NewsBreak Original

Governor says nuclear power is key to America's clean energy future. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee is taking steps to promote the state as a potential leader in providing clean energy by way of accelerating the development of nuclear power here.

Lee advances plan with funding designed to keep schools safe. Gov. Bill Lee recently signed a package of legislation designed to enhance school safety in the wake of a deadly shooting at Covenant School in Nashville. The bills include funding for additional School Resource Officers (SROs) as well as Homeland Security officers in each school district. There is also funding including to provide training to private security officers who work in schools.

Measures represent largest single-year tax cut in state history. Gov. Bill Lee this week signed a series of bills into law that represent a total of $400 million in tax cuts for Tennessee families and businesses. The most significant is a three-month grocery tax holiday beginning August 1st.

Students join with pastors to advance gun safety agenda. A coalition of students and pastors operating under the banner Protect Kids, Not Guns held a rally at the Capitol this week to urge the General Assembly to pass key gun safety reforms at an upcoming special legislative session called by Gov. Bill Lee.

Lawmakers welcome August special session on guns, public safety. As Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has set the date for a special legislative session on gun violence for late August, Senate Democrats are suggesting a comprehensive package of reform bills to help prevent mass shootings.

Tennessee continues to collect revenue at a rate far outpacing projections. According to the Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration's most recently-released revenue numbers, the State of Tennessee has collected $1.5 billion above its revenue projections for the current fiscal year. These numbers put the state on track to have a total surplus in excess of $2 billion.

Lawmakers push for action in upcoming special legislative session. The Democratic leaders of Tennessee's House and Senate are calling on their colleagues to heed Gov. Bill Lee's request for passage of a Red Flag law for gun safety and also suggesting additional reforms to enhance public safety.

Lawmakers backed Lee's $56 billion budget and approved key policy goals. Gov. Bill Lee is celebrating the passage of his 2023 legislative agenda, including a $56.2 billion state budget. Lee put forward his key policy initiatives early this year and as the legislature's session concluded, saw passage of each of them - from roads and infrastructure improvement to education.

Group cites conflict between Sexton's residency, per diem requests. A national nonprofit group with a focus on ethics in government is calling for state and federal criminal investigations into Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton following media reports related to Sexton's residency and per diem requests.

Group says recent school shooting highlights need for policy action. A group of Tennessee physicians who are also the parents of school-age children is calling on the Tennessee General Assembly to take action to reduce gun violence. The group is hopeful legislators will use an upcoming special legislative session to pass a Red Flag law and other measures that would protect children from gun violence.

Advocacy group says General Assembly moved state away from a "moral agenda" A group of Tennessee pastors affiliated with the Southern Christian Coalition is decrying the recently concluded session of the Tennessee General Assembly as one that moved the state away from what the group calls a "moral policy agenda."

The Tennessee General Assembly adjourned this past week without passing a Red Flag Law proposed by Gov. Bill Lee. The failure to take up gun violence legislation happened despite Lee's only Republican Party holding a supermajority in the House and Senate. In fact, many legislative Republicans expressed reluctance to take action on Lee's proposal.

Lawmakers call on leadership to take up key gun safety measure. Democrats in Tennessee's state Senate are calling on the GOP leadership of the body to take action on a proposal by Republican Gov. Bill Lee that would create a so-called "red flag law" for guns. Essentially, this would mean gun sellers couldn't sell to someone who is an imminent threat to themselves or others.

Group cites online petition with 18,000 signatures. A group of Tennessee pastors affiliated with the Southern Christian Coalition is calling on Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton to resign in the wake of what they say is a power grab as he and his allies moved to expel three lawmakers for protesting gun violence in the state.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee today called on the Tennessee General Assembly to pass a so-called "Red Flag" law to limit access to guns for people who pose a threat to themselves or others. Lee also signed an executive order he says will strengthen the state's background check system.

Senate Democrats express willingness to work with GOP governor to pass gun reform proposals. In the wake of a school shooting in Nashville that resulted in the killing of three students and three staff, Gov. Bill Lee and Senate Democrats have spoken out about proposals to reform the state's gun laws.

Jones returns to Tennessee legislature just days after being expelled. Nashville state representative Justin Jones, who serves District 52 in the Tennessee House of Representatives, was expelled from the body last Thursday. However, the Nashville Metro Council voted unanimously on Monday to reappoint Jones to the seat and he returned to the body in time for Monday's afternoon legislative session.

Southern Christian Coalition says legislation will harm young people and not reduce crime. A group of Tennessee pastors affiliated with the Southern Christian Coalition is speaking out in opposition to legislation that will treat some minors as young as 14 as adults in the state's court system.

Doctors say amending "mature minor" guidance will lead to harm. A group of Tennessee doctors affiliated with the healthcare advocacy group Protect My Care is speaking out on a proposal to amend the mature minor doctrine in the state as it relates to vaccines.

Threats and acts of violence have escalated in recent weeks, according to state's top law enforcement official. As political tensions have escalated in the state in recent weeks, Tennessee's Attorney General is speaking out against resorting to violence, noting there has been at least instance where shots were fired at someone's home.