Tennessee General Assembly to Resume Next Week Due to Severe Weather

The Tennessee General Assembly will resume business next week as a winter storm warning and wind chill advisory remains in effect for Davidson County.

In a statement on Monday, Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge) and House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) announced, “Due to the extreme weather, dangerous temperatures and resulting treacherous road conditions, we have decided to close the Cordell Hull Building and cancel all official legislative meetings for the rest of the week.”

“We ask that all Tennesseans stay warm, stay safe and avoid any unnecessary travel. The General Assembly will resume business on Monday, January 22,” McNally and Sexton added.

We ask that all Tennesseans stay warm, stay safe and avoid any unnecessary travel. The General Assembly will resume business on Monday, January 22.

— Randy McNally (@ltgovmcnally) January 15, 2024

On Monday, the National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning and wind chill advisory for all of Middle Tennessee.

With the exception of Wednesday’s projected high temperature of 35 degrees, Nashville is expected to have below-freezing temperatures every day until Monday, January 22 – the same day the General Assembly is scheduled to officially convene again.

Meanwhile, the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) has announced it currently has 244,000 tons of salt and more than 1.6 million gallons of salt brine ready for use during this winter season.

TDOT’s statewide budget for this winter season is $26.6 million and includes salt, salt brine, overtime for employees, and equipment maintenance.

“Roads are our number one responsibility, and we prepare for winter weather months in advance,” Deputy Governor and TDOT Commissioner Butch Eley said in a statement. “Our salt bins and our brine are fully stocked, and our employees are ready to mobilize in the event of inclement weather. Clearing our roadways as soon as we can is vital to keeping motorists safe and traffic moving in Tennessee.”

When snowfall occurs in Tennessee, TDOT says its ice and snow removal teams focus first on clearing interstates and heavily traveled state routes specifically targeting areas vulnerable to freezing, such as hills, curves, ramps, bridges, and interchanges.

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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.