Why should UT Knoxville be limited to its annual Sex Week when Tennessee legislators are celebrating year-round?

Based on the scurrilous reports published in these parts over the last couple of years, state legislators are doing more than collecting per diems in Nashville, and there’s plenty of evidence to prove it.

2. Tennessee Bill on Defense of School Bathroom Policy Fails - Thursday, April 5, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – A Tennessee bill that would have required the state attorney general's office to defend local school districts over their bathroom policies for transgender students appears dead for the year.

3. Lawmaker Halts Tennessee Bill to Keep Autopsy Reports Secret - Monday, March 12, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – A state senator has halted efforts on his bill to make autopsy reports no longer public records in Tennessee.

Republican Sen. Joey Hensley of Hohenwald made a motion in a Senate panel that generally ends consideration of a bill for the year.

4. Legislators Can’t Get Past Threat of Medical Weed - Thursday, January 4, 2018

Heading into the 2018 legislative session, Rep. Jeremy Faison is looking to send a message about his medical marijuana bill: Tennessee won’t open the door to recreational pot without General Assembly action.

5. Medical Marijuana Might Finally Get Past Objections - Thursday, November 2, 2017

Medical marijuana legislation is evolving, not to ease people’s debilitating pain but to help it pass the General Assembly, where it’s giving some lawmakers heartburn.

State Rep. Jeremy Faison, an East Tennessee Republican ferrying the bill through the House, is offering several changes to a bill he is sponsoring with Sen. Steve Dickerson, a Nashville Republican, to soothe the nerves of state bureaucrats and lawmakers who get shaky when the word marijuana is mentioned.

6. Legislature Losing Some Powerful, Familiar Members - Thursday, July 13, 2017

A shakeup in leadership is looming for the state Legislature, though it may portend more of a change in personalities than party strength.

In the House, longtime Rep. Craig Fitzhugh, the affable Democrat from Ripley in West Tennessee, is preparing for a 2018 gubernatorial run, a move that would knock him out of his House seat, at least temporarily, and the position as Democratic Caucus leader.

7. Last Word: Carousel Preview, New Crime Stats and EDGE Does Multi-Family - Friday, May 19, 2017

The group Friends of the Fairgrounds got together Thursday evening at the Children’s Museum of Memphis and got the first group tour of the Grand Carousel center under construction at CMOM. This is as the museum focuses more on fundraising for the $6 million project that has already raised the money for the restoration of the carousel itself and now sets about the task of paying for the building around it including a banquet hall. Here’s a look from our Facebook page with more to come on CMOM and the Fairgrounds for the Monday edition that will probably go up on line Friday.

8. Tennessee AG to Defend Abortion Bill if it Becomes Law - Wednesday, April 26, 2017

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – The Tennessee attorney general's office says it would defend an amended abortion bill in court if it becomes law, despite previously calling the legislation's key restrictions "constitutionally suspect."

9. Fuel-Tax Bill Short of Votes in the House - Tuesday, April 18, 2017

NASHVILLE – Votes aren’t adding up in the House of Representatives for passage of the governor’s gas tax/tax cut legislation.

With floor debate scheduled Wednesday morning, not only is a Republican head count showing lack of support, Democrats aren’t exactly lining up behind the measure. The minority party says it wants concessions on other items from the governor before it can vote for the IMPROVE Act, and some Democrats say they won’t go for a combination of tax cuts for wealthy investors tied to a higher gas tax.

10. Plan to Dig Up President Polk's Body – Again – Stirs Trouble - Monday, March 27, 2017

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – President James K. Polk did big things for America, dramatically expanding its borders by annexing Texas and seizing California and the Southwest in a war with Mexico. Achieving undisturbed eternal rest has proved more difficult.

11. View From the Hill: ‘Moral Mondays’ Draw Crowds, But Are Lawmakers Listening? - Thursday, February 23, 2017

Johnny and Julie Erwin don’t look like typical protesters, but the senior couple joined the “moral Mondays” ruckus recently at the State Capitol, Johnny wearing his Air Force cap and Julie holding a list of social legislation they oppose.

12. State Senate: OK to Deny Counseling Due to Religious Beliefs - Friday, February 19, 2016

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Therapists and counselors in Tennessee could decline to treat patients on the basis of "sincerely held religious beliefs" under a bill passed by the state Senate on Wednesday.

13. Ramsey Uses ‘System’ to Reshape State’s Political Landscape - Thursday, May 28, 2015

Senate Speaker and Lieutenant Gov. Ron Ramsey laughs at the notion he’s changed since being elected to the Legislature 23 years ago, that he’s lost touch with the common man or become “arrogant” as lieutenant governor of Tennessee.

14. Tennessee Senate Passes 48-Hour Waiting-Period Abortion Bill - Thursday, April 16, 2015

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Women would have to wait 48 hours before an abortion, under legislation approved by the Senate on Wednesday after lawmakers rejected an amendment to exempt cases of rape or incest.

15. Bill Would Add School Teachers to Little Hatch Act - Thursday, April 9, 2015

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Legislation to prohibit Tennessee teachers from engaging in political campaigning during work hours is headed to the governor.

The measure sponsored by Republican Sen. Joey Hensley, of Hohenwald, was approved 27-6 in the Senate on Wednesday. The companion bill passed the House 68-27 earlier this month.

16. Legislators Find Reasons to Deny In-State Tuition - Saturday, March 28, 2015

La Vergne High School graduate Cesar Bautista, who has lived in Tennessee since he was 8 years old, is among a group of students who’ve been here most of their lives but are still forced to pay out-of-state college tuition because they don’t have legal status.

17. Bid to Revive Tennessee Medicaid Expansion Moving in Senate - Tuesday, March 24, 2015

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – An effort to revive Gov. Bill Haslam's Insure Tennessee proposal is advancing in the state Senate.

The Senate subcommittee on TennCare voted 3-2 on Monday to recommend a resolution sponsored by Democratic Sen. Jeff Yarbro of Nashville that would grant Haslam the power to strike a deal with the federal government on Medicaid expansion.

18. Sponsor Withdraws Bill to Allow Motorcycle Lane Splitting - Friday, March 20, 2015

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – A proposal to allow Tennessee motorcyclists to ride between slow-moving cars has been withdrawn by the Senate sponsor.

Senate Transportation Chairman Jim Tracy of Shelbyville said the measure was withdrawn Wednesday by fellow Republican Sen. Joey Hensley of Hohenwald.

19. 6 of 7 Who Killed Insure Tennessee are on State Health Plan - Friday, February 6, 2015

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Six of the seven Republican senators who voted to kill Gov. Bill Haslam's proposal to extend health coverage to 280,000 low-income Tennesseans are enrolled in the state government health plan.

20. Meritan’s Branch Named Among Top Nurses - Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Cindy Branch, Meritan’s associate vice president for health services, has been selected to represent Tennessee as one of the nation’s top 50 home care and hospice nurses by the National Association for Home Care & Hospice and the Home Healthcare Nurses Association. Branch, a registered nurse, has oversight of Meritan’s nursing programs, including home health, private duty nursing and medical residential homes. She will be recognized at NACH’s annual meeting in October.

21. House Passes Haslam Free Tuition Plan - Thursday, April 17, 2014

NASHVILLE (AP) – Gov. Bill Haslam's signature proposal to create a program that would cover tuition at two-year colleges for any high school graduate is headed to his desk after passing the House on Tuesday.

22. Senate OKs Bill to Protect College Student Counselors - Friday, March 15, 2013

NASHVILLE (AP) – The Senate has approved legislation that would protect student counselors at public higher education institutions who withhold their services because of religious beliefs.

23. Tenn. Lawmakers Still Trying to Conclude Business - Tuesday, May 1, 2012

NASHVILLE (AP) – Tennessee lawmakers edged closer Sunday to adjourning several weeks earlier than usual, but they continued to engage in end-of-session wrangling as intense as ever.

Budget disagreements between the two chambers led to the first conference committee on the spending plan since the acrimonious debate over the income tax more than a decade ago.

24. Medical Marijuana Bill Advances in Tenn. House - Wednesday, March 28, 2012

NASHVILLE (AP) – A proposal to legalize medical marijuana is advancing in the state House.

The House Health Subcommittee approved the measure on a voice vote on Tuesday after similar measures had quickly failed in previous years.

25. House Sponsor Stands by 'Don't Say Gay' Bill - Wednesday, February 29, 2012

NASHVILLE (AP) – The Republican sponsor of a proposal to ban the teaching of gay issues to elementary and middle school students said Tuesday that he's not backing off the legislation despite concerns from GOP leaders.

26. GOP Discuss Need for 'Don't Say Gay' Ban - Monday, February 27, 2012

NASHVILLE (AP) – Legislation that would ban the teaching of gay issues to elementary and middle school students may be stalled, as Republican lawmakers discuss whether they should proceed with the bill.

27. Tenn. GOP Puts Off 'Don't Say Gay' Ban in House - Thursday, February 23, 2012

NASHVILLE (AP) – Supporters of a measure to ban the teaching of gay issues to elementary and middle school students have put off consideration of the proposal after being told of fellow Republican Gov. Bill Haslam's concerns.

28. Tenn.'s 'Don't Say Gay' Bill Advances in House - Friday, February 17, 2012

NASHVILLE (AP) – A proposal that seeks to ban Tennessee public schools from teaching about gay issues advanced in the House on Wednesday despite opponents who say the measure could be harmful to gays.

29. Teachers Group Recommends Evaluation System Changes - Thursday, January 19, 2012

NASHVILLE (AP) – Teachers who "meet expectations" in their evaluation would be eligible for tenure under changes the Tennessee Education Association is recommending for the state's new teacher evaluation system.

30. State 'Don't Say Gay' Bill to be Delayed in Committee - Thursday, January 19, 2012

The sponsor of a measure that seeks to ban Tennessee public schools from teaching about gay issues says he plans to delay a vote on the proposal.

The legislation, dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, is sponsored by Republican Rep. Joey Hensley of Hohenwald and was scheduled to be heard Wednesday, Jan. 18, in the House Education Subcommittee. But Hensley said two Republicans on the panel “weren’t very familiar with it” and wanted more time to review the proposal.

31. Tenn. House Approves GOP Redistricting Plan - Friday, January 13, 2012

NASHVILLE (AP) – The state House has approved a plan to redraw the chamber's 99 districts, overriding Democrats' objections that it placed five African-American incumbents into three seats.

32. Tenn. House Passes Evolution Bill - Monday, April 11, 2011

NASHVILLE (AP) – Teachers who allow students to critique scientific theories would be shielded from discipline under a proposal that passed the House 70-23 on Thursday despite some opponents who said it was unnecessary.

33. Bredesen Bill on Restaurant Calorie Counts Fails - Thursday, May 7, 2009

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Gov. Phil Bredesen's proposal to require calorie counts on menus at chain restaurants in Tennessee has failed for the year.

The proposal carried by House Democratic Caucus Chairman Mike Turner of Old Hickory was sent to a summer study committee by the Public Health and Family Assistance Subcommittee on Tuesday.

34. Legislature Passes $27B Budget, Adjourns for Year - Friday, May 23, 2008

NASHVILLE (AP) – The state Legislature adjourned for the year after lawmakers passed a $27 billion state budget that cuts jobs and education and health care spending to fill a nearly half-billion-dollar revenue shortfall.

35. Open Records Bill Advances In State House - Thursday, May 1, 2008

NASHVILLE (AP) - All public records requests would have to be responded to in seven business days under changes made to an open records bill advancing in the House.

The House State and Local Government Committee agreed Tuesday on voice votes to revise the legislation sponsored by Rep. Steve McDaniel, a Parkers Crossroads Republican.

36. Conservation Group Releases Ratings of State Lawmakers - Wednesday, October 24, 2007

NASHVILLE (AP) - Democratic Sens. Beverly Marrero and Rosalind Kurita tied for the top score in the Tennessee Conservation Voters' annual ratings of lawmakers released Monday.

Kurita, of Clarksville, and Marrero, of Memphis, each scored 11 points on the group's scale based on votes cast on selected legislation affecting the environment.

37. Archived Article: Gov - Friday, February 4, 2005
Chumney:

State Legislators Prepare to Tackle TennCare

ANDY MEEK

The Daily News

With more than 300,000 people set to come off the TennCare rolls, it might be said that the states ailing health insurance program needs a new prescription. <...