New State Legislation That Could Impact Nashville
⚖️ How this year’s General Assembly could impact Nashville · Quakes shake up the TN-KY border · Is Garcia off the hook? · Much more!
Good afternoon, everyone. The General Assembly reconvenes next week, and new legislation could impact Music City... Judge in Garcia trial puts the Trump Administration on its heels... Earthquakes shaking things up along the Tennessee-Kentucky border... and much more!
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Eyes on this year's General Assembly: State Legislation That Could Impact Nashville
The 114th General Assembly will reconvene at noon next Tuesday. While a number of previously filed bills will carry over from last year’s session, 30 new House bills and 32 new Senate bills have already been filed in time for this year’s session.
Legislation inspired by Nashville's mayor: While stricter penalties for Tennessee officials who endanger ICE officers became law in July, Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson introduced a bill that would make it a Class E felony if state or local government entities dox immigration enforcement agents or disclose confidential information. It would also expand the grounds for ouster to include the criminally negligent release of certain confidential records.
The legislation was filed in direct response to concerns over whether Mayor Freddie O’Connell intentionally allowed information related to federal immigration enforcement officers to be displayed on Nashville’s official government website following ICE operations in May. The bill already has 14 Senate sponsors and is supported by notable officials such as House Speaker Cameron Sexton and Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally.
The Beacon Center could push for a property tax cap: Though no legislation has been filed, the Nashville-based policy think tank has been promoting a statewide limit on annual property tax increases. Legislation could include a trigger that would subject local government tax increases exceeding the yearly limit to a vote via referendum.
“Nashville recently raised property taxes by 26 percent, Kingsport by 24 percent, and Mt. Juliet by a whopping 164 percent,” wrote Beacon Center of Tennessee CEO Justin Owen in a September blog post. “More and more cities, counties, and school districts are raising property taxes at alarming rates.” Tennessee is one of only four states without limits on local property tax hikes.
Will Sexton make changes to the East Bank Authority? Speaker Cameron Sexton, who serves on the East Bank Development Authority Board, has expressed disappointment with the way the newly formed Authority has been established via state legislation, which passed last session.
On multiple occasions, Sexton has raised questions about whether the Authority actually has any authority. “We need to change this to the East Bank Oversight Committee, because that's really what this is,” said Sexton during an EBDA board meeting in August.
The Men Behind the Machine We hear endless warnings about the existential dangers of transhumanism and artificial intelligence, but almost none about the individuals and interests behind their advance. What do they believe? What does their vision for the future of humanity look like? How does this affect how they organize and lead their companies?
On Thursday, January 15th, Joe Allen will join us to discuss just that. Allen is a writer and Bannon's War Room correspondent. His 2023 book, Dark Aeon, chronicles the rise of artificial intelligence and transhumanism, arguing that unchecked technological advancement poses a threat to humanity.
This is the second in a series of monthly lectures we'll be hosting. These events are for the benefit of The Pamphleteer. Every dollar earned goes toward supporting our operations and planning future events.
Paying Bard-level subscribers receive free access to this and future events. (Buy Tickets)
HEADLINES
- ⚖️ Nashville Judge Waverly Crenshaw cancelled the January human smuggling trial for illegal alien Kilmar Abrego Garcia to determine whether the U.S. Government is pursuing the case vindictively. Instead, an evidentiary hearing has been scheduled for January 28, where the government will have to rebut such claims made by Garcia’s team. If Crenshaw feels the prosecutors cannot justify their case, he could dismiss the charges against Garcia. (TN Conservative)
- 🌐 Two minor earthquakes have struck near the Tennessee-Kentucky border within the last week. On Sunday, an earthquake of 2.6 magnitude hit north of Knoxville. On December 28, a 3.1 tremor slightly shook up Lancaster, Kentucky. (WSMV)
- 🏫 According to a Tennessee Comptroller report released on Monday, most Tennessee public school students who use Education Savings Account vouchers aren’t leaving low-performing public schools. The report recommends that the Tennessee Department of Education should strive to ensure low-income families are aware of the ESA program. (Full Comptroller Report)
DEVELOPMENT
- Pastaria Nashville closes on west side (Post)
- West Nashville property eyed for project sells for $14.58M (Post)
- Downtown building once housing Irish pub sells for $5.75M (Post)
THINGS TO DO
View our calendar for the week here.
📅 Visit our On The Radar list to find upcoming events around Nashville.
🎧 On Spotify: Pamphleteer's Picks, a playlist of our favorite bands in town this week.
👨🏻🌾 Check out our Nashville farmer's market guide.
TONIGHT
🪕 Troubadour Blue @ Station Inn, 8p, Info
👴 Richard Thomas in Mark Twain Tonight! @ Ryman Auditorium, 7:30p, $22+, Info
🎸 Honky Tonk Tuesday @ Eastside Bowl, 8p, $10, Info
+ two-step lessons @ 7p, The Cowpokes @ 8p
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