State Rep. Jay Reedy, R-Erin, has filed a bill to give most dependents of Tennessee veterans with a 100% disability rating a “waiver of tuition, maintenance fees and student activity fees,” allowing the student to attend any public state university or college for free. WATE News in Knoxville reports that generally, a veteran who has a 100% disability rating is someone who was injured while serving. They cannot work and are mostly unable to take care of themselves because of their condition. In 2020, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that Tennessee had more than 37,000 veterans with at least a 70% disability rating or higher.

Gov. Bill Lee today announced a plan to expand beyond a three-county school voucher program for low-income children by offering public money for private schooling statewide, regardless of family income, Associated Press reports. State lawmakers narrowly approved the savings accounts initiative for the three counties in 2019. The program awards eligible families around $8,100 in public tax dollars to cover private school tuition and other preapproved expenses. The newest initiative will require the approval of the state legislature. Read Gov. Lee’s press release.

Gov. Bill Lee will not propose a renewed extreme risk protection order bill when the Tennessee General Assembly returns in January, the Nashville Post reports. Addressing gun safety measures during a Monday event, the governor said that while he won't push for ERPO legislation — also known as red-flag laws — he is “looking for an opportunity in this next session to continue to work on public safety.” During last summer’s special session, Lee pushed for legislation that would have allowed guns to be confiscated from someone for up to 180 days following a court ruling that the person was a risk to public safety based on their mental health. Republican opposition in the legislature prevented the measure from moving forward.

The Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (DCS) is seeking to increase its annual budget next year by nearly $182 million, reports the Tennessee Lookout. DCS chief Margie Quin said the funds would be used to meet the rising housing, mental and physical health needs of children taken into state custody after allegations of abuse or neglect. There has been a 19% increase in the number of children needing specialized inpatient care between the 2022 and 2023. Quin noted the number of foster care placements has dropped 13%. Lawmakers previously approved a $181 million increase in the agency’s annual budget in 2022.

Tennessee Sen. Brent Taylor, R-Memphis, has asked for Gov. Bill Lee’s aid to help address rising crime issues in and around Memphis, ABC24-Memphis reports. In a letter addressed to the governor, Taylor cites recent crimes, including the murder of St. Jude employee Alexander Bulakhov. The senator is requesting unannounced "surges" of patrols from the Tennessee Highway Patrol, a "monitoring" team to better track crime data, and support to hold the judicial system more accountable.

A legislative panel considering rejecting federal school funds for Tennessee concluded two weeks of meetings yesterday, the Tennessean reports. The Joint Working Group on Federal Education Funding heard testimony from representatives of conservative groups who highlighted the advantages of rejecting federal funds. Over the last two weeks, lawmakers also heard from state fiscal analysts and researchers, national education policy experts, representatives from schools and school districts, and officials from the Tennessee Department of Education. It will resume hearings after Thanksgiving and will prepare policy recommendations for the General Assembly when it convenes in January.

State Rep. Justin Jones, D-Nashville, told a forum for Black journalists at Howard University on Tuesday that a “lack of democracy is what brought attention to Tennessee," according to the Commercial Appeal. Jones, known for his activism, highlighted his strategy behind demonstrating in the House chamber. “What we're not talking about is the movement to ban assault weapons that are terrorizing ... our schools” said Jones. The forum was sponsored by the Center for Journalism and Democracy.

Lt. Gov. Randy McNally is refuting criticism that the Tennessee Senate failed to consider a bill that could have prevented the recent death of a Belmont University student last week in Nashville, reports the Tennessean. Jillian Ludwig was killed by a stray bullet while walking in a park a mile from campus. House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, criticized the Senate for declining to consider a bill that he said could have required the suspect charged with Ludwig’s death to be involuntarily committed in an earlier case. Shaquille Taylor, who is now facing multiple charges, had previously been prosecuted for aggravated assault and found incompetent to stand trial. Sexton was co-writing a bill during the special session that would have required individuals to be involuntarily committed to a mental institution if they were found to pose an “imminent” likelihood of serious harm. The bill was set to be considered on the House floor when the session was abruptly adjourned.

After a public reprimand from the Tennessee Board of Judicial Conduct for failing to abide by the terms of an earlier suspension order, Shelby County Criminal Court Division 9 Judge Melissa Boyd has admitted to possessing and using illegal drugs since her August 2022 election. The Daily Memphian reports that information was revealed in a letter from the board officially referring Boyd to the Tennessee General Assembly for “further action,” including potential removal. The letter acknowledges the seriousness of referring Boyd to the General Assembly, the only body that has the power to remove a sitting judge. State law requires the board to notify the General Assembly after a judge has received a second public reprimand while on the bench. Boyd received a reprimand in May and again in October of this year.

Most of Metro Nashville's chosen members reacquainted themselves with the Nashville Airport Authority at a special-called meeting on Monday, according to the Nashville Business Journal. The locally appointed board was reinstated by the courts at the end of October. Members, under the leadership of Nashville attorney Joycelyn Stevenson, re-examined nearly 20 votes that the state board took during its four months in power but did not make any final decisions to ratify or undo any of them. The board will meet again on Nov. 15 for its regularly scheduled meeting. Stevenson, former executive director at the Tennessee Bar Association, is managing shareholder for the Nashville office of Littler Mendelson.