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John Cole’s Tennessee: And now, for my next trick . . . Gov. Bill Lee began the year with a special legislative session devoted to passing universal private school vouchers.
January
King of the legislative pond: Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton started the year with a slate of rules for legislative session, including enacting new limits on the number of bills filed and requiring spectators to get tickets to observe proceedings.
February
A slew of bills in the legislature — and lawsuits in court — seek to restrict the regulation and sales of legal recreational hemp products.
March
The University of Tennessee is one of 60 colleges and universities warned by the U.S. Department of Education they will face consequences for pro-Palestine protests, in what the department terms a failure “to protect Jewish students on campus.”
April
The 80-year-old carry. On April 1, Tennessee Highway Patrol officers carried an 80-year-old protester from the Cordell Hull Legislative Building after she refused to leave her seat when a committee room was cleared of spectators.
May
Elective surgery. The city of Nashville is suing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services over the halt of federal public health grants.
June
Advance and conquer. Tennessee lawmakers approved a type of loan that traps borrowers in debt, pioneered by Advance Financial, which donates heavily to lawmakers.
July
Noem lays down the law. Homeland Security Kristi Noem, during a pitstop in Nashville, took aim at the mayor, Belmont University and the media.
August
Nashville in wonderland. Questions remain about a system of tunnels under Nashville proposed by the Boring Company and open only to Tesla vehicles.
September
John Cole’s Tennessee: Gov. Bill Lee, in a tacit admission he cannot manage the state, welcomes deployment of troops to Memphis by President Donald Trump.
October
A state senator alleges Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti retroactively altered a predecessor’s legal opinion on deployment of National Guard troops.
November
Past business tax cuts push Tennessee’s government to rely even more on regressive sales tax.
December
Stockings full of coal. For some Memphians, the presence of the Memphis Safe Task Force and Tennessee National Guard makes the holidays less festive.
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