Attorney General Herbert Slatery says Gov. Bill Haslam cannot implement any form of Medicaid expansion without lawmaker approval, The Tennessean reports. The opinion comes after supporters of Insure Tennessee continued to push the governor to use federally funded health care to assist low-income residents.

State Sen. Jack Johnson, R-Franklin, submitted a bill that would stop a Nashville charter amendment requiring contractors wanting to do business with the city to hire a certain number of local workers, WSMV reports. Nashville mayor-elect Megan Barry supported Amendement 3 that passed in the August election. “It is unfortunate that legislators outside of Davidson County feel the need to override the will of 58 percent of the voters in Nashville,” Barry said. “I would hope that lawmakers from across the state would support the concept of local control.”

A bill to allow banning guns from major sports and music venues was introduced Monday by Senate Minority Leader Lee Harris, D-Memphis, and state Rep. John Ray Clemmons, D-Nashville, WATE reports. The bill challenges the new state law that allows guns in parks. "Allowing guns in areas with large crowds where alcohol is consumed is a recipe for disaster and creates a grave danger for law enforcement officers," Harris said in a statement. The bill’s exemption would apply to events that require a ticket for entry.

State Sen. Richard Briggs, R-Knoxville, is introducing legislation that would provide immunity and personal liability protection for Tennessee National Guard members involved in protection during a terrorist attack, Nooga reports. “Our Tennessee National Guardsmen have become targets of terrorists, as demonstrated by the tragic events in Chattanooga,” Briggs said. The proposal comes one month after the July 16 shooting in Chattanooga that killed five service members. The bill is being developed in consultation with Gov. Bill Haslam and Adjutant General Max Haston, according to the paper.

State legislators say the Health Department should have more authority to track how fetal tissue is disposed of after abortions, the Chattanooga Times Free Press reports. In a joint hearing of the Government Operations Committee, Sen. Mike Bell, R-Riceville, expressed concern that illegal tissues sales could still be going on without health inspectors’ knowledge.

In a letter to the General Assembly Republican Caucus on Wednesday, Gov. Bill Haslam assured fellow Republicans that fetal tissue sales are illegal in Tennessee. Halsam comments come after discussion of recently released hidden-camera videos that raised concerns of whether Planned Parenhood officials were profitiing from the sale of fetal tissue in other states. The Times Free Press said Haslem also encourages the prosecution of anyone who violates state law by buying or selling fetal tissue.

Jason Zachary thanked a higher power for his win in the Republican primary to represent West Knox County’s 14th District in the Tennessee House. “People would say, ‘Did God really call you to run for Congress?’ And I can say tonight, yes, tonight validates,” that, Zachary told Knoxnews. The telecommunications broker has been an outspoken opponent of Gov. Bill Haslam’s Insure Tennessee proposal. The Commercial Appeal looks at what the election may mean for that effort. The special election was held to replace former state Rep. Ryan Haynes who stepped down to become the chairman of the Tennessee Republican party.

The two candidates vying for the 14th District General Assembly seat will face off Thursday for the only debate in the truncated political race, Knoxnews reports. Knox County school board member Karen Carson will face small-business owner Jason Zachary at the Farragut Town Hall board room at 7 p.m. Election day for the primary race is Aug. 12. There are no Democratic challengers, meaning the winner of next week’s vote is all but certain to earn the seat representing Southwest Knox County.

State Sen. Rusty Crowe, R-Johnson City, is suggesting that court clerks should not have to issue marriage licenses to same sex couples if doing so would violate their religious beliefs, WJHL reports. He tells the Tennessean that he does not want to see people get fired because of their beliefs. But he stopped short of saying whether he would draft legislation on the issue.

When Tennessee’s legislature reconvenes next year, the handling of deadly police shootings will be on the agenda. Sponsored in the House by Rep. G.A. Hardaway, D-Memphis, and Rep. John DeBerry, D-Memphis, and in the Senate by Sen. Brian Kelsey, R-Germantown, a new bill would mandate that the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation automatically take over all officer-involved fatal shootings. It would also spell out how TBI’s findings are released. WREG has more.