Montgomery County Commissioner Michael Lankford on Dec. 8 was chosen to serve as the interim state House District 75 representative by the Montgomery County Commission. The Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle reports that the commission voted for Lankford to complete the term of the late Rep. Jeff Burkhart, R-Clarksville, following Burkhart's unexpected death on Nov. 14. "I appreciate the confidence that the commission has in me, and I look forward to working with this body in the future at the state capitol," Lankford said, addressing the commission after the meeting. Six candidates submitted resumes and letters of interest to the commission for consideration for the seat.

The Knox County Board of Education recently approved a legislative agenda opposing mandates that would require public school districts to check students’ immigration status. According to the Moore County News, Sen. Bo Watson, R-Hixson, and Rep. William Lamberth, R-Portland, sponsored bills in the 2025 General Assembly that would have required or permitted such checks. Board members added a tenet urging the state to support the principle that public schools exist to educate all children. During the legislative debate, Watson said the measure was designed to save money. He cited a Rutherford County School Board resolution estimating it costs $3,500 more per student to educate non-English-speaking children. The state Senate passed the bill, and it remains pending in the House.

Former Republican Rep. Robin Smith of Hixson has been directed to report to Alderson, a minimum security federal prison in West Virginia, by 2 p.m. on Jan. 5, reports Chattanoogan.com. In October, Smith was sentenced to serve eight months in prison and pay a $7,500 fine for her role in the legislative fraud case that also involved former House Speaker Glen Casada and his top aide, Cade Cothren. Smith pleaded guilty to honest-services wire fraud connected to a taxpayer-funded mailer scheme. After her guilty plea, she cooperated with prosecutors in their cases against Casada and Cothren, who were convicted and given prison time, but pardoned recently by the president. Smith is seeking to have her sentence reduced. One of her attorneys also has sought a presidential pardon.

Former state Rep. Robin Smith is asking a Nashville federal judge to grant her probation and remove a $7,500 fine previously imposed on her in light of pardons for her two co-defendants. A motion filed with federal Judge Eli Richardson argues that Smith “should be resentenced to a term of probation and have the fine reduced to $0 in order to mitigate the manifest injustice that will result from Ms. Smith being the only one of the three conspirators to face criminal sanctions.” The other two individuals involved in the case, former Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada and his former chief of staff Cade Cothren, received presidential pardons earlier this month. Smith is due to report to federal prison on Jan. 5, 2026, to begin serving an eight-month sentence. Chattanoogan.com has the story.

State Rep. Caleb Hemmer, D-Nashville, on Monday announced that he would not seek reelection for a third two-year term in the state legislature. Hemmer represents District 59 in southern Davidson County and passed bills during his tenure dealing with maternal health, university-sponsored lab schools, affordable housing and children’s mental health. The Tennessee Lookout reports that in his parting statement, Hemmer urged constituents to continue holding elected officials “to the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct.”

A new bill that would increase penalties for animal cruelty charges in Tennessee, SB1475, was introduced Tuesday. The bill would raise the penalty for aggravated cruelty to animals from a Class E felony to a Class D felony, WSMV reports. The proposal also adds that juveniles who commit aggravated animal cruelty could be classified as “serious youthful offenders.” The bill is sponsored by Sen. Brent Taylor, R-Memphis, while the House version, HB1444, is sponsored by Rep. John Gillespie, R-Memphis.

An attorney for former state Rep. Robin Smith of Hixson is calling for a full presidential pardon following her federal sentencing in a public-corruption case, NewsChannel 5 reports. Smith pleaded guilty to honest-services wire fraud connected to a taxpayer-funded mailer scheme. After her guilty plea, she cooperated with prosecutors in their cases against former Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada and one of his top aides. In October, she was sentenced to eight months in prison, followed by one year of probation and a $7,500 fine. Her attorney argues that Smith has met the conditions they say merit clemency. Smith’s sentencing order begins Jan. 5, 2026.

Bolivar Mayor Julian McTizic has announced he will run for the District 80 seat in the Tennessee House of Representatives. The seat is currently held by Rep. Johnny Shaw, D-Bolivar, who says he is not seeking reelection in 2026. The Tennessee Journal reports that McTizic will run for the seat as a Republican. “I see this as a tremendous opportunity to continue my efforts in helping the community I love so much. My entire career has focused on helping people in need, and I would be blessed to and honored to serve the citizens of Hardeman, Haywood and Madison counties in the state house,” McTizic said. He is the youngest and first Black mayor of Bolivar and has served in that office since 2017. McTizic is president of the Tennessee Mayor’s Association and the West Tennessee Mayor’s Association. WBBJ has more on the story.

Rep. Mary Littleton, R-Dickson, has announced she will not seek another term representing District 78 in the Tennessee House of Representatives. The Post Local News reports she has represented Cheatham and Dickson counties since 2012. As a freshman legislator, Littleton passed one of the nation’s first laws allowing the termination of parental rights when a parent is convicted of sex trafficking their own child. Since 2019, she has served as chair of the House Children and Family Affairs Subcommittee, overseeing legislation related to child custody, domestic violence, juvenile crime and foster care. “It’s been a true blessing to represent Cheatham and Dickson counties and one of the greatest honors of my life to serve. I’m deeply proud of what we’ve accomplished together to make Tennessee a safer, healthier state for children and families,” Littleton said. She will continue to serve through the remainder of her term.

A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by state Rep. Justin Jones, D-Nashville, that alleged Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, and other legislative leaders violated his First and 14th Amendment rights, WSMV reports. The lawsuit centered on Jones’ expulsion, reinstatement and treatment as a lawmaker after he and two other representatives joined gun reform protests on the House floor following the Covenant School shooting in Nashville. The group, known as “The Tennessee Three,” drew national attention as lawmakers debated whether their actions were protected speech or disruptive conduct. In a 52-page opinion filed last week, U.S. District Judge Eli Richardson dismissed the case in its entirety, ruling that Jones lacked standing. The decision follows multiple motions to dismiss filed by Sexton and the other defendants.