U.S. senators, including Tennessee's Marsha Blackburn, are backing legislation that would fund uninterrupted Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits through 2026, even if the government shutdown continues. Last week, Gov. Bill Lee said the state will not be able to cover lost federal SNAP benefits. According to Knox News, on Oct. 27 the U.S. Department of Agriculture said it would not use contingency funds to reload beneficiaries’ grocery cards. Last week, Tennessee lawmakers urged Lee to call a special legislative session to address the lack of federal funding during the shutdown as 690,000 Tennesseans are set to lose SNAP or other benefits. 

Tennessee lawmakers are calling for a special legislative session to address a lack of federal funding as the federal shutdown enters its 23rd day. With around 690,000 Tennesseans poised to lose Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or other benefits if the shutdown continues into November, lawmakers are asking Gov. Bill Lee to intervene, according to the Nashville Banner newsletter. “Standing idly by while children go hungry is simply not an option. The time to act is now,” Caucus Chair Rep. John Ray Clemmons, D-Nashville, said in a release Thursday. In the statement, the caucus noted that the governor has called numerous special sessions in his two terms, including earlier this year to approve storm relief for approximately 10,000 people impacted by Hurricane Helene in East Tennessee. The Tennessee Department of Health and Human Services warned earlier this week that funding for programs like SNAP will not be available next month if the shutdown continues into November. 

Former state Rep. Robin Smith on Friday morning was sentenced to serve eight months in federal prison and a $7,500 fine for her leading part in what was termed "a lengthy conspiracy to cheat the state," The Chattanoogan reports. Smith, a former Republican lawmaker from Hixson, pleaded guilty to honest services wire fraud in connection with a kickback scheme involving former House Speaker Glen Casada and his top aide, Cade Cothren. Prosecutors said the group used a fake company, Phoenix Solutions, to profit from state-funded mailer contracts. Smith, who testified against her co-defendants, will be on probation for a year after the sentence is served and is scheduled to report to prison Jan. 5.

Amid an argument over jettisoning Memphis school board members, state Rep. Torrey Harris, D-Memphis, is sponsoring a measure that would allow voters to recall local elected leaders, based largely on discontent with an official. Harris filed HB1448 this week to create a process for the removal of officials such as mayors, county commissioners, school board members and other county officials based on voter discontent with an official. The bill has had mixed reaction. State Sen. London Lamar, D-Memphis, said she would not support the bill, saying, “We already have a system for holding elected officials accountable. It’s called an election.” Tennessee Lookout has more on the proposal.

Local prosecutors are "drowning" in prison crime cases committed inside Tennessee's largest prison, District Attorney General Jason Lawson told members of the state Senate on Oct. 1. According to Lawson’s testimony, his office has prosecuted more than 204 offenses since 2021 — including murder, attempted murder, rape, assault, possession of contraband and indecent exposure — despite insufficient resources and policies that prevent evidence gathering. But he also said that the crimes prosecuted represent a “dramatic underestimate” of the actual offenses committed. The long-troubled facility is run by private prison operator CoreCivic and is under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice. Also at the hearing, Tennessee Corrections Commissioner Frank Strada told legislators that gang members incarcerated at Trousdale often bribe guards to bring contraband through security. The Tennessean has more on the story.

State Rep. Justin J. Pearson is planning to challenge long-time incumbent U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen for Tennessee's 9th Congressional District, according to the Commercial Appeal. Cohen has held the seat — which encompasses most of Memphis and some of its suburbs — since 2007. The Democratic primary for the seat will be held in August 2026, followed by a general election in November 2026. "The status quo is not working for us," Pearson said in an interview ahead of the announcement. "I think that we will be the strongest candidate in the race. We have the right vision, the right ideas, the right goals and visions” for the district. According to The Tennessee Journal, Pearson plans to run for re-election to his state House seat while challenging Cohen. Read more about his campaign.

U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon on Tuesday announced that state Rep. Mark White, R-Memphis, has been appointed chair of the National Assessment Governing Board, which oversees the the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) and sets educational frameworks across the United States. White will serve a four-year term as chair after serving on the board since 2020. White chairs the state House Education Administration Committee and previously worked as a science teacher and K-8 school principal before becoming a small-business owner. The board administers the NAEP, known as the Nation’s Report Card, which tests fourth, eighth and 12th graders in subjects such as math, science and reading. The most recent results, released in September, showed declining scores among students, the Nashville Post reports. McMahon said the new appointments would help deliver meaningful data to policymakers and drive improvements in K-12 education.

The State Building Commission in August approved a $4,000 private donation to go toward the construction of the “memorial for unborn children” on the grounds of the state capitol. The monument was first proposed in 2018 and sponsored by Rep. Jerry Sexton, R-Bean Station, and Sen. Steve Southerland, R-Morristown. WKRN reports that Democrats had argued that the monument's construction would have serious implications for abortion and women, and that the memorial wasn’t necessary because there is already one honoring children who have died in Nashville’s Centennial Park.

State Sen. Jeff Yarbro, D-Nashville, is accusing Attorney General (AG) Jonathan Skrmetti of improperly revising and withdrawing a prior legal opinion, written by former AG Herbert Slatery, to allow Gov. Bill Lee to deploy National Guard troops to Memphis at President Donald Trump’s request. Yarbro argues the move violates both the U.S. and Tennessee constitutions, which prohibit military involvement in policing, and says it undermines the rule of law. Skrmetti defends the change, stating attorney general opinions are not binding and that the office withdraws opinions when it finds the state of the law has changed or the analysis was incorrect. Sen. Mark Pody, R-Lebanon, contends the governor has clear authority over the Guard. Yarbro maintains state law authorizes changes or omissions only when the legislature passes new laws or a court makes a conflicting ruling, and warns that ignoring constitutional limits amounts to “tyranny.” Tennessee Lookout has the story.

Former speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives Glen Casada has been sentenced to 36 months in prison for his role in a scheme using the state’s constituent mailer program, WKRN reports. He was also sentenced to one year of supervised release and ordered to pay a $30,000 fine. Casada was convicted alongside his former chief of staff Cade Cothren of secretly running Phoenix Solutions, a company that funneled taxpayer-funded mailer business for profit. Cothren was sentenced last week to 30 months in prison. U.S. District Judge Eli Richardson handed down the sentence after rejecting defense objections, finding Casada used “sophisticated” money laundering to conceal the scheme. The Tennessean also reports on the sentencing.