When the Tennessee legislature voted to combine Knoxville’s two Democratic-leaning state House districts, they effectively carved Rep. Gloria Johnson’s home out of the district she currently represents. Johnson now says she is moving to the newly created District 90 to run again, Knoxnews reports. Much of her current District 13 will be part of the new district. Johnson says she did not want to challenge Democratic Rep. Sam McKenzie, the region’s lone Black representative in the General Assembly, in a redrawn District 15 so moving was the best option.

As Nashville continues to license party vehicles, state lawmakers are considering giving local governments more authority to regulate these “transpotainment” companies, the Johnson City Press reports. Rep. Bill Freeman, D-Nashville, is sponsoring HB1392, which would give local governments the power to regulate companies operating party buses and tractors. “Right now in downtown Nashville we have a pretty major issue with these party buses,” Freeman told the House Transportation Committee last week. “We have businesses that are moving out of downtown because of the noise. We’ve got families that are deciding not to take their kids downtown because of the lewd behavior that’s going on in a lot of these buses.” While some conservative lawmakers pushed back on the idea of further regulating business, most agreed the situation needs to be addressed. 

The state legislature’s Join Study Committee on Refugee Issues has approved a final report, Chattanoogan.com reports. During four meetings held between June and November of 2021, the committee heard from a range of individuals and organizations concerned about the federal government’s immigration program in the state, with a focus on the transfer of unaccompanied and undocumented children. The report recommends that the state suspend all license holders involved with the placement of migrant children “due to the complete lack of any follow-up to guarantee any of these children are not being used for illegal sex trafficking purposes.” It also calls for new legislation to give the state Department of Children’s Services oversight and control of any migrant children who arrive in the state. Read the full report.

Rutherford County Commissioner Robert Stevens has announced his candidacy in the Republican primary for the new 13th district of the Tennessee House of Representatives, the Murfreesboro Post reports. The county will gain a fifth seat in the House as a result of redistricting. The new district includes portions of Blackman, Eagleville, Rockvale, LaVergne and Smyrna. Stevens earned his law degree from the University of Memphis Law School and has owned and operated a law practice in the county since 2009. He is the current president of the Smyrna Rotary Club and a graduate of Leadership Rutherford.

The state Senate yesterday approved the final redistricting map to be considered, voting along party lines to clear the map setting new boundaries for state House seats, the Tennessean reports. The Senate had approved the plans for its seats and congressional seats last Thursday. The state House passed the map for its members on Monday. The three redistricting plans now head to Gov. Bill Lee for his signature. Tennessee Democrats say they are preparing a legal challenge to the plans.

The full state Senate will vote on whether to expel Sen. Katrina Robinson, D-Memphis, from office on Feb. 2, the Commercial Appeal reports. Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, announced the decision days after a Senate Ethics Committee recommended the expulsion, determining that Robinson violated the body’s code of ethics. Robinson is awaiting sentencing after being convicted on two counts of federal fraud charges relating to the mismanagement of federal funds connected to her nursing school.

Former House Speaker Glen Casada, R-Franklin, today called members of the Registry of Election Finance “biased” for subpoenaing him about a political action committee allegedly created at the behest of his former chief of staff. Speaking at an event in Williamson County, Casada denied knowing anything about the PAC, Tennessee Journal reports. Rep. Brandon Ogles, R-Franklin, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, was also at the event. He said leaders of that committee are talking about conducting a “deep dive” into the powers of the campaign finance board’s powers, especially its subpoena power. Casada is retiring from the House at the end of this term to run for Williamson County clerk.

On a 26-5 party-line vote, the state Senate yesterday approved maps setting new boundaries for the state's nine congressional and 33 Senate districts. It delayed voting on a new map for House seats until Wednesday, the Tennessean reports. After the vote, Democrats hinted at a potential legal battle saying the map could dilute the voting power of minority populations and unnecessarily split up counties. Senate Minority Leader Jeff Yarbro, D-Nashville, said, “It's hard to imagine you don't see this in litigation at some point. I can't imagine people don't look at this and say there are legal deficiencies.” The state House is set to begin debate on the various plans on Monday.

State Rep. Dan Howell, R-Cleveland, has pulled a bill that would shorten parole eligibility time for those convicted of first-degree murder, the Chattanoogan reports. The measure, which had caused concern from some in the legal community and the public, would have cut the current eligibility of 51 years down to 25 years. "I don't think the victims of violent crimes will be best served by this legislation,” Howell said. "I’m very encouraged by proposals to rewrite and reform existing ranges in our criminal sentencing code so that they more accurately reflect time actually served. This will create more efficiency and transparency in sentencing and improve public safety overall.”

The Senate Ethics Committee today voted to recommend the expulsion of Sen. Katrina Robinson, D-Memphis, after determining she violated the Senate code of ethics, the Commercial Appeal reports. Robinson is awaiting a March sentencing date for two federal fraud charges related to the mismanagement of federal funds in connection to her leadership of a nursing school. Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, said the hearing was “fair and deliberative” and considered her “explicit legal status” and ethical and moral failings indicative in the charges against her.” He expressed hope that Robinson would voluntarily step down. Robinson had requested a delay of the hearing earlier this week and argued, despite the conviction, that her federal case has not yet concluded. The recommendation will receive a full Senate vote, but it is unclear when that might happen.