Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News | Daily Memphian | Metro - State Government

Lawmaker calls delay on gun bills a ‘slap in the face’ to Tennessee gun owners

noahmclane.news@gmail.com (Noah McLane) — Thu, 2 Apr 2026 14:12:02 -0500

A Republican lawmaker wants guns to be allowed on college campuses, public parks and other places they have been historically banned. “It’s almost like they’re married to that one (Second) Amendment,” said one Memphis lawmaker.

Will Tennessee's effort to track undocumented students die in the legislature?

mbrown@chalkbeat.org (Melissa Brown) — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 04:00:14 -0500

After more than a year of back-and-forth on a controversial proposal to track the immigration status of Tennessee students, two dueling versions of the bill have stalled in the General Assembly.

Ahead of Memphis schools takeover, Republicans move to block district’s legal pushback

mbrown@chalkbeat.org (Melissa Brown) — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 16:57:42 -0500

Two Memphis Republicans are backing legislation to block Tennessee school districts from funding lawsuits that oppose accountability measures like state interventions.

New approach to tidier Memphis interstates starts rolling

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 16:12:19 -0500

The state has a five-year $60 million contract with a Pennsylvania company to maintain the city’s interstate system, including fixing potholes and removing snow and ice.

Quick vote on resolution honoring Gov. Bill Lee brings Democratic backlash

noahmclane.news@gmail.com (Noah McLane) — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 11:48:41 -0500

Jeers and shouts erupted from the House floor as a Republican resolution honoring Gov. Bill Lee’s deployment of the National Guard to Memphis moved forward with no discussion allowed.

Tennessee GOP advances bill to relax voucher testing rules for private schools

mbrown@chalkbeat.org (Melissa Brown) — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 07:14:36 -0500

Schools that participate in the voucher program could choose to give students a different test than the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program, or TCAP.

Lawmakers move to honor Bill Lee over Memphis Safe Task Force

noahmclane.news@gmail.com (Noah McLane) — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 06:25:01 -0500

Members of the Tennessee House of Representatives are set to vote Thursday, March 19, on a congratulatory resolution for Gov. Bill Lee following his deployment of the state’s National Guard to Memphis last year.

Tennessee House passes bill to track undocumented students in public schools

mbrown@chalkbeat.org (Melissa Brown) — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 21:33:19 -0500

Tennessee educators and immigration advocates oppose the student immigration bill, criticizing the additional logistical burden schools could face and data privacy concerns in a state pushing increasingly hardline immigration policies.

These Memphis-area students are lobbying for mental health investments

bhatch@chalkbeat.org (Bri Hatch) — Sat, 14 Mar 2026 04:00:07 -0500

The Shelby County Youth Council has spent the past six months crafting a list of almost 20 policy suggestions. Now, they’re trying to get those recommendations into county and city budgets.

Tennessee would be required to use federal funding to feed low-income students under new bill

mbrown@chalkbeat.org (Melissa Brown) — Mon, 9 Mar 2026 19:14:02 -0500

Gov. Bill Lee has declined federal funding to help feed low-income students over the summer. A bipartisan group of lawmakers wants to change that.

Memphian named TVA board chair

editors@dailymemphian.com ( The Daily Memphian Staff) — Thu, 5 Mar 2026 18:28:42 -0600

The West Cancer CEO was recently appointed to the board after board chair Bill Renick resigned in February.

8Ball — along with GloRilla, Three 6 Mafia and other Memphis musicians — recognized by Tennessee Legislature

noahmclane.news@gmail.com (Noah McLane) — Wed, 4 Mar 2026 09:26:23 -0600

February 2027 is set to be Tennessee’s first Tennessee Songwriter Month. 8Ball was recognized for his significant cultural impact and as a pioneer of Memphis hip-hop.

Jerri Green advocates for Republican gun bill

noahmclane.news@gmail.com (Noah McLane) — Tue, 3 Mar 2026 18:13:49 -0600

Memphis City Councilwoman Jerri Green, a Democratic candidate for governor, and volunteers from Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action were supporting the bill.

Two Democrats eye August state primary for chance to challenge Brent Taylor

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Thu, 5 Mar 2026 11:53:42 -0600

All 13 state House incumbents and three state senators representing Shelby County have checked out qualifying petitions for the August ballot. The filing deadline for primary challengers is March 10.

City's federal elected officials react to airstrikes on Iran

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Sat, 28 Feb 2026 19:50:46 -0600

Three of Memphis’ four representatives in Washington support the U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran.

Bipartisan effort to study DA pay disparities moves forward

noahmclane.news@gmail.com (Noah McLane) — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 04:00:06 -0600

A bill to direct a statewide study on pay disparities in district attorney’s offices statewide gains ground and bipartisan support in committee.

Tennessee's felony law when local officials vote for 'sanctuary' policies is ruled unconstitutional

editions@dailymemphian.com (The Associated Press) — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 21:24:33 -0600

Earlier last year, the GOP-supermajority state Legislature and Republican Gov. Bill Lee approved legislation to aid the Trump administration with immigration enforcement.

Randy McNally won't seek reelection to state Senate

noahmclane.news@gmail.com (Noah McLane) — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 12:14:42 -0600

Lt. Gov. Randy McNally served in the Tennessee General Assembly for nearly 50 years.

Tennessee private school teachers without a degree could get emergency teaching permits under new bill

mbrown@chalkbeat.org (Melissa Brown) — Sun, 22 Feb 2026 04:00:01 -0600

A new bill would allow some Tennessee private school teachers to get an emergency teaching waiver to teach at a public school without a bachelor’s degree.

Evictions are being livestreamed. One Memphis lawmaker wants to change that

noahmclane.news@gmail.com (Noah McLane) — Sat, 21 Feb 2026 09:19:41 -0600

“This bill is about dignity, safety and common sense. Eviction is a legal process — not entertainment content.”