Tennesseans have paid close to $6 million in health insurance premiums for state lawmakers since 2008, the Tennessean reports after reviewing documents provided by a state agency. The newspaper sought the information on state-subsidized coverage after legislators voted down Gov. Bill Haslam’s Insure Tennessee proposal to expand Medicaid coverage.

In a series on outside money in Tennessee politics, the Tennessee News Network reports focuses on the Tennessee chapter of Americans for Prosperity. Nearly two years ago the group, associated with conservative billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch, planted roots in the Volunteer State and hired what is now a staff of six. While Gov. Haslam says its influence is exaggerated when it comes to Insure Tennessee and other legislation, others, like political consultant Tom Ingram, disagree, and say the threat of such spending is especially problematic for Republican legislators, who dominate the General Assembly. Last year, the group reported spending $1.1 million in "lobby-related" expenses in Tennessee, including money used to try to defeat three state Supreme Court justices, then-Rep. Dennis Roach, R-Rutledge, Rep. Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville, and Common Core education standards.

This summer, state lawmakers will gather to discuss the controversial issue of death with dignity and whether or not those with a terminal illness have the right to decide when to die. Now John Jay Hooker, who has been diagnosed with terminal melanoma, is championing this cause and fighting for the right to die with dignity. “I think if a person is suffering wants to leave this earth that the government’s got no business to tell them that they got to suffer and stay,” he told WKRN.

Residents in Blount County were no doubt glad to see the passage of the Criminal Justice Veterans Compensation Act of 2015, as they work to establish and fund a Blount County Veterans Treatment Court. The new law allows counties to use a portion of revenue from a mandated court fee increase for the veterans program, The Daily Times reports.

Gov. Bill Haslam today signed the controversial guns-in-parks bill into law, allowing handgun-carry permit holders to go armed in all parks statewide, regardless of local ordinances. The governor, a former mayor of Knoxville, had expressed concerns about the legislation because it removed the authority of city and county governments over parks under their control, and because the parks often border school properties, the Commercial Appeal reports.

State lawmakers finished their work for the 2015 legislative session just before 10 p.m. last night, the Tennessean reports. Among the bills passed yesterday, lawmakers approved an additional exemption to the Hall tax on investment income, new rules for ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft, and the use of cannabis oil to treat seizures. Among the bills that failed to advance were measures allowing undocumented immigrants’ children who grew up in Tennessee to pay in-state tuition at public colleges and universities (which lost by one vote), allowing residents of parts of cities to de-annex territory, and banning alcohol sales to people with three or more drunken driving convictions. See a break down of more legislative winners and losers from the Associated Press.

Tennessee lawmakers may soon have a new base of operations at the Cordell Hull Building as Republican leaders weigh a move out of the War Memorial Building and Legislative Plaza, WPLN reports. According to House Speaker Beth Harwell, the current offices need $58 million in repairs, which is more than the estimated $44 million needed to update the Hull Building. If lawmakers vacate Legislative Plaza it could be turned into a public parking garage.

Legislation providing some additional flexibility for the creation of for-profit benefit corporations cleared its last major legislative hurdle this afternoon when the Senate adopted SB972/HB767 as amended. The TBA’s Business Entity Study Committee played a critical role in revising the original proposal so that it conforms more closely to Tennessee law.

An “appropriate photograph” of a homicide victim prior to his or her murder will be able to be shown during trial if Gov. Bill Haslam signs new legislation passed this week, Chattanoogan.com reports. According to 10th Judicial District Attorney General Steve Crum, the action will guarantee that murder victims have the same rights as other victims of crime in Tennessee.

Legislation to add a circuit court judgeship in the 19th Judicial District is headed to the governor’s desk for his signature, the Tennessean reports. The 19th District includes Montgomery and Robertson counties and is currently served by three circuit court judges and one chancery court judge. SB60/HB55 will create an immediate judicial post to be filled by Gov. Bill Haslam. The post would then be on the August 2016 ballot.