Tennessee Rep. Robin Smith has resigned effective immediately after being charged with federal wire fraud for allegedly taking kickbacks from a campaign vendor.

Smith was elected to the House District 26 seat in 2018.

The Tennessee Ethics Committee has voted to move Sen. Katrina Robinson’s case in front of the full Senate after a 4-1 vote to remove Robinson from her seat.

Robinson has been convicted of four counts of wire fraud and is awaiting sentencing scheduled for March 3.

The Tennessee General Assembly adjourned the third special session on October 30.

Lawmakers passed several bills limiting COVID-19 restrictions and mandates.

In addition to these measures, lawmakers also introduced and passed Senate Bill 9009 making school board elections partisan elections.

All of these bills now await action by Gov. Bill Lee.

The Tennessee General Assembly adjourned its special session on October 20.

During the three-day session, lawmakers approved bills regarding development and other preparations of the Ford Memphis Regional Megasite project, including the allocation of $884 million from the state’s fiscal surplus.

Senate Speaker Randy McNally and House Speaker Cameron Sexton announced the Tennessee Legislature will convene a special session on October 27.

The special session will focus solely on COVID-19 issues including mask and vaccine mandates.

This will be the third special session of 2021.

Gov. Bill Lee called for a special session of the Tennessee General Assembly to convene on October 18 to address funding, buildout, and oversight of Ford’s historic $5.6 billion investment at the Memphis Regional Megasite, located in Fayette and Haywood Counties.

Debate is expected around funding the site’s development, education, and workforce preparation.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed a bill to allow PACs to give state Senate candidates $25,400 over a four-year election period.

Senate Bill 1120 requires the PAC limits for Senate candidates to reset every two years in the same manner as they do for House candidates.

This will double the previous PAC limit of $12,700 because Senate candidates may receive the entire $25,400 at one time.

The bill is effective immediately.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has announced special election dates to fill the vacancy left by the late Rep. Mike Carter who died of pancreatic cancer last month.

The special general election will be held on September 14 after the special primary election on July 27.

Tennessee State Rep. Mike Carter died from pancreatic cancer on May 15.

Carter first won election to the 29th District on November 6, 2012.

He was subsequently re-elected four times, most recently in 2020.

Gov. Bill Lee is expected to announce a special election to fill the vacancy.

The Tennessee Legislature adjourned sine die on May 5.

The Legislature succeeded in approving a $42.6 billion spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year and criminal justice reform measures aimed at improving outcomes for formerly incarcerated individuals.

However, the session also prominently featured highly contentious bills concerning transgender students, abortion, and guns.

The Tennessee Bureau of Ethics and Campaign Finance (BECF) published revised contribution limits for 2021 and 2022.

The individual and corporate contribution limit to local and legislative state candidates remains unchanged at $1,600 per election.

The limit for statewide candidates increased from $4,200 to $4,300 per election.

PAC limits to local and legislative state candidates increased from $8,100 to $8,300 per election.

PAC limits to statewide candidates increased from $12,300 to $12,700 per election.

BECF adjusts contribution limits in January of each odd-numbered year based on the consumer price index

The Nashville Office of Metropolitan Clerk’s new online reporting portal will not be launched prior to the 2021 reporting due date.

The clerk’s office has indicated those lobbying activity reports should instead be emailed to the clerk’s office on or before the January 31 due date.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has announced the Legislature will convene for a special session on January 19, 2021 to address education challenges due to COVID-19.

Lee has asked lawmakers to focus on key issues including learning loss, funding, accountability, literacy, and teacher pay.

Memphis City Council voted against adopting an ordinance requiring those lobbying the council to register with the city and name their clients.

The ordinance would have required lobbyists to register annually and pay a registration fee of $50.

The ordinance would have also subjected lobbyists to similar reporting requirements of those lobbying the Tennessee General Assembly and the Metro Nashville Council.