State Sen. Richard Briggs, R-Knoxville, and state Rep. Sam McKenzie, D-Knoxville, plan to work on changes to Tennessee's school book ban law after the local "Roots" controversy exposed problems in its application, Knox News reports. Briggs says he is concerned about the law causing confusion and wants to clarify how a local school board can step in. Tennessee's Age-Appropriate Materials Act in its current form does not outline who gets the final say, according to the paper. The legislators are reacting to a request from the Knox County Board of Education urging the state to look again at the law.

Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, and Republican U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn are criticizing a proposed $735,000 allocation in Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell's fiscal year 2027 budget for the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC), according to the Tennessean. In a social media post, Sexton said the Tennessee Comptroller's Office and the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference are reviewing the funding for compliance with state law while Blackburn is urging Nashville council members to reject the funding, describing TIRRC as a "pro-illegal alien nonprofit." TIRRC officials and the mayor's office are defending the allocation, noting the organization provides legal services and support for immigrants and refugees and has received city funding for years.

Knox County Board of Education members voted 5-4 on Friday to ask the Tennessee General Assembly to revise the state's Age-Appropriate Materials Act after the law led to the temporary removal of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel "Roots" from school libraries, according to Tennessee Lookout. The resolution requests that lawmakers restore contextual review of challenged books, extend the review period from 60 to 90 days, and create age-specific standards for library materials. The action follows Knox County Schools Superintendent Jon Rysewyk's decision to reinstate "Roots" after determining legal experts disagree on how the law should be interpreted. The novel had been removed after a review committee found that a passage depicting the rape of an enslaved woman met the law's criteria for prohibited content.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has filed a class action lawsuit in federal court challenging Section 1 of HB1704, which makes it a Class A misdemeanor for noncitizens to remain in Tennessee within 90 days of a final removal order, according to NewsChannel 5 Nashville. The law will go into effect July 1, and a Class A misdemeanor carries a maximum sentence of 11 months and 29 days in jail and a maximum fine of $2,500. The suit asks the court to prevent the state from enforcing Section 1 of the bill and to declare it unlawful, and names Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security Commissioner Jeff Long and several district attorneys as defendants. The filing alleges that hundreds or thousands of individuals could face arrest, detention and prosecution if the law takes effect.

Democratic state Sen. Charlane Oliver, D-Nashville, has been removed from the one committee that meets during the off-session as punishment for a protest mounted on the last day of the special session on redistricting. The Tennessean reports that the Oliver also has been informed by Senate Speaker Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, that she will not qualify for per diem payments for office work until next year. The move comes after House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, stripped committee assignments from every House Democrat in response to what he called disruptive behavior in the chamber during the special legislative session. Democrats will remain on the Government Operations Committee and the Calendar & Rules Committees though since House rules require that members of both parties serve on those panels. The Tennessean also reports that additional “punishments” may be coming when the legislature reconvenes in January. Local Memphis has responses from several Democratic members.

Gov. Bill Lee and legislative leaders have named their appointments to a nine-member oversight board that will review operations of Memphis schools. The move comes after the state legislature approved legislation establishing the board, which will operate through 2030. Lee named businessman Tyrone Burroughs, education professional Dorsey Hopson, UT Board of Trustees member Shanea McKinney, Tennessee Board of Regents member Nisha Powers and former National Civil Rights Museum President Beverly Robertson. Lt. Gov. Randy McNally appointed Memphis attorney Dedrick Brittenum Jr. and businessman Billy Orgel. House Speaker Cameron Sexton selected just one of his appointees: David Mansouri, the president and CEO of the education organization SCORE. The Daily Memphian reports on the selections.

A three-judge state court panel has dismissed with prejudice a lawsuit filed by the NAACP challenging Tennessee’s newly redrawn congressional districts, according to the Nashville Banner. The lawsuit argued the General Assembly exceeded the scope of Gov. Bill Lee’s special session proclamation when it approved the maps, which divide Memphis into three congressional districts. The three-judge panel ruled that sovereign immunity protected Lee and the General Assembly from the suit and found only one plaintiff, DeVante Hill, had legal standing to challenge the map. But the judges ultimately determined that Hill’s constitutional and statutory claims lacked merit, concluding the legislature’s actions fell within the scope of the governor’s proclamation. Separate legal challenges to the maps remain pending in federal court.

The Tennessee Supreme Court has issued notice that the Tennessee General Assembly has ratified amendments to the Tennessee Rules of Criminal Procedure and Tennessee Rules of Appellate Procedure. The amendments, adopted by the court in January, take effect on July 1.

Gov. Bill Lee recently signed the FAIR Rx Act, which prevents pharmacy benefit managers (PBM) from holding pharmacy licenses in Tennessee and requires those companies to divest pharmacy ownership by July 1, 2028. The Tennessee Journal reports that CVS Health, which operates 134 retail pharmacy stores and 25 MinuteClinic locations in Tennessee, almost immediately filed a federal lawsuit in an attempt to block the law. According to NewsChannel 5, CVS said the legislation would lead to pharmacy closures, job losses and reduced healthcare access across the state. Supporters of the legislation, including the Tennessee Pharmacists Association, argue the bill is necessary to stop conflicts of interest in the prescription drug industry and protect independent pharmacies from unfair reimbursement practices.

A three-judge panel of state judges heard arguments Thursday morning from the NAACP and the state of Tennessee in one of several challenges to a new map that splits up the Memphis congressional district. The court adjourned without issuing a final ruling. Arguments centered on standing to bring suit and the meaning of the word “facilitate” in the governor’s proclamation calling for the special legislative session. On the later point, the NAACP argued that state lawmakers made the election more difficult and more confusing, thus not “facilitating” it. The state argued that the legislature fulfilled the governor’s directive because the changes “served the purpose of holding this year’s votes.” The Nashville Post takes a closer look at the arguments and questions posed by the judges. In related news, federal Judge William L. Campbell yesterday issued a memorandum explaining his reasons for denying a temporary restraining order in another challenge brought by voters and congressional candidates. Campbell did not completely dismiss the plaintiffs’ arguments or the possibility that they might eventually win in court but ruled that they had not demonstrated a sufficient likelihood of success.