A federal judge has denied a motion to reopen a legal challenge to a new immigration law enacted in Tennessee this year, The Tennessee Journal reports. U.S. District Court Judge Eli Richardson of Nashville on Monday denied the plaintiffs’ motion for reconsideration as moot. Earlier this month, the ACLU and National Immigration Law Center asked Richardson to reopen their lawsuit challenging a new law creating a state crime for overstaying an order of deportation. Richardson had dismissed the case in June, ruling that the plaintiffs did not have legal standing.

State Sen. Ferrell Haile, R-Gallatin, is dropping his bid to succeed retiring Senate speaker Randy McNally, The Tennessee Journal reports. That decision leaves Senate Republican leader Jack Johnson of Franklin and Senate Commerce Chair Paul Bailey of Sparta to contend for the post. In a message sent to colleagues, Haile said, “Thank you for your time and consideration as I spoke with you concerning Lt. Gov/Speaker position. Today I am withdrawing my name for consideration. I appreciate your friendship.” He had announced his bid for the role in April.

A federal three-judge panel has denied an injunction in a combined case that included constitutional challenges to Tennessee’s new congressional map, the Daily Memphian reports. The combined case was the last of a number of suits — including one from Democratic congressional candidates and one from the state chapter of the NAACP  — following the Tennessee General Assembly’s approval of the new map in May. The panel was made up of two judges from the Middle District of Tennessee — Chief District Judge William Lynn "Chip" Campbell Jr. and District Judge Gregory Stivers — and Judge John B. Nalbandian of the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. The panel said in its order that the ACLU of Tennessee and Memphis clergy failed to prove their 1st Amendment rights had been violated by the new map. It also ruled there was no evidence that the map was created with racial animus. Plaintiffs now have 30 days to file an appeal with the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. In a press release issued after the ruling, the ACLU said it would “continue litigating the case and pursuing permanent relief.”

A new Memphis group has joined a network of local organizations supporting the state takeover of Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS). According to Chalkbeat, Together4Students launched in May and advocates for using the state intervention to pursue ambitious achievement goals, including doubling the number of students in high-performing schools by 2035. The group also is seeking 2,500 signatures for a petition calling on MSCS to drop its lawsuit challenging the state takeover, with more than 300 signatures collected as of Tuesday. Although the group supports the new oversight board, founder Henry Jones said Together4Students is committed to improving the district regardless of who is in charge. In early July, a federal judge temporarily blocked the state board from beginning operations.

The Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) declined to respond to a lawmaker's request for details about the failed execution of death row inmate Tony Carruthers. According to WJHL, Rep. Jody Barrett, R-Dickson, requested information from the department about what changes, if any, had been made to prevent a similar incident from happening in the future. Barrett gave TDOC until Monday to respond. In the request, he asked whether the department had implemented new training, revised procedures, strengthened oversight or adopted additional safeguards before the scheduled Aug. 13 execution of Darrell Hines. TDOC responded in a letter Tuesday, saying it would not comment because the issues are the subject of ongoing litigation. The department also said it remains committed to fulfilling its legal obligations and complying with state law.

Eight Republican senators are calling on Gov. Bill Lee to conduct an independent review of the failed execution attempt of death row inmate Tony Carruthers before the state carries out another death sentence. “We write as members of the Tennessee Senate who firmly support the death penalty, to express our serious concern over the failed execution of Tony Von Carruthers on May 21, 2026, and to call for full transparency and accountability from the Department of Correction,” the letter reads according to WPLN. The letter also asks Lee to correct any issues before the next execution on Aug. 13. The move comes after the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) called on Lee to pause all executions by lethal injection.

U.S. District Judge Eli Richardson has dismissed a class-action lawsuit challenging Section 1 of HB1704, which makes it a Class A misdemeanor for noncitizens to remain in Tennessee 90 days after a final removal order. Richardson dismissed the case without prejudice for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction, ruling that the plaintiffs did not have legal standing because they could not demonstrate that their removal orders were “valid” and “outstanding” as required by the law. The law went into effect July 1, according to the Tennessee Lookout.

Rep. Aftyn Behn, D-Nashville, has filed 14 federal civil rights complaints against the Tennessee Department of Children's Services (DCS) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office for Civil Rights, alleging widespread violations involving the treatment of children with disabilities and foster care practices across multiple Tennessee counties. WSMV reports that the complaints allege disability discrimination, retaliation against parents and foster parents who reported misconduct, falsified case records, improper removals of children, sexual assault in DCS-certified placements and national origin discrimination. Behn is requesting a federal investigation, a halt to active termination of parental rights proceedings, a compliance plan for children with disabilities, anti-retaliation protections and ongoing federal oversight. DCS did not commented on the filings according to the news station.

On the fourth anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision overturning Roe v. Wade, Tennessee lawmakers unveiled a new monument at the State Capitol honoring the unborn, News Channel 9 reports. The court's 2022 decision allowed states to set their own abortion laws and triggered Tennessee's Human Life Protection Act, which bans nearly all elective abortions in the state. The Tennessee Monument to Unborn Children is located on the southeast side of the Capitol grounds. Lawmakers said the monument recognizes unborn children whose lives ended through abortion and serves as a place for reflection and remembrance. The monument was approved by the General Assembly in 2018 and was funded entirely through private donations.

A new law banning the sale of most hemp-derived THCa products takes effect Wednesday, making it illegal to sell or ship products containing 0.3% or more THCa statewide, the Nashville Banner reports. The law effectively prohibits smokable hemp products such as flower and pre-rolls while allowing certain low-potency drinks, edibles and vape products to remain on the market under new regulations. The measure also transfers oversight of hemp products to the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission and imposes new taxes and packaging, labeling and advertising requirements. Industry leaders estimate retailers could lose about 60% of their revenue under the law. Some dispensaries plan to remain open with limited products while others have announced plans to relocate out of state.