Tag: Chris Todd

Tennessee State House Advances Bill to Criminalize ‘Harboring or Hiding’ Illegal Immigrants, Prosecute Human Smugglers

Tom Pappert
Illegal Immigrants

The Tennessee State House Criminal Justice Subcommittee on Wednesday voted to advance legislation that would create the state-level offense of human smuggling and impose penalties for those caught “harboring or hiding” a person who they “should have known has illegally entered or remained in the United States.”

House Bill (HB) 322 by State Representative Chris Todd (R-Madison County) would amend Tennessee’s laws against human trafficking by establishing prohibitions against involuntary servitude, trafficking individuals for the purpose of forced labor, for prostitution, or for human smuggling.

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Tennessee State House Removes Disruptive Audience After Rep. Justin Jones Delivers Speech Denouncing Immigration Bill

Tom Pappert
Justin Jones

Disruptive members of the public were reportedly removed from the Tennessee State House gallery on Wednesday shortly after Representative Justin Jones (D-Nashville) delivered a speech urging Republicans not to vote for legislation that would empower citizens to recall local politicians who vote to make their communities a sanctuary city.

Lawmakers are currently convened in Nashville for a special legislative session to consider the Education Freedom Act, a universal school choice proposal that would create 20,000 scholarships to empower families, as well as a package of relief legislation for those affected by Hurricane Helene and immigration legislation to support the federal government under President Donald Trump.

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New Law Results in Tennessee National Guard Troops Receiving Compensation Faster

Kaitlin Housler
Tennessee National Guard

A bill signed into law by Governor Bill Lee last year has reportedly resulted in dozens of Tennessee National Guard troops on state active duty receiving weekly compensation as opposed to waiting a month or longer to receive wages.

The bill, HB 0562, strengthened Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 58-1-109 by adding the following language to ensure active duty troops receive compensation on a weekly basis:

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Tennessee National Guard Soldiers and State Legislators Ask Governor Lee to Intervene at Public Event

Aaron Gulbransen

NASHVILLE, Tennessee – Tennessee National Guard soldiers and several state legislators held an event at Legislative Plaza right in front of the state capitol asking Governor Bill Lee to intervene on behalf of the soldiers who are about to lose their jobs over noncompliance with a COVID-19 mandate.

The National Guard soldiers that spoke and attended the event were off duty and spoke as private citizens, not on behalf of any government entity. Their ranks were stated for identification purposes only.

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Glen Gaugh Commentary: Why I Support Chris Todd in District 73’s State House Race

Tennessee Star Staff
Chris Todd

I made my personal decision to vote for Chris Todd after speaking with both he and his opponent, County Commissioner Jay Bush. When negative ads started showing up on Facebook, sponsored by House Majority Leader Glen Casada’s CAS-PAC, attacking Commissioner Bush for his vote to raise property taxes, I had to look deeper into Chris’ character. Here are the reasons why my support remains with Chris Todd.

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