On Tuesday, January 14, Tennessee’s 99 Representatives and 33 Senators gaveled into session for the first official day of business as the state’s 114th General Assembly. Among the first tasks were electing the top leadership...more
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
On April 21, Tennessee lawmakers approved and sent to Governor Bill Lee for signature, the Tennessee Information Protection Act (TIPA), one of nine different state consumer privacy laws that are generally considered to be...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
Tennessee lawmakers reconvened on January 11 in Nashville for the second session of the 112th General Assembly. While the start of the 2021 session was notable due to COVID-19 mitigations that included limited access to...more
Tennessee and Florida enacted state laws earlier this month that impose restrictions on an employer’s ability to impose vaccine mandates or to ensure employees are vaccinated. While Tennessee’s law provides employers who are...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
After days of intense discussions, and multiple amendments, in the wee hours of Saturday, October 30, 2021, the Tennessee legislature passed House Bill No. 9077/Senate Bill No. 9014. This new law will have a significant...more
For years, we have known that Tennessee has one of the most robust trust codes in the country. While this is surprisingly not one of the main topics at dinner tables nationwide, more than just Tennessee residents can share...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
During the recently concluded 2021 legislative session, the Tennessee General Assembly passed several significant bills that will affect health care practices in Tennessee. The bills passed include a fairly significant update...more
On March 29, 2021, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed legislation creating a new sales and use tax exemption and a new franchise and excise tax (F&E) credit for “qualified productions.” H.B. 141, 112th Gen. Assemb., ch. 70...more
$50 MILLION IN FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES IN TENNESSEE THROUGH SUPPLEMENTAL EMPLOYER RECOVERY GRANT PROGRAM - Tennessee Governor Bill Lee recently announced that the Supplemental Employer Recovery Grant ("SERG")...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
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
The plan instructs all businesses to screen employees reporting to work for COVID-19 symptoms and also provides industry-specific guidance for restaurants, retailers and exercise facilities. Tennessee is one of the first...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