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General Assembly ends without passing student immigration bill | Tennessee

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www.thecentersquare.com – By Kim Jarrett | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-04-23 07:10:00

(The Center Square) – A bill that would have allowed Tennessee school districts to ban undocumented students died in the House of Representatives amid concerns it would impact federal funding.

House Bill 793/Senate Bill 836 was not revived before the General Assembly ended the 2025 session on Tuesday evening.

The state receives $1.1 billion in federal funding each year. That amount was deemed at risk to the consequences of the proposed law in relation to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, according to the bill’s fiscal note.

Title VI protections extend to undocumented individuals in the United States, the note said.

“Violations of federal civil rights laws may place this funding at risk, however, the specific amount at risk is undetermined,” analysts wrote in the bill’s fiscal note.

The Senate passed its version of the bill last Thursday, with supporters calling the bill a “financial” decision and opponents questioning the moral cost. Senate Bill 836, sponsored by Sen. Bo Watson, R-Hixson, received “no” votes from some Republicans.

Lisa Sherman Luna, executive director of the Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition, testified against the bill as it moved through committee.

“This is a major victory – and it belongs to all the children, parents, educators, faith leaders, business owners, veterans, partner organizations, and the bipartisan coalition of Republicans and Democrats who stood up for education for all children,” Luna said in a statement.

Another controversial education bill also failed. House and Senate leaders could not agree on a bill that would have cleared the way for a takeover of the Memphis Shelby County Schools. Rep. Mark White, R-Memphis, said the school system needed to do better with the money it received every year. An estimated 130,000 Memphis residents don’t have a high school diploma, he said.

Democrats said the bill was an attempt to take over the schools and create more charter schools. A forensic audit of the school system is being conducted and will be completed next year.

The House and Senate passed the nearly $60 billion budget last week.

Gov. Bill Lee praised the General Assembly, specifically $1 billion for road projects and more than $450 million in disaster relief for Hurricane Helene victims.

“We’ve passed strategic legislative and budget measures to improve infrastructure, invest in education, strengthen our workforce, and solidify Tennessee’s position as a leader in next-generation nuclear energy,” Lee said. “I thank the General Assembly for its partnership and continued commitment to responsible fiscal stewardship and innovation to improve the lives of the people we serve.”

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News from the South - Tennessee News Feed

Intense storms downed power lines, left thousands in the dark across the Mid-South

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www.youtube.com – FOX13 Memphis – 2025-07-18 14:11:19

SUMMARY: Intense storms in southeast Memphis caused 13 power poles to fall along Shelby Drive near Getwell, leaving thousands without power. MLGW and Memphis Police have blocked affected roads due to live power lines posing a significant danger. One downed line even crushed a car, though the driver is expected to be okay. The outages have impacted many homes and businesses in the area amidst extreme heat, complicating recovery efforts. Utility crews are working through the night to clear debris and restore power, with no estimated timeline for repairs yet. Authorities have closed a half-mile stretch of the road for safety.

At least 16 power poles on Shelby Drive were knocked down around 7 p.m. Thursday. And on Friday morning, MLGW crews were …

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News from the South - Tennessee News Feed

Alvarado echoes Trump in launching a congressional bid

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wpln.org – Tony Gonzalez – 2025-07-18 04:38:00

SUMMARY: Dr. Ralph Alvarado, Kentucky’s first Hispanic state legislator and former Republican state senator, announced his 2026 bid for Kentucky’s 6th Congressional District seat. Now Tennessee’s health commissioner, Alvarado plans to return and align with Trump’s “America First” agenda, focusing on issues like border security and fighting the “woke agenda.” The seat, held by GOP Rep. Andy Barr, is a Democratic target for the 2026 midterms. The race includes GOP challengers Ryan Dotson and Deanna Gordon, and Democrats Zach Dembo, Cherlynn Stevenson, and David Kloiber. The district blends rural GOP areas and Democratic-leaning Lexington, shaped by recent redistricting.

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A heart implant could make Tennessee’s next execution painful and prolonged. Prison officials argue they don’t have to disable the device.

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wpln.org – Catherine Sweeney – 2025-07-17 17:25:00

SUMMARY: Byron Black, scheduled for execution in Tennessee on August 5, has a heart implant—a combined pacemaker and defibrillator—that could cause severe pain by delivering shocks if triggered during lethal injection. Experts warn that the drug pentobarbital used in the execution may induce dangerous heart rhythms activating the device, causing continuous shocks. Black’s attorneys argue the device should be disabled beforehand, but state officials and medical experts claim it’s unlikely to be triggered and that any shocks would be felt in a coma state, preventing pain perception. A court ruling on this issue is expected soon.

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The post A heart implant could make Tennessee’s next execution painful and prolonged. Prison officials argue they don’t have to disable the device. appeared first on wpln.org

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