A year-old law enabling Tennessee colleges and universities to keep secret the “proprietary” fees they pay money managers for handling risky investments is likely to be reviewed this year.

2. Two Shots Didn’t Phase Lawmakers in Jack Daniel’s Case - Thursday, May 17, 2018

When Van Halen front man David Lee Roth opened a bottle of Jack Daniel’s on stage back in the ’80s, the last thing he thought about was taxes and court appeals when he took a big swig of whiskey.

3. Tennessee Bill Passes to Take Coal Regulation Away From Feds - Monday, April 16, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – A bill that would take coal mining regulation away from the federal government and put it back in the hands of the state of Tennessee is now headed to the governor, but it faces concerns from environmentalists and state officials.

4. Lawmakers Seek to Ease Jack Daniel’s Tax Burden - Tuesday, March 27, 2018

NASHVILLE – Jack Daniel’s is over a barrel – literally – regarding a tax assessment, an attorney general’s opinion and the potential impact of President Donald Trump’s trade tariff.

5. Report: 538 Public Records Exemptions in Tennessee Law - Wednesday, January 31, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – A report has found that there are now 538 exemptions to Tennessee's public records law, about six times as many as there were three decades ago.

According to the state comptroller's office, the Tennessee Public Records Act only had two statutory exceptions when it was enacted in 1957. By 1988, a legislative committee reported there were 89 exceptions.

6. Bill Approved to Open Officer-Involved Shooting Death Cases to the Public - Tuesday, April 25, 2017

The House overwhelmingly approved legislation Monday, April 24, requiring records about officer-involved shooting deaths be open to the public.

Sponsored by Rep. G.A. Hardaway and Sen. Lee Harris, both Memphis Democrats, the move opens the curtain on Tennessee Bureau of Investigation records, which are exempt from the Tennessee Open Records Act and confidential. Generally they are disclosed to the public only through a court order.

7. Senate Campaign War Chests Could Swell - Thursday, April 6, 2017

NASHVILLE – Legislation enabling state lawmakers to raise campaign funds during even-year session recesses evolved into a markedly different bill this week – one allowing significant contribution increases for Senate candidates.

8. Bill to Ban Outsourcing Sails Through Committee - Wednesday, March 29, 2017

A Senate panel approved legislation Monday prohibiting the outsourcing of jobs at state parks less than a week after the State Building Commission renewed plans for rebuilding and privatizing the inn at Fall Creek Falls.

9. Some in GOP Chafe at New Building Named After Cordell Hull - Friday, February 24, 2017

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Tennessee lawmakers are nearing a move into freshly overhauled offices at the state Capitol complex, but some Republicans are chafing at the building being named after Democrat Cordell Hull.

10. Can GOP Keep Grasp On Success Ramsey Built? - Thursday, March 31, 2016

As much as Tennessee Republicans want to put a happy face on the departure of Senate Speaker and Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, holding it together in the wake of his departure will be an awesome task.

11. Amended De-Annexation Bill Up for Key State Senate Committee Vote - Wednesday, March 30, 2016

A de-annexation bill that takes in the whole state has a key state Senate committee vote set for Wednesday, March 30, after senators made some significant changes to the proposal Tuesday in committee.

12. De-Annexation Bill Still Alive, Now In Two Versions - Friday, March 25, 2016

At week’s end in Nashville, a bill to allow de-annexation by referendum was still on the tracks to passage. But there were significant differences in the Senate and House versions as the Tennessee Legislature heads for adjournment for the year in early April.

13. Opposers Fight De-Annexation Another Day - Wednesday, March 23, 2016

When the state Senate’s State and Local Government Committee convenes at noon Wednesday, March 21, in Nashville, Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland and his administration will have been working Capital Hill for about a day and a half.

14. De-Annexation Bill Sent Back to Legislative Committee - Tuesday, March 22, 2016

The de-annexation bill pending in the Tennessee Legislature was sent back to a Senate committee in Nashville Monday, March 21, after those favoring the bill raised numerous questions about amendments to it.

15. Bipartisan Skeptics Doubt Haslam’s Outsourcing Plan - Thursday, March 17, 2016

Poor timing and questionable numbers: That’s how legislators are viewing a business justification plan for outsourcing facilities management across Tennessee.

The Office of Customer Focused Government tells state senators, if all departments opt in, the state could save $35.8 million by the second year of a contract under study for building operations and services – without laying off state workers or cutting pay and benefits.

16. Senate OKs Extending Temporary Tennessee Tax Into 4th Decade - Wednesday, March 9, 2016

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Tennessee's "temporary" tax used to pay for roadside cleanup would extend into its fourth decade under a bill advancing in the state Legislature.

The tax on beer and soft drinks was first enacted in 1981, and has been reauthorized every six years since then.

17. Refugees, Regents, Privatization On Tap for New Session - Friday, January 1, 2016

State Sen. Ken Yager isn’t quite ready for the state of Tennessee to reclaim the Refugee Resettlement Program from Catholic Charities.

18. Corker Says Visa Waivers a Bigger Risk Than Refugees - Thursday, December 17, 2015

U.S. Sen. Bob Corker says he believes the nation needs to stop admitting Syrian refugees until security problems are solved, but the nation’s “bigger risk” in letting terrorists slip into the country lies with the nation’s Visa Waiver Program.

19. Tennessee Lawmakers Discuss Syrian Refugee Vetting Process - Friday, December 11, 2015

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee lawmakers said Wednesday that they continue to get calls from constituents expressing concern about the vetting process for allowing Syrian refugees into the state and sought assurance from security officials that the program is safe.

20. State: 1,263 Tennesseans Died from Opioid Overdoses in 2014 - Tuesday, September 29, 2015

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Statistics from the Tennessee Department of Health revealed that 1,263 Tennesseans died in 2014 from opioid overdoses despite measures designed to stop the addiction.

21. Office That Defends Death Row Inmates Pulls Out of Lawsuit - Thursday, June 18, 2015

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – A state agency that defends death row inmates has pulled out of a lawsuit challenging Tennessee's methods of execution.

The move was first reported by the Knoxville News Sentinel. It comes as the Tennessee Office of Post-Conviction Defender faced an August hearing before the Senate Government Operations Committee over its involvement in the lawsuit.

22. Legislators Not Moved by Hymns, Reason - Thursday, April 9, 2015

The words of “We Shall Overcome” and “Wade in the Water” resonate through the halls as Insure Tennessee supporters descend on the Legislative Plaza for a key vote on the plan to provide coverage to 280,000 working Tennesseans.

23. Eliminating Hall Income Tax Raises New Problems - Thursday, March 5, 2015

Republican lawmakers are lining up legislation to reduce or phase out Tennessee’s Hall income tax on investments, even though Gov. Bill Haslam is concerned about losing revenue amid the state’s economic ups and downs.

24. Office That Defends Death Row Inmates Comes Under Fire - Tuesday, March 3, 2015

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – A state agency that defends death row inmates is being criticized for using taxpayer dollars to pay for a legal battle that seeks information on the drugs and people involved in executions while also challenging a law that says electrocution can be used as an alternative to lethal injection.

25. Senate Authorizes Electric Chair for Executions - Friday, April 11, 2014

NASHVILLE (AP) – The Tennessee Senate has voted to allow the state to electrocute death row inmates if lethal injection drugs cannot be obtained.

The measure sponsored by Sen. Ken Yager passed on a 23-3 vote on Wednesday. The Harriman Republican says current law allows the state to use its alternate execution method only when lethal injection drugs are not legally available. But Yager says there was no provision for what do if there was a shortage of those drugs.

26. Tennessee Can Lawfully Electrocute Inmates if No Drugs - Monday, March 17, 2014

NASHVILLE (AP) – Tennessee can lawfully use the electric chair in executions if lethal injection is stopped by the courts or because the state can't get the drugs to carry out the sentence, the state attorney general said in a legal opinion this week.

27. TPA Awards 2 Lawmakers Open Government Award - Monday, February 10, 2014

Two lawmakers from eastern Tennessee have received the 2014 Open Government Award from state newspapers for opposing efforts to weaken the state's open records and public meetings law.

The Tennessee Press Association presented the awards on Thursday to Sen. Ken Yager, R-Harriman, and Rep. Ryan Haynes, R-Knoxville, during the organization's annual winter meeting.

28. Governor Signs Public Notices Bill - Saturday, April 20, 2013

Gov. Bill Haslam has signed a bill to require public notices to be published on newspaper websites.

The measure maintains a requirement for public notices to be published in the print editions of newspapers. It would also create a statewide online clearinghouse for all notices.

29. Governor Signs Public Notices Bill - Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Gov. Bill Haslam has signed a bill to require public notices to be published on newspaper websites.

The measure maintains a requirement for public notices to be published in the print editions of newspapers. It would also create a statewide online clearinghouse for all notices.

30. Renewed Bid Would Dilute Tennessee Open Meetings Law - Monday, March 11, 2013

NASHVILLE (AP) – A renewed push is under way to get Tennessee lawmakers to allow local official to hold more closed-door meetings.

Williamson County Commissioner Bob Barnwell, who also spearheaded a similar attempt last year, has written to local government colleagues around the state urging them to encourage state lawmakers to pass a bill to allow private meetings among officials as long as a quorum isn't present.

31. Supermarket Wine Bill Advances by 1 Vote in Senate - Tuesday, February 26, 2013

NASHVILLE (AP) – A proposal to allow wine to be sold in Tennessee supermarkets and convenience stores scored its first legislative victory on Tuesday after years of frustration.

The Senate State and Local Government Committee voted 5-4 to advance the bill that would allow cities and counties to hold referendums next year to decide whether to expand wine sales beyond the state's nearly 600 licensed liquor stores.

32. Let’s Make Public Notices Available to Everyone - Friday, February 15, 2013

The issue of whether local governments should post public notices on their own internet website is a question that was discussed more than once in the Senate State and Local Government Committee during the 107th General Assembly.

33. Bid to Clamp Down on Lawmaker Allowances Delayed - Wednesday, February 13, 2013

NASHVILLE (AP) – A proposal to eliminate hotel allowances for some Tennessee lawmakers was put on hold Tuesday after a state Senate committee member said the reimbursement rules should be tightened for the entire Legislature.

34. TennCare Pain Pill Prescrips Up 48 Pct. - Tuesday, January 31, 2012

NASHVILLE (AP) – The number of narcotics prescriptions dispensed through the TennCare program has increased by 48 percent over the last four years despite efforts to end abuse.

Those efforts include a program called lock-ins, which forces a patient to fill prescriptions at a specific pharmacy.

35. Harwell Opposes Changes to Tenn. Open Meetings Law - Wednesday, January 18, 2012

NASHVILLE (AP) – House Speaker Beth Harwell has voiced opposition to efforts to water down Tennessee's open meetings law and has called on a Republican colleague to drop a bill seeking to make changes to the current rules.

36. Bill Clarifies Gun Rights Of Inmate Coordinators - Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Inmate relations coordinators in Tennessee would have the same gun-carrying privileges as correctional officers under a measure headed to the governor for his consideration.

The measure sponsored by Republican Sen. Ken Yager of Harriman passed 28-1 Monday. The companion bill was approved by the House 94-0 last legislative session.

37. Senate Begins Action on Reshaping Tenn. Wine Laws - Wednesday, March 11, 2009

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The state Senate has begun taking action on a series of proposals to reshape the way wine is sold in Tennessee.

The Senate State and Local Government Committee on Tuesday unanimously advanced a measure that would allow Tennesseans to buy up to five cases a day from out-of-state wineries, and to transport them back across state lines.

38. Lawmakers Raise Concerns Over TDOT Stimulus Money - Wednesday, February 18, 2009

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Tennessee wants to quickly contract out all of its $572 million in federal transportation stimulus money, but some state lawmakers are raising concerns that their districts aren't in line for enough road and bridge projects.

39. Reports Show Final PAC Contributions in Tennessee - Friday, October 31, 2008

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The final campaign finance reports before Tuesday's election show a last minute flurry of contributions from political action committees to legislative candidates and causes in Tennessee.

40. Early Voting Under Way in Tennessee - Thursday, October 16, 2008

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Voters took to the polls Wednesday as Tennessee kicked off its two-week early voting period.

About 45 percent of the state's votes were cast early in the last presidential election in 2004, and State Election Coordinator Brook Thompson said this year's percentage could be higher because there are more sites and some counties have expanded hours.