

As Tennessee lawmakers prepare to take up the governor’s $424 million private-school voucher plan in a special session, a national researcher says such “voucher schemes” hurt public schools, “devastate” student learning and hit states hard financially.

As Tennessee lawmakers take up a plan to expand private school vouchers, expert Josh Cowen says such “voucher schemes” hurt public schools.

24/01/2025

Ford Motor Company released details of its promised $9 million investment in West Tennessee communities surrounding its new BlueOval City electric vehicle manufacturing campus in Stanton Thursday.

Ford Motor Company released details of its promised $9 million investment in West Tennessee communities surrounding its new BlueOval City.

24/01/2025

A Shelby County measure requiring developers who want to use future property tax revenues to pay for development to first complete “culturally-competent community engagement” may be unconstitutional, according to Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti.

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti says a Shelby County measure for tax increment financing may be unconstitutional.