Tag: tennessee
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Tennessee will be 15th state to decide on a Marsy’s Law ballot question
Tennessee voters will decide on a ballot question to add a list of crime victims’ rights to its state constitution, also known as Marsy’s Law, in November 2026. Tennessee will be the 15th state to decide on a Marsy’s Law ballot measure. The effort to institute Marsy’s Law across the U.S. has been primarily backed…
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Tennessee legislators advance constitutional amendments on crime victims’ rights, bail, and property taxes to 2026 ballot
The Tennessee General Assembly approved three constitutional amendments for the Nov. 3, 2026, ballot on April 21. The amendments address three issues: crime victims’ rights, bail eligibility for criminal offenses, and a ban on state property taxes. Legislators needed to approve the amendments in two consecutive sessions to place them on the ballot. The votes…
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Tennessee drops Wells Fargo investigation
Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti (R) last week closed his investigation into whether Wells Fargo coordinated with other financial institutions to promote net-zero climate policies in violation of antitrust laws. The investigation was part of a broader effort by Republican attorneys general to challenge coordination among financial institutions on climate policy. Skrmetti closed the case…
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Tennessee enacts private school choice scholarship bill, becoming the 13th state with a universal school choice program
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R) signed the Education Freedom Act of 2025 (EFA) into law on Feb. 12, 2025. The bill — House Bill 6004 — creates a universal private school student scholarship program under which all students are or will be eligible to receive the scholarship. Going into 2025, Tennessee had two existing education…
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Two incumbents defeated in Republican primaries for Tennessee State Senate
There were eight Republican primaries for the Tennessee State Senate on Aug. 1, 2024. An incumbent ran in seven of those primaries. Two incumbents—Jon Lundberg (R) and Frank Niceley (R)—lost their primaries. The 2024 elections took place in the context of a conflict among House Republicans over a proposal to expand Tennessee’s school voucher program.…
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Two incumbents defeated in Republican primaries for Tennessee House of Representatives
There were 19 Republican primaries for the Tennessee House of Representatives on Aug. 1, 2024. An incumbent ran in 13 of those primaries. Two incumbents—Patsy Hazlewood (R) and John Ragan (R)—lost their primaries. The 2024 elections took place in the context of a conflict among House Republicans over a proposal to expand Tennessee’s school voucher…
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Tennessee and Wyoming passed anti-red flag law legislation in 2024
New laws in Tennessee and Wyoming passed this year prohibiting the use of extreme risk protection orders (ERPOs), also known as red flag laws. They are the third and fourth states to adopt such laws after Oklahoma did so in 2020 and West Virginia in 2021. ERPOs authorize individuals, typically a family member or law…
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Nine states approved bills related to noncitizen voting, voters in eight states will consider ballot measures this November
Nine states, including seven with Republican trifectas, have enacted legislation this year related to the eligibility of noncitizens to vote. In total, voters in eight states will consider ballot measures related to noncitizen voting at the November general election. In Louisiana, SB 436 requires proof of citizenship for voter registration applications. In 2022, Louisiana voters approved a ballot…
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Tennessee has adopted the most new election laws in 2024
Tennessee lawmakers have adopted 36 election-related bills so far in 2024, the most of any state. Among the new election laws are changes to state voter roll maintenance procedures, an earlier absentee/mail-in ballot request deadline, and new rules for voter registration drives. Tennessee legislators also adopted the Uniform Faithful Presidential Electors Act which requires presidential…
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Seven of eight Republican primaries for Tennessee State Senate have an incumbent on the ballot
There are eight Republican primaries for the Tennessee State Senate on Aug. 1, 2024. An incumbent is running in seven of those primaries. The 2024 elections are taking place in the context of a conflict among House Republicans over a proposal to expand Tennessee’s school voucher program. In the 2024 legislative session, Gov. Bill Lee…