The Tennessee Senate Commerce and Labor Committee passed a bill this week that would require TennCare and public employee group insurance plans to cover a medical test used to assist with diagnosing diseases.
State senators approved Senate Bill (SB) 0435 by a vote of 8 to 1, requiring these entities to cover biomarker testing when ordered by a healthcare provider. The bill proposal now goes to the Senate floor for deliberation.
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Illegal immigrants in Tennessee who fail to leave the state after being issued a final federal deportation order may be charged with a crime for not leaving the state.
The Tennessee Senate passed Senate Bill (SB) 1779, which would create a misdemeanor crime for illegal immigrants who stay in the state after a final federal deportation order is issued against them.
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Tennessee seeks to advance America’s nuclear capabilities after submitting an application to host a Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus.
The Volunteer State submitted its proposal last week to have its Oak Ridge nuclear site become part of the federal-state partnership.
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The Tennessee State House will vote on a bill next week that would help local law enforcement agencies combat illegal immigration.
State representatives will debate House Bill (HB) 2018, which was introduced by State Representative Mark Cochran (R-Englewood).
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The Tennessee Legislature passed a bill targeting people or groups that hire protesters.
Senate President Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge) and House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) signed off on the bill this week after both chambers passed Senate Bill (SB) 2222.
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Davidson County saw its population increase the most of any county in Tennessee last year, according to the University of Tennessee-Knoxville (UTK)’s Boyd Center for Business and Economic Research. Tennessee’s second most populous county gained 9,281 residents from 2024 to 2025, going from 736,623 to 745,904. The county experienced a 1.3 percent increase in population growth. Rutherford County gained the second-largest number of residents from 2024 to 2025. The Middle Tennessee county increased its population from 380,086 to 386,352, a gain of 6,266 residents. This generated a 1.6 percent increase in Rutherford County’s population. In addition to these two counties, Wilson County saw its population increase from 170,340 to 175,033, a gain of 4,693 residents. This led to its population increasing by 2.8 percent from 2024 to 2025. UTK also examined the state’s fastest-growing counties by percentage. Trousdale County experienced the highest percentage growth among counties in the state, rising 3.6 percent from 2024 to 2025. However, Trousdale County has a small population, which increased by only 434 people, from 12,189 to 12,623. Maury County saw the second-highest population growth, rising from 114,456 in 2024 to 118,131 in 2025. The third-fastest-growing population in a Tennessee county, based on percentage, was…
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The Tennessee House will debate a bill on Thursday that regulates children’s involvement in online content creation.
The State House will deliberate on Senate Bill (SB) 1469, which allows children to receive money they generate from their own online content creation or from appearing in someone else’s content.
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Tennessee gender clinics may soon be required to offer detransition procedures for transgender people.
The State House passed House Bill (HB) 0754 this week, which mandates gender clinics that accept state funds to offer detransition procedures to patients.
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The Tennessee House Finance, Ways and Means Subcommittee will hear a bill on Wednesday that helps the state respond to disasters quickly and efficiently.
House Bill (HB) 2543, which was introduced by State Representative William Lamberth (R-Portland), would have the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency manage disaster funding decisions rather than the state Department of Finance & Administration.
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Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) introduced a bill that would expand access to mental health care for veterans.
Under the Recognizing Community Organizations for Veteran Engagement and Recovery (RECOVER) Act, a three-year pilot program would be created at the Veterans Affairs (VA) for mental health.
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Representative Andy Ogles (R-TN-05) wrote a public letter to American Muslim leaders on Friday, asking them to condemn the recent violent attacks that have been allegedly perpetrated by Muslims.
“In the last three weeks, our nation has faced a series of violent attacks by Muslims citing religious justifications for their bloodshed,” Ogles wrote.
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Tennessee joined 20 other states in petitioning the Supreme Court to take up a lower court case about a Pennsylvania mail-in ballot law.
The state attorneys general requested this week that the Court review and overturn a federal appellate court’s decision striking down Pennsylvania’s law requiring voters to handwrite the date on their mail-in ballots.
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The Tennessee Senate unanimously passed a bill creating a disciplinary offense for a teacher or school employee who bullies a student.
On Monday, state senators passed Senate Bill (SB) 1774 by a vote of 32 to 0. State Senator Paul Rose (R-Tipton County) introduced this bill.
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A Tennessee-based energy company announced last week its expansion plan will create over 1,000 jobs for Tennesseans.
Create Energy, based in Portland, Tennessee, is investing more than $78 million in Sumner and Robertson counties.
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The Tennessee State House passed a bill on Thursday that would prevent the state’s Medicaid program from covering gender transition procedures for minors.
State representatives passed House Bill (HB) 2498 by a vote of 73 to 14. State Representative Kip Capley (R-Summertown) is the sponsor of this bill proposal.
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The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) issued a permit to Elon Musk’s xAI company this week to build a power plant in Southaven.
Southaven, about 15 minutes from Memphis, will help power the Colossus 2 data center, which helps operate Grok.
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Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD)’s Street Race Initiative led to the arrest of three people over the weekend who face charges ranging from drag racing, reckless driving, and aggravated assault.
Law enforcement arrested 18-year-old Jason Linares and charged him with drag racing, evading arrest, leaving the scene of an accident, theft, and driving on a revoked license.
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U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN-05) is one of 46 members of the new Sharia-Free America Caucus.
The House of Representatives caucus has members from 22 different states.
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Representative Andy Ogles (R-TN-05) is set to introduce a bill seeking to ban immigration from Muslim and foreign adversary countries.
According to Fox News, Ogles’ bill, called the Halt Immigration from Countries with Inadequate Verification Capabilities Act, would prevent people from Iran, Libya, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen from immigrating to America.
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The Metro Nashville Council approved a resolution on Tuesday opposing the Music City Loop project, a 13-mile route.
Council members passed the resolution by a 20-15 vote, with two people abstaining.
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Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) introduced a bill on Monday to increase reporting of migrant crime nationwide.
Under the Migrant Crime Reporting Act (MCRA), the federal government would provide states with grant funding to gather and review data from state law enforcement agencies on the number of migrants charged or convicted of a crime in the previous year.
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A Tennessee bill proposal seeks to address the state’s school bus driver shortage.
State Representative Mike Sparks (R-Smyrna) introduced House Bill (HB) 1790, which would lower the minimum age for a school bus driver from 25 to 23.
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Manufacturing companies announced significant investments in Tennessee this week, expected to create hundreds of jobs.
Two companies, Documotion Research Inc. and Durable Products, announced they were expanding their manufacturing operations in the state.
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Gov. Bill Lee announced on Wednesday that the Music City Loop project received state and federal approval.
The Boring Company’s Music City Loop got its lease application and enhanced grading permit for the use of state-owned property along Tennessee’s highway system, approved by the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) and the Federal Highway Administration.
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President Donald Trump will give his State of the Union Address tonight before Congress.
This will be Trump’s first State of the Union speech of his second term in the White House.
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The Tennessee State House is considering a bill that would require public schools to teach Bible lessons and allow for prayer time and reading of religious texts during the day.
The state House Judiciary Committee ran out of time to hear the bill last week, but said it would be heard at its next meeting.
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Vanderbilt University opened a “formal inquiry” last Saturday after reports alleged a faculty member “shared offensive content during course instruction.”
The school said on X that the “content in question has been removed.”
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A Tennessee man with a previous murder conviction faces prison time after a federal grand jury indicted him on another criminal charge.
The grand jury indicted James Lafayette Moore, 51, for allegedly possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said.
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The Tennessee House Departments and Agencies Subcommittee advanced a bill on Tuesday that would require schools to track students’ immigration status. House Bill (HB) 1711, sponsored by State Representative Elaine Davis (R-Knoxville), now heads to the House State & Local Government Committee. HB 1711 expands reporting requirements in Tennessee for illegal immigrants. Schools would need to keep track of students’ immigration status so the Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration can make a report on how much illegal immigrants in public schools are costing the state annually. Besides schools, prisons, hospitals, and social service agencies would be required to keep track of people’s immigration status to create a report to determine the annual financial effect illegal immigrants have on these services. The bill proposal would mandate law enforcement agencies to submit quarterly reports to the Tennessee Department of Safety, to include information about illegal activities committed by illegal immigrants, criminal gang activity, violations of federal law, and illegal immigrants arrested or detained for federal immigration laws. Law enforcement would need to report legal residents and illegal immigrants who have been charged with crimes or convicted of crimes, the bill proposal states. A government official or employee who fails to file…
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Tennessee gubernatorial candidate Marsha Blackburn came out in support of an effort to eliminate state property taxes. Blackburn, who is currently one of Tennessee’s senators, said Tuesday she supports Amendment Two, which would modify the state Constitution to outlaw state property taxes. Blackburn noted Tennessee residents are “well-served by a limited government that allows them to keep their hard-earned money.” “This November, I hope you’ll join me in voting yes on Amendment Two to ensure that future generations don’t have to worry about the threat of a statewide property tax,” she said. “Together, let’s keep Tennessee one of the lowest taxed states in the nation and make our state America’s conservative leader!” In 1999, Blackburn helped lead a successful effort to thwart the implementation of a state income tax by former Republican Governor Don Sundquist. In 2014, Tennesseeans passed a ballot initiative that amended the state Constitution to ban an income tax. A recent poll from Beacon Center of Tennessee showed Blackburn ahead by 47 percentage points in her GOP gubernatorial primary race against Representative John Rose (R-TN-06). Last week, a campaign called “YES ON 2” began to repeal Article II, Section 28 of the Tennessee Constitution. As required by state law, the…
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The Tennessee House Judiciary Committee will hear a bill on Wednesday attempting to create a criminal charge for an illegal immigrant who fails to leave Tennessee after a final deportation order.
The state House Criminal Justice Subcommittee passed House Bill (HB) 1704 on a 6-2 vote last week.
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The Tennessee State House passed a bill this week that gives public schools the option of displaying the Ten Commandments and other historical documents.
House Bill (HB) 0047, introduced by State Representative Michael Hale (R-Smithville), passed 75-17, with one member voting present. The bill now heads over to the State Senate for consideration.
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Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti and 39 other attorneys general sent a letter to congressional leaders asking them to pass the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA).
Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) introduced the bill in May 2025 to protect children when using the internet. This was the fourth time KOSA has been introduced in Congress.
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A Tennessee bill would impose a criminal penalty for obstructing a religious service.
State Representative Greg Martin (R-Hamilton County) introduced House Bill (HB) 2264 last week, which would create a misdemeanor offense for interfering with a religious institution.
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A Tennessee bill seeks to prevent local governments from putting restrictions on accessory dwelling units (ADUs).
State Representative Jeremy Faison (R-Cosby) introduced House Bill (HB) 2031, which prevents local governments from restricting ADUs more than single-family homes.
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The Tennessee State House Business & Utilities Subcommittee will hear a bill next week that aims to protect Tennessee renters’ Second Amendment rights.
State Representative Lee Reeves (R-Franklin) introduced House Bill (HB) 0469, which would prevent landlords from prohibiting their tenants or guests from lawfully possessing firearms, firearm parts, or ammunition on the property they rent.
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The Tennessee State House Education Committee passed a bill that would let public schools display the Ten Commandments and other historical American documents.
The committee passed House Bill (HB) 0047, introduced by State Representative Michael Hale (R-Smithville), by a 15-4 vote on Tuesday.
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Nearly every Tennessee county has an unemployment rate under 5 percent.
Ninety-one counties in Tennessee had a jobless rate under 5 percent in December 2025.
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Tennessee had 11,344 reports of suspected illegal immigrants who were charged or convicted of a crime in 2025, according to a new report.
The Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference (TDAGC) released a report last week, examining crimes committed by potential illegal immigrants last year.
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The state House Children and Family Affairs Subcommittee will hear a bill next week that challenges the Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage.
State Representative Gino Bulso introduced House Bill (HB) 1473 in January to allow private citizens and organizations to legally refuse to recognize same-sex marriage.
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Two Tennessee contractors at a Knoxville construction site face criminal charges for their alleged actions during a federal immigration raid.
Authorities charged Tyler Shane Wells, 33, and Alexander Bonilla-Servin, 18, last week with harboring illegal immigrants for financial gain and using force or intimidation to interfere with federal agents performing their duties.
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Centrus, a nuclear energy company, announced last week that it will expand its operations in Tennessee.
The nuclear company will be transitioning its Oak Ridge facility to a high-rate manufacturing plant, according to a state government press release.
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A new bill proposal would stop Tennesseans from paying sales taxes on fruits and vegetables.
State Representative Mike Sparks (R-Smyrna) introduced House Bill (HB) 2086 last week, which would prevent people from paying the state’s 4 percent sales tax on these items.
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Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), along with other senators, introduced a bill that would deport child care providers who are non-citizens who commit fraud.
Besides deportation, the Stop Fraud by Strengthening Oversight and More Accountability for Lying and Illegal Activity Act would prevent non-citizens who engage in this from getting lawful status in America and bar them from asylum.
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U.S. Marshals arrested a Tennessee man wanted on first-degree murder charges.
Wilquonta Haslyn Bailey, 29, was taken into custody in connection with a killing in Smyrna, Tennessee, according to a U.S. Marshals Middle Tennessee Task Force press release.
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A new Tennessee bill would provide homeschool students with alternative standardized testing options. Under current law, homeschool students who don’t perform well on required tests could potentially be forced back into a school setting.
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A new bill proposal would prevent Tennessee healthcare providers from asking gender-related questions to minors without a parent present.
House Bill (HB) 1665, introduced by State Representative Aron Maberry (R-Clarksville) last week, would require parents to give written consent for healthcare providers to ask their children gender-related questions.
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A nuclear energy company announced on Friday a $1.4 billion investment in Tennessee.
LIS Technologies said it would expand its operations at the Oak Ridge facility previously known as Duct Island.
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A new bill proposal seeks to expand the places in Tennessee where a person can carry a firearm.
Senate Bill (SB) 1629, which was introduced by State Senator Joseph Hensley (R-Hohenwald), would allow Tennesseans to carry firearms in state and local parks, public greenways, recreational properties, and certain national parks and federal lands.
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A new bill looks to strengthen immigration enforcement in Tennessee.
State Senator Brent Taylor (R-Memphis) introduced Senate Bill (SB) 1486, which would require local law enforcement agencies to “accept and honor” federal immigration detainers.
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