Tennessee politics got national attention in 2023. There were protests, expulsions, culture wars and one official’s interesting social media activity brought to light. Below is a list of some of the top events from the year.
How to get and use a free gun lock in Tennessee
During the legislative special session in August, the General Assembly passed legislation to make sure that every Tennessean could procure a free gun lock — including new funding for marketing to more Tennesseans.
Tennesseans unhappy with supermajority putting party interest over public, poll finds
A new poll released by Vanderbilt shows that Tennesseans lack trust in their elected officials. The state legislature’s approval rating has dropped to 42 percent, the lowest percentage ever recorded.
Tennessee tornado recovery complicated by freezing temps
Agencies across Middle Tennessee are assessing the full extent of Saturday’s deadly tornadoes and bracing for a difficult and lengthy recovery amid dangerously cold temperatures.
Former Nashville Mayor Megan Barry announces run for Congress
Nashville’s first woman mayor, Megan Barry, announced today that she’s running for Congress. She’s vying for Tennessee’s District 7, which is currently held by Republican Congressman Mark Green.
Tennessee Funding Board approves smaller budget for the upcoming fiscal year
Tennessee officials approved a budget that’s a little lower than last year’s, citing a need to be cautious due to a slight decrease in revenue projections. However, some believe that dip is actually a sign of how well the state government has managed the budget throughout the pandemic.
Tennessee Senate redistricting map thrown out by court, but dissenting opinion opens the door for an appeal
The state Senate’s redistricting map has been thrown out by the Tennessee Chancery Court in a 2-1 decision. However, the single dissent gives Republican Senators a shot at setting a precedent for future map challenges.
Tennessee judges reject Republican-drawn Senate districts, uphold House maps
The court found that the state Senate maps violate the constitution because lawmakers incorrectly numbered the legislative districts.
Tennessee governor gives up on push for extreme risk protection order
Gov. Bill Lee has announced that he will not ask state lawmakers to pass an extreme risk protection order during the upcoming legislative session. That proposal would have allowed a judge to temporarily prevent people found to be a danger to themselves or others from possessing firearms.
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