Lewis County Herald - Serving Hohenwald, Lewis County Tennessee Since 1898

The Real Christmas The following are excerpts from a Christmas speech I thought was worth sharing. ‘Christmas is a busy season. Streets and stores are filled with people making last-minute p...

As the 112th legislative session draws closer, here are new laws under gun rights. Permitless Carry / Stronger Penalties for Gun Theft – Public Chapter 108 allows law-abiding citizens in Tennessee who...

Greetings. This week I want to address highlights regarding the new election & voting laws for our state. Voting / Senior Citizens – Public Chapter 233 makes it easier for elderly residents who l...

On November 22, 2021 Governor Bill Lee signed Executive Order 93 “Operation Open Road” to address supply chain issues during the Holiday Season. Lee joined 14 other states in this initiative act...

Happy Thanksgiving to all! NATIONAL THANKSGIVING PROCLAMATION The National Thanksgiving Proclamation was the first formal proclamation of Thanksgiving in the United States. President George...

Greetings. Thanksgiving is almost here. The new 112th General Assembly will begin January 11th 2022. Since both the House and Senate are in a downtime, in continuing effort to keep constituents...

The House and Senate chambers concluded a third extraordinary session of the 112th General Assembly Oct. 30, passing a comprehensive legislative package aimed at restoring individual rights of Tenness...

Essential Workers Act – Public Chapter 384 prohibits a local government from issuing an executive order, resolution or ordinance establishing categories or classes of essential and non-essential b...

State as a Model Employer / Individuals with Disabilities – Public Chapter 575 puts Tennessee on track to become a “State as a Model Employer” (SAME) for individuals with disabilities. The legis...

Medical Laboratories Act – Public Chapter 495 allows Tennessee to utilize the federal standards that are used in 31 other states for those that work in private laboratories, as is already done in o...

Tennessee Medical Cannabis Commission –Public Chapter 577 creates a commission to serve as a nonpartisan, medically-focused entity to study federal and state laws regarding medical cannabis. The c...

Session Highlights 2021 Surplus Radios / First Responders / Distressed Counties – Public Chapter 527 allows for the transfer of surplus two-way radios, held by the Department of Safety, to distressed...

Federal Law Enforcement Officers / Personal Information – Public Chapter 253 protects federal law enforcement officers and their families by providing confidentiality regarding certain personal i...

Constitutional Challenges / State Statutes– Public Chapter 566 creates a mechanism for a three-judge panel to hear a challenge regarding the constitutionality of a state statute, an executive order o...

Expunction for Employment -Public Chapter 539 removes barriers for employment and education for Tennesseans with nonviolent or low-level assault offenses on their criminal record by allowing these...

Firing a Firearm from a Vehicle – Public Chapter 505 makes it reckless endangerment subject to a Class C felony to fire a firearm from within a motor vehicle, enhancing penalties for the crime. C...

Drag racing – Public Chapter 573 stiffens the penalty for drag racing from a Class B misdemeanor to a Class A misdemeanor to deter drivers from engaging in this reckless behavior. Enhanced penalties f...

Victim Advocates / Confidentiality – Public Chapter 590 protects confidentiality of victim advocate. It ensures communication between a victim of domestic violence or sexual abuse and a trained v...

Session Highlights from 112th General Assembly Jim Coley Protection for Rape Survivors Act - Public Chapter 362 provides more transparency regarding the rape kit backlog process. It makes sure the...

Safe Home for Trafficked Children – Public Chapter 246 requires law enforcement officers to alert the Department of Children’s Services when they take a minor into custody on charges of pro...

Session Highlights from 112th General Assembly Children / Evelyn’s Law –Public Chapter 107 creates Evelyn Boswell’s Law, named after a Sullivan County 15-month-old who was found dead after her mothe...

Session Highlights from 112th General Assembly Confucius Institutes / Foreign Influence on Higher Education – Public Chapter 344 prohibits the establishment of Confucius Institutes which have ties to...

Tennessee Accommodations for All Children Act – Public Chapter 452 requires a public school to provide a reasonable accommodation to a person who has conveyed through a written request that they a...

Expanding School Choice within a School District – Public Chapter 479 expands public school choice to additional districts that do not already have open enrollment policies. It allows students w...

Session Highlights Teacher Shortages - Public Chapter 125 simplifies the process for teachers who are moving to Tennessee to receive an appropriate teaching license, helping qualified teachers get int...