Legislature Archives - Page 2 of 33 - Tennessee Coalition for Open Government

7 Feb, 2024

Autopsies of murdered children would become confidential under bill passed by subcommittee
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Autopsies of murdered children would become confidential under bill passed by subcommittee

crime records, Legislature, Public Records

Autopsies of murdered children would become confidential under bill passed by subcommittee

By Deborah Fisher|2024-02-07T08:36:45-06:00February 7, 2024|Categories: crime records, Legislature, Public Records|Tags: autopsies, crime records, legislature, minors, Rebecca Alexander|0 Comments

Autopsies of murdered children would become confidential under a bill that passed a House subcommittee on Tuesday. TCOG testified against the bill, noting examples of when journalists, often working with extended family members, used autopsies to shine light on coverups and mistakes, including a child shot in head by Memphis police in a botched housing raid and child killed by his mother's boyfriend in Columbia.

3 Jan, 2024

Judge rules expenses related to legislative intern harassment exempt from public records law
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Judge rules expenses related to legislative intern harassment exempt from public records law

Legislature, public records lawsuits Tennessee, state records

Judge rules expenses related to legislative intern harassment exempt from public records law

By Deborah Fisher|2024-01-03T17:02:01-06:00January 3, 2024|Categories: Legislature, public records lawsuits Tennessee, state records|Tags: Brian Manookian, Chancellor Russell Perkins, legislature, Mayhew v. Wilder, public records exemptions, public records lawsuits, Scotty Campbell, sexual harassment|0 Comments

A Nashville judge said the expenses related to harassment of a 19-year-old legislative intern by then-state lawmaker Scotty Campbell are exempt from the public records law based on a House rule and a policy on workplace harassment. But Chancellor Russell Perkins refused to buy the state's broad argument that the General Assembly is exempt from the public records law.

26 Aug, 2023

Sexton faces First Amendment lawsuit for rule that led to expelling women for holding small signs
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Sexton faces First Amendment lawsuit for rule that led to expelling women for holding small signs

Legislature

Sexton faces First Amendment lawsuit for rule that led to expelling women for holding small signs

By Deborah Fisher|2023-08-26T15:28:37-05:00August 26, 2023|Categories: Legislature|Tags: First Amendment, legislature, signs, State Rep. Cameron Sexton, Tennessee House|0 Comments

State House Speaker Cameron Sexton faces a First Amendment lawsuit over House rules that bar members of the public from holding signs, including those on 8.5x11 pieces of paper, in committee rooms. Three women were kicked out for continuing hold their signs during a House Civil Justice subcommittee meeting that was hearing various public safety bills during the special session.

15 Aug, 2023

Autopsy reports of children killed by violence would be confidential under proposed bill
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Autopsy reports of children killed by violence would be confidential under proposed bill

crime records, Legislature

Autopsy reports of children killed by violence would be confidential under proposed bill

By Deborah Fisher|2023-08-22T16:16:25-05:00August 15, 2023|Categories: crime records, Legislature|Tags: autopsy reports, legislation, State Rep. William Lamberth, The Covenant School shooting|0 Comments

House Majority Leader William Lamberth has filed a bill for the special session next week that would close autopsies and other reports of medical examiners in cases involving "victims of violent crime who are minors." The bill, HB 7007, seeks to make those reports and autopsies of children who are 17 and younger "not public documents."

24 May, 2023

New laws require local government to provide agenda, public comment periods
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New laws require local government to provide agenda, public comment periods

Legislature, meeting agenda, public comment

New laws require local government to provide agenda, public comment periods

By Deborah Fisher|2023-05-24T11:54:07-05:00May 24, 2023|Categories: Legislature, meeting agenda, public comment|Tags: adequate public notice, meeting agenda, public comment, Rep. Elaine Davis, Sen. Adam Lowe, State Rep. Jerome Moon, State Sen. Todd Gardenhire|1 Comment

The General Assembly made two major changes to the Open Meetings Act this year. One new law requires that county and city legislative bodies provide an agenda 48 hours in advance of the meeting. The agenda must "reasonably describe" each agenda item. The other requires all governing bodies set aside a period for public comment, allowing citizens to speak about items on the agenda.