The 113th Tennessee General Assembly adjourned sine die on April 25, 2024. The session was dominated by debate over the size and scope of the $1.6 billion legislative fix to the state franchise tax that naturally dashed plans...more
The Bass, Berry & Sims Government Advocacy & Public Policy team of Erica Vick Penley, Jacob Baggett, and Mallorie Kerby are pleased to announce the passage of SB378/HB403. With Governor Lee’s signature expected but pending,...more
For the third time in four years, Tennessee has expanded brownfield redevelopment incentives. On March 31, 2023, Gov. Bill Lee signed into law SB0271, legislation amending brownfield redevelopment laws related to franchise...more
Employers in Tennessee need to hold off on requiring COVID-19 vaccine proof from employees because they might run afoul of a newly minted law. On November 12, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed an omnibus COVID-19 bill into law...more
On July 9, 2021, a federal district court in Nashville, Tennessee, granted a preliminary injunction, halting enforcement of a new Tennessee law on bathroom signage. That law mandates that businesses post specific signs next...more
On May 5, 2021, after several years of extensive debate and negotiations, including a 2020 legislative session ending in an impasse, the 112th Tennessee General Assembly passed a highly anticipated certificate of need (CON)...more
On May 11, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed into law House Bill 1351 (HB 1351), which requires public and private four-year colleges in Tennessee that are not under the authority of the Tennessee Board of Regents...more
The 112th General Assembly adjourned for the year, finishing the first year of the two-year session just after 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday night. Legislators worked to keep the General Assembly running as smoothly as possible as...more
On December 4, 2020, in further response to the public health emergency, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee issued Executive Order 68 https://publications.tnsosfiles.com/pub/execorders/exec-orders-lee67.pdf. Executive Order 68...more
On October 30, 2020, in further response to the public health emergency, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee issued Executive Order 67 extending the state of emergency in Tennessee and, among others, suspending Title 63, Title 68,...more
The US Regional Employment 2020 features 14 states. The guide provides expert legal commentary on the impact of COVID-19 on the workplace, the "Black Lives Matter" and "Me Too" movements, unions, the National Labor Relations...more
In case you missed it, below are a few of the most recent employment law updates that may have gotten lost in the onslaught of the 24-hour news cycle. EEOC Issues Opioid Accommodation Guidance - While employers have...more
On August 17, 2020, Governor Bill Lee signed into law the Tennessee COVID-19 Recovery Act, limiting the types of legal claims arising from COVID-19 that may be asserted and raising pleading standards for those claims that are...more
The second special session of the 111th General Assembly concluded around 7:00 pm Wednesday, having been called by Governor Bill Lee to reconsider civil liability protection from COVID-19 related actions, among other issues....more
On July 1, 2020, Governor Bill Lee issued Executive Order 53 which provides limited COVID-related liability protection for health care providers. Executive Order 53 is effective as of July 2, 2020 and will remain in effect...more
On June 29, 2020, Governor Bill Lee issued Executive Order 50 which extends the state of emergency related to the COVID-19 crisis until August 29, 2020. To help facilitate the treatment and containment of COVID-19, the order...more
The 111th Tennessee General Assembly completed its final order of business for the year in the early morning hours of June 19 following a marathon through-the-night session that began at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, June 18. The final...more
On June 2, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced the Tennessee Business Relief Program (Business Relief Program) aimed at helping small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Business Relief Program will be managed by...more
On June 2, 2020, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee directed the Tennessee Department of Revenue to distribute $200 million in federal coronavirus relief funds to businesses impacted by mandatory closures under the “Tennessee Business...more
Heading into this year, 2020 was set to be one of the most interesting and consequential elections in recent history. However, the 2020 election cycle has been upended by the spread of the deadly COVID-19 virus. Voters...more
Is your state starting to lift COVID-19 restrictions? Are you migrating your workforce back into the office from furlough or from remote work? Are you trying to figure out how to do this and just wish someone would give you a...more
[Ed. Note: Davidson County’s Safer-At-Home Order was extended to May 8. Additionally, Nashville Public Health Department issued Order No. 4, in which citizens and visitors of Nashville and Davidson County are strongly urged...more
The latest order now allows only essential activities to continue and bans all discretionary and nonessential travel. Tennessee is the latest state to issue a restrictive stay-home order, going into effect on April 2....more
On Thursday, March 19, the Tennessee General Assembly recessed until June 1 amid the COVID-19 emergency. Since announcing on Friday, March 13, that only legislators, staff, and media would be allowed in the state’s...more