Gov. Bill Lee used his final State of the State address Monday to urge lawmakers to significantly expand Tennessee’s school voucher program, while unveiling a $57.9 billion budget proposal that would double the number of available vouchers, Axios reports. The Education Freedom Scholarship program currently serves 20,000 students, but Lee said 54,000 applications already have been submitted for the upcoming academic year, prompting his proposal to spend $155 million to add more slots. The budget also includes $339 million in new public school funding, including higher starting pay for teachers, and funding for road and bridge projects, the state park system and crime prevention efforts in Memphis. Lee also proposed permanently assigning 100 Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers to Shelby County, rolling back health care regulations to unlock more than $1 billion in potential federal rural health grants, and investing in emerging technologies, including nuclear technology companies and the quantum computing industry. Read more in the press release from the governor's office.

Ahead of the address, Senate Democratic Leader Raumesh Akbari of Memphis released a video prebuttal criticizing the administration and arguing that the governor's priorities fail to address rising costs for working families. Akbari called for ending the grocery tax, expanding health coverage and increasing investment in public schools according to the Tennessee Tribune.

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti has announced that states across the country have reached settlements totaling $17.85 million with two drug companies, Lannett and Bausch Health. According to a press release, the settlements are part of a nationwide effort to hold drug companies accountable for alleged price-fixing schemes, which reportedly increased the cost of everyday medications. Under the settlements, the companies will compensate consumers and change internal practices to promote fair competition. They also agreed to cooperate with ongoing lawsuits against other companies involved in the alleged schemes. Consumers who purchased generic prescription drugs made by Lannett or Bausch Health between May 1, 2009, and Dec. 31, 2019, may be eligible for compensation.

University of Tennessee (UT) quarterback Joey Aguilar has filed a lawsuit against the NCAA in Knox County Chancery Court seeking to extend his eligibility and play for the Volunteers in the 2026 season. According to Knox News, Aguilar is seeking a temporary restraining order against the NCAA, whose rules state that he has exhausted his eligibility. The complaint states that UT football has an available roster spot and name, image and likeness (NIL) money for him in the 2026 season. The filing comes after Aguilar separated from a federal lawsuit brought by Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, which challenges the NCAA’s eligibility rules regarding former junior college players. Pavia’s lawsuit has 25 additional players remaining as plaintiffs.

Shelby County Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr. pleaded guilty to five federal charges of tax evasion today. His trial was set to start in March. As part of the deal, Ford will resign his position on the commission and will never again run for elected office. Ford was charged last year with seven federal bribery and tax evasion charges related to an alleged scheme during which he awarded grant money to local nonprofits, which then, in turn, made purchases from his personal computer business. According to the Daily Memphian, Ford faces up to five years in prison on each charge. Sentencing will take place on June 12.

A federal judge will allow a group of taxpayers to intervene in a lawsuit from a Christian nonprofit seeking to open a religious charter school in Knox County. U.S. District Judge Charles Atchley Jr. last week granted a motion allowing a group of citizens to oppose the lawsuit from Wilberforce Academy, Knox News reports. The judge said the group’s motion is timely and of legal interest because the members oppose using tax dollars to support religion. Wilberforce is suing the board to obtain approval for a faith-based school in Cedar Bluff. The board argues that it cannot authorize a religious charter without a state waiver. It will meet Thursday to discuss a resolution asking the Tennessee Commissioner of Education to grant such a waiver.

Gov. Bill Lee will deliver his final State of the State address this evening before the Tennessee General Assembly beginning at 6 p.m. CST. According to a news release issued today, Lee will focus on education freedom, the work of the Memphis Safe Task Force, rural health, economic development and Tennessee’s Nuclear Fund. The address will be streamed live on the governor's official Facebook account and YouTube channel. Watch a preview on the governor's Facebook account.

The Human Artistry Campaign has announced the launch of its “Stealing Isn’t Innovation” campaign, backed by nearly 800 American creators, including actors, authors and musicians. Many Nashville artists have signed on in support, The Tennessean reports. The campaign calls for authorization and licensing agreements so artists can be compensated if their work is used to train artificial intelligence (AI) models. As generative AI evolves and competition grows, technology companies are accused of using copyrighted content to power AI models and boost profits. Without proper licensing, copying creative works is illegal and can financially harm artists, the group says. Last month, the Copyright Alliance reported more than 70 copyright infringement lawsuits by copyright owners against AI companies.

As part of its ongoing effort to gather feedback from Tennessee attorneys on the Tennessee Supreme Court’s Sept. 16 order seeking public comment on seven areas of potential regulatory changes to the legal profession, the TBA’s Legal Access and Regulatory Reform Task Force will host a series of virtual town halls this month. Each town hall will focus on specific issues outlined in the order, starting with a discussion about Alternative Education and Licensure Pathways on Feb. 10 at noon CST. Additional sessions will address Nonlawyer Ownership and Fee Sharing on Feb. 13 at 11 a.m., Paraprofessionals on Feb. 19 at noon,  ABA Accreditation on Feb. 23 at noon, and Interstate Mobility and Reciprocity on Feb. 26 at noon. All times are central time zone. There is no cost to attend but registration is required to receive the meeting link. Attorneys also are encouraged to review the TBA’s Legal Access & Regulatory Reform resource page before attending.

More than 400 people charged with driving under the influence in 2024 after being pulled over by Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) troopers had bloodwork that tested negative for drugs and alcohol, the Daily Memphian reports. The report shows that 419 of 16,883 DUI-related blood samples submitted to Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) crime labs last year — about 2.5% — detected no intoxicants. TBI officials said negative toxicology results do not necessarily mean a driver was unimpaired, noting some substances may not be detected. THP Col. Matt Perry told lawmakers the arrests were legal and based on observed signs of impairment, not quotas. The issue gained legislative attention after a high-profile Giles County arrest that was later dismissed, leading to a 2025 law requiring TBI to publicly report data on these cases.

Applications are being accepted for the TBA’s 2026 Reporters Workshop now through March 16. Sponsored by TBA’s Communications Law Section, the program will be held in person April 24-25 in Nashville. Organizers will select 15 print, online, television and/or radio journalists who want to develop a deeper understanding of media law issues that may affect their everyday work, including access to government information, defamation and privacy concerns in reporting, as well as other timely topics. Journalists interested in attending should apply online before 5 p.m. CDT on March 16. Student journalists also may apply. Class selection will be announced by March 23, and those selected for participation will be notified by email. Read more about the 2026 program. Tennessee lawyers are encouraged to share this opportunity with members of the media with whom they have relationships.