The Tennessee Bar Foundation has awarded $800,000 in grants to non-profit and community service organizations across the state. The funds come from interest earnings on trust accounts maintained by lawyers holding client funds. The grants are to organizations including Court Appointed Special…
The Governor's proposed budget for fiscal year 2012-13 notes that nominal revenue collections are just now returning to 2007 levels, before the Great Recession. But the cost of state services has continued to rise since 2007 due to inflation and population growth. When the numbers are adjus…
The Governor will deliver the State of the State address tonight at the Capitol. His proposed budget will also be released. A few things to look for:
Will the Governor propose additional recurring reductions in the budgets of state agencies and, if so, in what amount?
Will the Governor announce any new initiatives beyond those already included in his legislative package?
…Another bill has been filed to limit increases in tuition at Board of Regents and University of Tennessee institutions. House Bill 2700 / Senate Bill 3128 would freeze public higher education tuition and room and board charges at 2011-12 levels for academic years 2012-13 and 2013-14. The House bill has been referr…
A bill has been filed, Senate Bill 2435 / House Bill 2716, to authorize a court to award reasonable attorney's fees to a plaintiff who "substantially prevails" on a claim against a governing body for violation of the open meetings law. The phrase "substantially prevails" is not defined. The decision whether to a…