A proposed grocery tax cut and bill addressing illegal immigration are among the first filings ahead of Tennessee’s 2025 legislative session.
Sen. Charlane Oliver and Rep. Aftyn Behn, Democrats from Nashville, introduced bills in their chambers that would remove the sales tax on food and food ingredients. The effort to remove the 4% tax failed last year.
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Republican leadership in the Tennessee General Assembly filed new legislation on Wednesday, the Education Freedom Act of 2025, to support Governor Bill Lee’s universal school choice plan.
House Bill 1/Senate Bill 1 was filed by House Majority Leader William Lamberth (R-Portland) and Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R-Franklin).
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Tennessee Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R-Franklin) said the legal challenge to Tennessee’s law that bans “gender-affirming care” on minors is not only an issue regarding a state’s interest to protect children, but also a state’s rights issue under the Tenth Amendment.
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Five Tennessee state representatives and three Tennessee state senators endorsed U.S. Representative Andy Ogles (R-TN-05) for reelection to Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District.
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Members of America’s leading pediatric medical association discussed possible ways to “circumvent” red states’ bans on sex change procedures and drugs for children, according to emails obtained by the Daily Caller News Foundation.
The emails are part of a trove of documents that show how the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the country’s largest professional association of pediatricians with a membership of 67,000 doctors, quietly partnered with transgender activist groups, such as the Human Rights Campaign and the World Professional Association of Transgender Health (WPATH), to push child sex changes nationwide.
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The U.S. Supreme Court announced it will hear arguments and rule on whether a Tennessee law that bans “gender-affirming care” on minors – including puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and sex-change surgeries – violates the Constitution.
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Since I interviewed Donny Van Slee back in 2022, I’ve always been intrigued by the chiropractor/country music singer who unashamedly goes to the beat of his own drummer. He was the first person to bring artists like Zach Bryan and Jack Johnson to my attention as they are performers that Van Slee likes to emulate.
Because his life is spread in so many directions, you can imagine my surprise when Van Slee showed up on Reba’s team on NBC’s The Voice earlier this spring. When he sang Lanco’s “Greatest Love Story” he was so good that Reba blocked Dan & Shay so she could have him all to herself. He was confident, showing that he was having the time of his life.
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The Tennessee General Assembly passed a bill sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R-Franklin) on Tuesday that addresses the state’s towing, parking, and vehicle booting laws.
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The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a request from the plaintiffs in L.W. v. Skrmetti on Thursday to block a Tennessee law banning “gender-affirming care” on minors, including puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and sex-change surgeries.
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The Tennessee Senate went into session briefly Thursday only to adjourn until 4 p.m. on Monday.
The Senate passed three bills Wednesday and are awaiting those bills returning but Sen. Jack Johnson, R-Franklin, told media he didn’t expect the Senate to take up any other bills.
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Governor Bill Lee has issued a proclamation calling for a special legislative session to take up gun-control measures, including a controversial “red flag” bill that many of his GOP allies in the Republican-controlled Tennessee General Assembly say is a non-starter.
The long-expected proclamation was apparently leaked to the liberal Tennessee Lookout late Thursday afternoon before it’s official release.
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Crom Carmichael – the original all star panelist – shared his insights on two recent Supreme Court decisions about the separation of powers and free speech during Friday’s edition of The Tennessee Star Report’s with Michael Patrick Leahy.
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Many of the laws passed during the recent Tennessee Legislative session will go into place July 1, the beginning of the new fiscal year, including a $412 million tax cut.
That cut includes $272.8 million toward a three-month grocery tax holiday between Aug. 1 and Oct. 31 along with changing the state franchise and excise business taxes to single sales factor taxes like 32 other states.
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Tuesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, guest host Aaron Gulbransen welcomed Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R-Franklin) in studio to review the Tennessee General Assembly’s legislative victories and the outlook for 2024.
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Americans for Prosperity – Tennessee (AFP-TN) applauded the state Senate’s passing of a bill that requires the Tennessee Treasurer to make investment decisions based on financial factors – not based on environmental, social, or governance (ESG) factors.
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Thursday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed all-star panelist Clint Brewer in studio to discuss the TN5 congressional race and money spent in the Williamson County senate race by Gary Humble and incumbent Jack Johnson.
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Sparks have been flying between Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R-Franklin) and challenger Gary Humble in the GOP nomination contest for Senate District 27, which is set to take place Thursday.
Mail pieces have flooded mailboxes with attack messages against Humble, and social media attacks on Johnson have been posted by Humble and his nonprofit, Tennessee Stands.
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The Tennessee Star has obtained two separate complaints filed against State Senate District 27 candidate and executive director of the non-profit Tennessee Stands, Gary Humble.
Humble is running in the August 4 Republican primary against State Senator Majority Leader Jack Johnson.
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Tennessee Right to Life endorsed State Senate Republican Leader Jack Johnson (R-Franklin) in his race for re-election on Tuesday.
The organization cited “Johnson’s demonstrated commitment to defending all of Tennessee’s vulnerable unborn children” and said the endorsement is “based on record of shared commitment and dedication to pro-life cause” in a statement.
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House Democrats blocked U.S. Representative Mark Green (R-TN-07)’s amendment late Tuesday to the National Defense Authorization Act which would have enabled guardsmen who refused the COVID-19 vaccine to stay employed.
Green’s amendment fought to protect National Guard and Reserve troops from being prohibited from paid training or education programs simply for their refusal to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
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FRANKLIN, Tennessee – In comments made during a press gaggle held on Sunday in conjunction with his 16th Annual Boots & Jeans: BBQ & Beans Event, State Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson signaled that the Tennessee General Assembly is ready to take action in order to help the Tennessee National Guard soldiers who refused the COVID-19 vaccine and that he and his colleagues are “prepared to step up to the plate to make sure these brave men and women do not lose their jobs.”
Johnson’s comments came after U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn and U.S. Representative Mark Green (R-TN-06) gave an update on their federal legislation, which if enacted, would pull funding nationally from enforcement of the COVID-19 vaccine mandate on National Guard soldiers.
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Tennessee Senator Jack Johnson’s (R-Franklin) annual “Boots and Jeans, BBQ and Beans” fundraising event will feature several prominent leaders from across Tennessee.
According to Johnson’s website, a host of political leaders will attend the event: Governor Bill Lee, Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn, U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty, and Congressman Mark Green.
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More Tennessee State Senators continue to speak out in favor of saving the jobs of Tennessee National Guard members who are due to be dismissed on June 30 due to their refusal to comply with the COVID-19 vaccination mandate.
State Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson and Senator Ferrell Haile have already spoken out.
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Tennessee Senate Republican Leader Jack Johnson issued a strong statement in support of Tennessee National Guard members who are due to be fired on June 30 because of their refusal to receive a COVID-19 vaccine and encouraging Governor Lee to help these guardsmen.
In a statement issued exclusively to The Tennessee Star, Leader Johnson excoriated the Biden administration’s COVID-19 mandates and said, “It is a travesty that the Biden Administration is prepared to fire brave men and women who faithfully serve our state and nation in the TN National Guard because of their COVID-19 vaccine status.”
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The Tennessee Professional Fire Fighters Association (TPFFA) endorsed Republican State Senator Jack Johnson for reelection in Senate District 27, the group announced Wednesday in a press release.
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Thursday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed all-star panelist Clint Brewer in-studio to examine the lack of good argument for taxpayers to get on board with a Titan stadium overhaul.
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A Tennessee bill to reinstate a 20-hour-a-week work requirement for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is headed to the Senate.
Senate Bill 2071 would require able-bodied individuals between age 18 and 49 and without children to work, train or volunteer for 20 hours each week to receive benefits. The bill would be effective once it is signed into law. Work-requirement laws were waived during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to sponsoring Sen. Jack Johnson, R-Franklin.
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Monday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed State Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson to the newsmaker line to discuss the residency bill lawsuit, school choice, and the challenger for his senate seat.
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A federal judge halted a new Tennessee law that prohibits COVID-19 mask mandates in schools on the basis that it violates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), but the language of the law shows otherwise.
That judge, Waverly Crenshaw, presides over the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee.
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Tennessee Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge) on Friday announced who will serve on a state senate Ad-Hoc Committee on Redistricting. McNally announced the names via an emailed press release.
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FRANKLIN — Clay Travis of The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Showheadlined this year’s Boots & Jeans, BBQ & Beans event in Franklin and warned about the presidency of Joe Biden and its ramifications. Travis and other officials spoke Sunday evening at The Factory at Franklin.
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Tennessee Republican lawmakers approved many new laws this year that the state will enact starting Thursday, July 1, the beginning of the new fiscal year. Tennessee State Senate GOP officials described the changes in an emailed press release on Tuesday.
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Members of the Nashville-based Tennessee Firearms Association on Wednesday said members of the Tennessee General Assembly are considering three permit-less carry bills, but one of them does not fully comply with the Second Amendment. TFA Executive Director John Harris told followers by email that the bill to which he refers, Senate Bill 765, is scheduled to make its way to the Tennessee State Senate floor Thursday. The Tennessee General Assembly’s website identifies the sponsor as State Sen. Jack Johnson (R-Franklin).
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Members of the Williamson County-based Tennessee Stands said this week that a new education bill in the Tennessee General Assembly will waste a lot of money and the state does not need it. State Sen. Jack Johnson (R-Franklin) is sponsoring the bill, the Tennessee Learning Loss Remediation and Student Acceleration Act. The COVID-19 pandemic, and its effects on public schools, prompted the legislation.
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Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), U.S. Rep. Mark Green (R-TN-07), and U.S Senate Republican candidate Bill Hagerty urged their supporters to vote Tuesday and to also re-elect U.S. President Donald Trump.
They did so Sunday at Franklin’s Liberty Hall inside The Factory, where State Sen. Jack Johnson (R-Franklin) hosted his annual Boots & Jeans, BBQ & Beans event.
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Tennessee state Sen. Jack Johnson (R-Franklin) is scheduled to host a fundraiser on Sunday in Franklin.
Johnson will host the event, titled Boots & Jeans, BBQ & Beans, at 4 p.m. Sunday, at the Factory at Franklin – Liberty Hall, according to his campaign’s website.
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Tuesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville’s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – Leahy was joined in the studio by State Senator Kerry Roberts and on the newsmaker line by Tennessee State Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson.
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On Tuesday’s Tennessee Star Report with Steve Gill and Michael Patrick Leahy and special guest co-host, Harriet Wallace of Fox 17 – broadcast on Nashville’s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 am to 8:00 am –spoke to newly elected official Senate Majority Leader, Jack Johnson of Williamson County regarding his new position, the continuous Williamson county winning streak and what will be on the General Assembly’s table with a new “crop” of incoming state officials. Gill: Jack, it’s like all about Williamson County lately. Johnson: Great to be with you guys. You know I think it’s more coincidence than anything else. A lot of people have made note of that. And it is exciting for Williamson county because we think have some good people and so humbling and it’s such an honor to win the respect of your peers and be elected to these caucus leadership positions. So I’m excited, we’ve got a great new Governor whose coming in and were going to have a great speaker of the house. I think we’ve got a really good team to take Tennessee forward. Gill: Well and people forget you’ve got the Lieutenant Governor from East Tennessee, the previous…
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Willie: Life & Songs Of An American Outlaw will feature star-studded performances by Willie Nelson, Alison Krauss, The Avett Brothers, George Strait, Jack Johnson, John Mellencamp, Kris Kristofferson, Lee Ann Womack, Lyle Lovett, Norah Jones and The Little Willies, Sheryl Crow, Susan Tedeschi & Derek Trucks, and Vince Gill.
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