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. – host Leahy welcomed Aaron Gulbransen, director of Tennessee’s Faith and Freedom Coalition, in studio to discuss the passing of SB 1 in the State Senate which would not allow gender transition surgeries to children under the age of 18.
Read the full storyTag: Tennessee General Assembly
Changes Coming to Tennessee’s Standards Review and Textbook Adoption Timeline
A bill that would extend the textbook review and adoption period from 73 months to 97 months moved out of the Senate Education Committee and its counterpart will be heard on Tuesday morning in the House Education Instruction Subcommittee. The proposed measure, SB0421, would also impact the review period of state standards for English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. It is a change that comes from State Senator Jon Lundberg (R-Bristol), at the urging of the Tennessee State Board of Education (SBE).
Read the full storyState Legislators React to Speaker Sexton’s Proposal to Reject Federal Funding for K-12 Public Education
Speaker of the Tennessee House Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) caught some of his fellow lawmakers by surprise with last week’s announcement of his intent to introduce legislation that would stop the state from accepting federal K-12 education dollars.
As Senate Education Chair John Lundberg (R-Bristol) told The Tennessee Star, “The proposal wasn’t even on my radar, but now that the idea is out there, I’m intrigued by the prospect of peeling back the onion and taking a look at the many layers involved in accepting money for education from the federal government.”
Read the full storyChair of Tennessee State Senate Education Committee Takes Third Grade TCAP Test
State Senator John Lundberg (R-Bristol) recently took the state test administered annually to Tennessee’s third-grade students. He said he found it to be fair, devoid of trick questions, and completable in a reasonable time frame.
In a phone conversation with The Tennessee Star, Lundberg said, “I heard a lot of concerns from parents around third-grade retention, and TCAP [Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program.] I felt I owed it to them to delve deeper into the subject, and so I asked the department of education to allow me to take the test.”
Read the full storyState Senator Jack Johnson Details the Process by Which Governor Lee’s Proposed Legislation Is Carried
Wednesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed Tennessee State Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson in studio to explain the process by which the Governor’s legislation is carried.
Read the full storyTennessee State Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson Details Bill to Prohibit Gender Transition Treatments for Minors
Wednesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed State senate majority leader Jack Johnson in studio to explain Senate Bill one and House Bill one that would prohibit children under the age of 18 from having gender transition procedures whether surgically or medically.
Read the full story‘Tennessee is Leading the Nation:’ Governor Bill Lee Delivers Fifth State of the State Address
One year after declaring “the state of our state is strong,” Governor Bill Lee touted Tennessee as a leader in the nation in regards to being a “guiding light for opportunity, security and freedom” during his fifth State of the State address on Monday in the House Chamber of the Tennessee State Capitol.
Read the full storyState Representative Bud Hulsey Discusses His New K-12 Education Bill
Wednesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed State Representative Bud Hulsey to the newsmaker line to detail his new bill HB 0727 which would require parents to opt their children into surveys and curriculum.
Read the full storyAaron Gulbransen and TC Weber Discuss Literacy Testing and the Tennessee General Assembly’s Big Issues
Tuesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed education reporter for The Tennessee Star, TC Weber and official guest host, Aaron Gulbransen in studio to define literacy testing and discuss the Tennessee General Assembly’s big issues.
Read the full storyState Senator Jack Johnson Clarifies Terms of State Abortion Trigger Law, Action on Third Grade Retention
Wednesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed Tennessee State Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson to the newsmaker line to clarify the abortion trigger law, third-grade retention bill, and the possibility of direct instruction in K-12 public schools.
Read the full storyTennessee State Senator Introduces Bill Aimed at Prohibiting School District from Mandating Implied Bias Training
State Senator Todd Gardenhire (R-Chattanooga) introduced legislation that would prohibit Tennessee public schools and universities from mandating “implicit bias” training. If passed, SB102 would also extend to state agencies, including the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) and The State Board of Education (SBE). Neither of these agencies currently requires employees to participate in training as a condition of employment.
The National Institutes of Health defines implicit bias as a form of bias that occurs automatically and unintentionally, but nevertheless affects judgments, decisions, and behaviors. Research has shown implicit bias can pose a barrier to schools creating a diverse workforce and negatively impact student learning. In an effort to mitigate the negative effects, schools and businesses have implemented mandatory training for employees, Gardenhire’s law would work to end these mandates.
Read the full storyRutherford County Seeks Parity from Legislature in Options for Cities and Counties to Deal with Growth
Rutherford County is seeking parity from the state legislature in terms of options available for cities and counties in dealing with the expansion of services demanded by the unprecedented growth in the state.
At the regular meeting of the Rutherford County Board of Commissioners held Thursday evening, a resolution was passed by a vote of 18 to 3 requesting the county’s legislative delegation to support any bills presented in the 2023 legislative session to amend the 2006 County Powers Relief Act.
Read the full storyTennessee Congressman John Rose Talks New House Rules and Bills He’ll Be Proposing
Wednesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed (R-TN-06) Congressman John Rose to the newsmaker line to discuss the new House rules in Congress and bills he’ll be proposing.
Read the full storySpeaker of the House Cameron Sexton Discusses the Start of Tennessee’s 113th Legislative Session
Wednesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton to the newsmaker line to discuss immediate bills that will purge Metro City Council, ban transgender sexual assignments for children, and the new deadline for filing.
Read the full storyTennessee State Representative Chris Todd Proposes Resolution to Hold Article Five Convention for Congressional Term Limits
Tuesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed Tennessee State Representative Chris Todd of Jackson to the newsmaker line to discuss his proposed resolution to call an Article Five convention to set Congressional term limits.
Read the full storyTennessee Faith and Freedom Coalition Director Aaron Gulbransen Describes Agenda as ‘The Year of Defending the Child’
Tuesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed the director of Tennessee’s Faith and Freedom Coalition Aaron Gulbransen in studio to discuss the coalition’s top priorities for 2023.
Read the full storyConservative Group Pushes for More Transparency in Tennessee’s Upcoming Legislative Session
Americans For Prosperity is pushing for more transparency as Tennessee’s legislative session is set to begin.
That transparency request applies to everything from House committee votes on bills to posting bill amendments to government contracts to the process of school of choice statewide.
Tennessee State Director Tori Venable said Monday improvements in transparency can start with the rules for the session.
Read the full storyTennessee Firearms Association CEO John Harris Suggests Ways for the Tennessee General Assembly to Protect the Second Amendment
Friday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed Tennessee Firearms Association CEO, Attorney John Harris in studio to explain the Brewing decision and offer suggestions as to how the Tennessee General Assembly can protect the Second Amendment.
Read the full storyTennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton Announces New Staffing Changes
Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) announced four new changes to his staff on Wednesday.
Read the full storyState-Mandated Since 2021, the Third Grade Retention Law Has Tennessee State Legislators and Parents Calling for a Change
Lawmakers and parents are increasingly questioning Tennessee’s third-grade retention law. While Tennessee has long had legislation in place allowing districts the ability to retain third-grade students who did not score “proficient” on TCAP, the previous law left the decision up to local districts. Legislation passed during 2021’s Special Session took that decision out of local districts’ hands and made it state-mandated. A move that state lawmakers are now openly questioning.
Read the full storyJ.C. Bowman Commentary: What Is Next in Tennessee Education
To the outside world, our industrial model public education system has changed very little in the last fifty years. However, those who have worked within the system would challenge that view. Everyone can agree we must have an education system that serves all students, preserves democratic ideals and civic participation, and allows students to succeed in the future economy.
Educators have constantly battled against the false premises that our public schools are failing, that educators are the problem, and that outsiders (usually non-educators) should take control of running our schools. Too many policymakers, including state leaders, have simply bought into the jargon fostered by disruptive education that pushes that agenda. The 113th Tennessee General Assembly has work to do this legislative session.
Read the full storyMajority Whip Johnny Garrett Explains Tennessee House Roles and 2024 Legislative Agenda
Wednesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed Tennessee House of Representatives Majority Whip Johnny Garrett to the newsmaker line to describe the roles of legislators and the 2024 legislative agenda.
Read the full storyState Representative Chris Todd Weighs In on Tennessee Red Wave, ‘Super-Super-Majority’ in General Assembly
Monday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed (TN-R-73) State Representative Chris Todd to the newsmaker line to weigh in on the red wave Tennessee’s midterms produced as House reaches super super majority.
Read the full storyTennessee Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Ban All-Ages Drag Shows
Tennessee lawmakers have introduced a bill that would ban lewd drag shows from places where children might see them.
The premise of SB 3 relies on defining drag shows as “adult cabaret” performances.
Read the full storyState Senator Jack Johnson Describes the Job of Majority Leader in Tennessee Senate and Upcoming Agenda
Thursday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed State Senator Jack Johnson in studio to describe the senate majority duties, relationships and upcoming agenda in the Tennessee state senate.
Read the full storyShelby County Mayor Calls for $15 Minimum Wage
Amid historic inflation that has eaten away at Americans’ paychecks, the mayor of Shelby County is calling for Tennessee’s General Assembly to pass a law increasing the minimum wage.
“Today, Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris released his administration’s recommendations for the upcoming session of the Tennessee General Assembly,” said a release from Harris’s office. “Mayor Harris’ priorities center around legislative actions that support youth and families, increase public safety, improve access to healthcare, and strengthen our democracy. One of Mayor Harris’ top legislative priorities is the adoption of a state-wide minimum wage of at least $15.”
Read the full storyExclusive: Tennessee Club for Growth Releases Lawmaker Scorecards
The Club For Growth Foundation will release a scorecard based on voting records of elected officials from 2021, the contents of which were exclusively shared with The Tennessee Star Thursday.
“The Foundation conducted a comprehensive examination of each lawmaker’s record on votes related to pro-growth policies and computed an Economic Growth Score on a scale of 0 to 100. A score of 100 indicates the highest support for pro-growth policies,” according to the scorecard provided to The Star. “The Foundation’s study examined over 4,400 floor votes and, in the end, included 20 Tennessee House votes and 20 Tennessee Senate votes.”
Read the full storyProposed Constitutional Amendment Could Change Tennessee Governor’s Succession Line
A ballot initiative that will be voted upon this November could change the way Tennessee’s gubernatorial line of succession is structured.
” On the November 8 ballot, Tennessee voters will have the opportunity to weigh in on a proposed amendment to the state constitution that establishes a framework for a temporary transition of power for the highest elected official in the state,” said a press release from the Tennessee General Assembly. “If approved, the amendment would be invoked if the governor is temporarily incapacitated and unable to perform his or her duties, most likely due to a medical emergency. Tennessee is the only state that does not have a provision in its state constitution to address this issue.”
Read the full storyNew Coffee County Mayor Judd Matheny Discusses the County’s Population Growth
Thursday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed the newly elected mayor of Coffee County, Tennessee, Judd Matheny to the newsmaker line to talk about their growth and how he intends to manage it.
Read the full storyRetiring State Senator Mike Bell Looks Forward to Serving Tennessee with Wildlife Resources Agency
Monday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed retiring State Senator Mike Bell (R-TN-09) to the newsmaker line to discuss retiring from the Tennessee General Assembly and his new role at the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.
Read the full storyTennessee Department of Education Invites School Districts to Apply for ‘Innovative School Models’ Grants
School districts in Tennessee can now apply for Innovative School Model Grants that focus on job training for students.
“Through reimagining the middle or high school experience, students will have a variety of opportunities to gain real-world experience, explore various industries and available jobs, and choose a pathway best suited to their skillset,” said Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) Commissioner Penny Schwinn. “I thank Governor Lee and the Tennessee General Assembly who passed this historic opportunity, all districts interested in applying for this funding, and those who helped us celebrate throughout the month.”
Read the full storyTennessee Firearms Association Founder Commits to Looking into Tennessee Attorney General’s Application Process
Thursday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed Nashville attorney of 36 years, John Harris in studio to discuss whether he would consider applying for Tennessee Attorney General and the process in which one is selected.
Read the full storyChorus of Tennessee Legislators Calling on Governor Lee to Help National Guard Members Continues to Grow
The chorus of Tennessee legislators calling on Governor Bill Lee to take action to help save the jobs of Tennessee National Guard members continues to grow.
Several additional Tennessee legislators have come forward to The Tennessee Star, issuing statements in solidarity with the Tennessee National Guardsmen who are about to lose their jobs due to noncompliance with the Biden administration’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
Read the full storyHost Leahy and All-Star Panelist Carmichael Roundtable Speculates on the Aftermath of Roe v. Wade Decision in the State of Tennessee
Monday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed all-star panelist in studio to speculate what the aftermath of the Roe v Wade decision would mean for the state of Tennessee and the proper course of action by the attorney general.
Read the full storyTennessee Board of Education Solicits Parent Feedback on School Social Studies Programs
The Tennessee State Board of Education is asking parents for feedback about the state’s social studies programs, and will update those programs accordingly.
“The Tennessee Academic Standards are the grade- or course-level expectations for what students should know and be able to do,” according to the board’s website. “The State Board of Education (SBE) is charge in law with conducting a review of math, science, English language arts, and social studies standards on a rotating, six-year cycle.”
Read the full storyGOP State House Candidate for Dickson County, Jody Barrett: ‘We Don’t Need Their Money and We’ll Handle Ourselves Down Here Just Fine’
Live from Music Row 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. – host Leahy welcomed GOP candidate for Tennessee State House District 69, attorney Jody Barrett, in-studio to talk about his background and how he’ll say no to federal education dollars.
Read the full storyGov Bill Lee Awaits Late-Session Bills from the Tennessee Legislature
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee didn’t waste time signing a new public school funding formula bill just four days after it was passed on the floor of the Tennessee Legislature.
But the process for other bills passed in the waning days of session has taken longer. Several key late-session bills have not been sent to Lee yet for his signature.
After bills are passed by the Legislature, they are enrolled and then signed by the speakers of the House and Senate before heading to the governor’s desk. Lee can then sign the bill, allow it to pass without signing or veto the bill. He also can reduce or veto an appropriation in a bill, but vetoes can be overridden by a majority vote in the Legislature.
Read the full storyExecutive Director & CEO of Professional Educators of Tennessee J.C. Bowman Makes Predictions on TISA Passage in House and Senate
Tuesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed the Executive Director & CEO of Professional Educators of Tennessee, JC Bowman in studio to give his predictions on the passage of the Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement act scheduled for a vote in both the House and Senate.
Read the full storySilicon Valley Billionaire Larry Ellison Donated the $1 Million That Funds SuperPAC Backing TN-5 Carpetbagger Candidate Morgan Ortagus
Silicon Valley billionaire Larry Ellison, the executive chairman and chief technology officer of Oracle, donated $1 million on March 21 to the recently-formed SuperPAC supporting TN-5 carpetbagger candidate Morgan Ortagus, according to Federal Election Commission records obtained by The Tennessee Star on Friday.
That SuperPAC, the Tennessee Conservatives PAC, has already begun running a $100,000 radio ad buy in the district in support of Ortagus.
Read the full storyTennessee Secretary of State’s Office Provides Partial Clarification on Applicability of Law to Carpetbaggers Morgan Ortagus and Robby Starbuck, but Leaves Out Key State Code
The Tennessee Secretary of State’s office provided partial clarification on the applicability of the newly enacted three-year residency law to carpetbaggers Morgan Ortagus and Robby Starbuck, but left out a reference to a key part of state code.
The Tennessee Star previously reported that mere hours after the enactment of the new three-year residency law for federal candidates in primaries, Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett’s office offered conflicting comments about whether he intends to enforce the new law and remove “carpetbagger” candidates from the August 4 Republican primary ballot.
Read the full storyTN Secretary of State Offers Conflicting Comments on Whether He Will Enforce Residency Law and Remove Carpetbaggers from the TN-5 Ballot
Within hours of the enactment of a new law on Wednesday that requires candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives in Tennessee to be residents of the state for three years prior to their placement on a primary ballot, Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett’s office offered conflicting comments about whether he intends to enforce the new law and remove “carpetbagger” candidates from the August 4 Republican primary ballot.
Reaction from Tennessee state legislators to the comments from the Secretary of State’s office were swift and pointed.
Sources tell The Tennessee Star that if the Tennessee Secretary of State refuses to enforce the newly enacted law and remove any candidate from the ballot for the U.S. House who fails to meet the three-year residency requirement he will be sued to require him to enforce the law.
Read the full storyBill Requiring Three Year Residency in Tennessee for Candidates in Federal Primaries Has Become State Law Without Governor Lee’s Signature
The three-year residency requirement legislation for Tennessee candidates for federal office in primaries is now law – effective immediately – without Governor Lee’s signature.
The Tennessee General Assembly sent the legislation, which it overwhelmingly approved, over to Governor Lee’s office on April 1. Governor Lee had the option to sign the legislation into law, veto it, or allow ten days to pass where it would be enacted into law without his signature. Lee chose the third option.
Read the full storyTennessee Senate Overwhelmingly Passes Bill Requiring High School Students to Learn Virtues of Capitalism
The Tennessee State Senate overwhelmingly approved a bill, 25-6, that requires high school students to be taught the virtues of capitalism and the constitutional republic form of government in comparison to other economic systems and governmental systems.
The Tennessee State House of Representatives approved the House version of the bill on March 28, 68-21. Prior to the final vote, the Senate voted to substitute and conform to the House-approved version.
Read the full storyTennessee Senate Scheduled to Vote on Bill Requiring High School Students to Learn Virtues of Capitalism
The full Tennessee State Senate will vote on Tuesday, April 12, considering a bill that requires high school students to be taught the virtues of capitalism and the constitutional republic form of government in comparison to other economic systems and governmental systems.
The Tennessee State House of Representatives previously approved the House version of the bill on March 28, 68-21.
Read the full storyDark Money Carpetbagger PAC Spends $100,000 on Radio Supporting Morgan Ortagus in TN-5
A new dark money super PAC spent $100,000 in radio ads on Wednesday in support of carpetbagger Morgan Ortagus in the race for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional district seat, according to Federal Election Commission records released on Friday.
The PAC’s name is Tennessee Conservatives PAC and the expenditure was made on April 6. Saturation-level radio ads – at least 20 spots per day – began running on Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC in Nashville and 99.7 WTN in Nashville beginning on Wednesday.
The PAC, which was organized on February 22, 2022 according to FEC records, has yet to release its funding sources. The group’s report for the period ending March 31 will not be made filed with the FEC until April 15. It is common practice for dark money PACs to hide their sources of funding until the latest possible date.
Read the full storyFull Senate to Vote on Bill Requiring High School Students to Learn Virtues of Capitalism and the U.S. Constitutional Republic
The full Tennessee State Senate will consider a bill that requires high school students to be taught the virtues of capitalism and the constitutional republic form of government.
The Tennessee State House of Representatives passed the House version of the bill on March 28, 68-21.
Read the full storyHamilton County Commissioner Greg Martin Appointed as Interim State Representative for House District 26 Seat
Hamilton County Commissioner Greg Martin was appointed as the new interim State Representative for District 26 by the Hamilton County Commissioners Wednesday evening. Immediately following the vote confirming him as interim state representative, Martin resigned from the Commission.
Read the full storyReport: New Dark Money Group with Possible Connections to Morgan Ortagus Targeting Tennessee Residency Legislation
Jake Sherman of Punchbowl News and MSNBC is reporting that a well-funded new super PAC named Tennessee Conservative PAC says they intend to file a lawsuit challenging the General Assembly-passed three-year residency requirement legislation for candidates in federal primaries.
The legislation has yet to be transmitted to Governor Lee for his signature.
Read the full storyTennessee General Assembly Overwhelmingly Passes Three-Year Residency Bill for Federal Candidates in Primaries
The Tennessee General Assembly approved legislation establishing a three-year residency requirement for federal candidates in primaries.
The legislation has now passed both the House and the Senate, with the House approving the Senate version on Monday by a vote of 70 to 18. One House member voted present, not voting.
Read the full storyReport: Governor Bill Lee to Ask General Assembly for $500 Million in Bonds for New Titans Stadium
Governor Bill Lee is said to be asking the Tennessee General Assembly to issue $500 million in bonds to help fund a new Tennessee Titans stadium.
First reported by Axios, Governor Lee wants the General Assembly to approve $500 million in bonds, which would be issued by the state and likely repaid by revenue from the new stadium.
Read the full story