Shelby County lawmakers who missed the final days of hectic mid-March work when the COVID-19 pandemic started are planning to return June 1 when the public will be allowed in the Capitol and Cordell Hull Building as well.

State Rep. London Lamar said Wednesday it is "irresponsible and inconsiderate" to ask tens of thousands of Tennesseans to go to the polls just months after the governor ordered them to stay home to avoid COVID-19.

State leaders say they plan to use federal CARES Act money to keep from "extinguishing" the state’s $1.2 billion unemployment insurance trust fund.

Gov. Bill Lee said Tuesday a stronger supply of personal protective equipment could allow him to change a decision requiring the state Department of Health to share information about COVID-positive patients with law enforcement to help first responders.

Gov. Bill Lee and state Election Coordinator Mark Goins say fear of catching COVID-19 does not qualify as a reason to vote by mail as the state faces two legal challenges of its absentee ballot rules.

Memphis voters and a voter advocacy organization are suing the state for a court order allowing any voter worried about the COVID-19 pandemic to vote via absentee ballot.

The Tennessee Caucus of Black State Legislators is asking Gov. Bill Lee’s Administration to stop giving names and addresses of COVID-19-positive people to law enforcement, contending it will cause people who don't trust the government to avoid testing.

U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee appeared on "Meet the Press" hours before the test results were announced Sunday by his chief of staff. Alexander is in self quarantine where he will chair by videoconference a Monday Senate committee meeting featuring health expert Dr. Anthony Fauci. 

With a $700 million budget shortfall looming, House Minority Leader Karen Camper said the state needs make the Education Savings Account program its first cut.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee says the goals of preserving lives and livelihoods has been a difficult balance at times. And Tennessee Health Commissioner Dr. Lisa Piercey says testing statewide is moving toward focusing on clusters and outbreaks of the virus just as local health officials are making the same shift.

The Davidson County chancellor who ruled the state’s voucher law is unconstitutional is allowing the state to expedite a challenge before the Court of Appeals. And the Governor's Office and state Sen. Brian Kelsey are ready to go to the state Supreme Court if necessary.

Davidson County Chancellor Anne C. Martin has struck down the state’s private school voucher law, known as the Education Savings Account (ESA) Pilot Program.

Gov. Bill Lee’s Economic Recovery Group, stacked with state commissioners and business lobbyists, leaned heavily toward business demands to restart the economy, mainly because it was afraid many would go under without a reboot

House and Senate leaders could run into disagreement on whether to concentrate only on the state’s budget in a COVID-19 economic disaster or take up hot social items such as abortion restrictions, constitutional carry and even the Bible bill when the Legislature returns June 1.

Gov. Bill Lee heard from barber shop and salon operators and decided to expedite the reopening of those businesses in most of the state, allowing them to reopen May 6, three weeks earlier than expected.

Tennessee’s House Democrats urged Gov. Bill Lee’s Administration to reverse policy and provide people with unemployment benefits even if they're scared to go back to work as the state opens businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Tennessee Coalition for Open Government joined news organizations and journalists in filing an open meetings lawsuit Wednesday, April 29, against the Tennessee Registry of Election Finance in connection with a settlement for state Rep. Joe Towns of Memphis.

With the COVID-19 pandemic expected to linger, Senate Democrats are asking the governor and Secretary of State's Office to come up with a plan to protect voters from getting sick at the ballot box.

Gov. Bill Lee refused Monday to rule out a renewal of his “safer at home” order in case COVID-19 cases surge again as people return to restaurants, stores and jobs this week.

Facing a possible $5 billion loss in gross domestic product from the COVID-19 crisis, Tennessee will open restaurants Monday, April 27, in 89 counties, even before lifting a “safer at home” order. Shelby County is not included in the re-opening.

Gov. Bill Lee announced plans Thursday, April 23, for restaurants and retail establishments in rural and suburban counties to start opening next week on a limited basis using social distancing guidelines. A “safer at home” order in Memphis remains in effect at least until May 5.

A House Democratic leader's call for the governor to waive weekly unemployment certification for hundreds of thousands of Tennesseans is drawing skepticism from the state's Labor and Workforce Development commissioner.

Instead of staying at home during the COVID-19 crisis, state Sen. Katrina Robinson went to work — inside a New York hospital. 

Tennessee leaders are trying to figure out how to spend $3.6 billion in federal COVID-19 funds, about half of which has arrived in the state as officials remain worried about tax revenue shortfalls and their impact on state and local budgets. 

Gov. Bill Lee is pledging to work with Shelby County and urban mayors statewide as they develop independent plans for reopening economies separately from the state’s more rural and suburban areas, which can kick in as early as April 27.