The Knoxville City Council approved a $27.6 million expansion of its police surveillance contract last week, the Tennessee Lookout reports. The agreement extends the Knoxville Police Department’s partnership with Axon Enterprises for the next decade. Axon currently provides the department with body cameras and taser equipment. The new proposal includes expanding the agreement to incorporate a records management system, services to support the department's new Real Time Information Center and additional citywide cameras. It also will include adoption of Axon’s Fusus software, which, according to the company, integrates various data sources, allowing officers to stream video monitoring, respond to incidents more efficiently, and share real-time updates with other first responders. The city council approved the contract by a 7-2 vote, a month after Nashville rejected a similar proposal.

Tennessee lawmakers are set to reconvene in Nashville tomorrow for the 114th General Assembly. Nashville Public Radio looks at some of the key issues expected to be considered during the session, including Gov. Bill Lee's proposal to expand a school voucher program, policies against hate speech, proposed bills to eliminate the grocery tax, and measures related to contraceptives, IVF and abortion. As previously reported, Lee may call a special session to address both the voucher program and disaster relief for northeast Tennessee. The Tennessean has a profile of the 12 new members taking office.

Belmont Law is looking for volunteers for a wills clinic at the Belmont Ministry Center, 2005 12th Ave. S, Nashville 37204, on Jan. 25 from noon to 3 p.m. CST. At this clinic, volunteers will be helping clients fill out simple wills and powers of attorney alongside Belmont law students. Contact Ginny Blake if you would like to volunteer.

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), along with a group of state co-plaintiffs, has expanded an antitrust lawsuit against RealPage Inc. to six more of the nation’s largest landlords. According to the Nashville Business Journal, the expanded case accuses all of the companies of harming renters. The complaint alleges the landlords "actively participated in a scheme" to set rents based on each other’s competitively sensitive information through shared pricing algorithms. At least two of the landlords named in the complaint deny the allegations and plan to defend against the claims. Tennessee had joined the original federal antitrust lawsuit against RealPage in August.

The TBA Young Lawyers Division will hold an Essential Documents for Essential Workers (EDEW) clinic on March 3 for Sumner County police officers from 9 a.m. to noon CST at the Sumner County Sheriff's Office, located at 117 W. Smith St., Gallatin 37066. Contact Grace Burnett to volunteer or for more information.

KPMG, a global network of independent firms offering audit, tax and advisory services, is seeking to launch a new legal services business in the United States, leveraging the relaxed law firm ownership rules in Arizona, according to Reuters. KPMG Law US, a subsidiary of KPMG US, has applied to the Arizona Supreme Court to operate as an alternative business structure under a state program that allows non-lawyers to co-own law firms. The Arizona location would offer compliance, contract-related services and other outsourced legal work. A committee will review the application at a meeting tomorrow. If approved, the application then will go to the court for final approval. In 2020, Arizona became the first state to lift restrictions on non-lawyers owning an economic interest in law firms, allowing co-ownership with court approval. Since 2021, the Arizona court has approved more than 100 alternative legal business structures.

Free Legal Answers, the American Bar Association's (ABA) virtual legal clinic program, has surpassed 400,000 total questions answered since its inception in 2016. In 2024, the program provided over 16,500 hours of pro bono service, assisting with family law, housing, consumer rights, employment and civil rights questions. The program, which has over 15,000 registered volunteers and is available in 42 states and territories, allows eligible users to post questions and receive answers to civil legal issues. Baker Donelson created and continues to maintain the portal in collaboration with the ABA. Originally launched in 2009 as Online Tennessee Justice to serve low-income individuals, the initiative has expanded into a nationwide program under the ABA Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service. See the most recent program report for more information. 

The Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging (DDA) recently announced it will award grants for state colleges and universities to assist students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The grants are provided through DDA’s Tennessee Believes program, which received $1 million in funding this year from Gov. Bill Lee and the Tennessee General Assembly. Half of the funding will go to already awarded multi-year grants, with approximately $500,000 available to new awardees. Qualifying institutions can apply on the DDA website. Applications are due by Feb. 14.

A recent piece in U.S. News & World Report examines tax deductions for seniors receiving medical care in their homes or assisted living. The article covers a variety of concerns, such as deductions for medical devices, home health services, certain nursing home expenses, memory care and more. Also included is information regarding benefits for adult children who are helping to support a parent.

Those interested in serving on the TBA Board of Governors or House of Delegates, or as a TBA delegate to the American Bar Association House of Delegates, should apply by the end of the day this Wednesday, Jan. 15. Open positions include TBA's vice president (must be from middle Tennessee this year); district governors in two districts and grand division governors on the TBA Board; certain members of the TBA House of Delegates; and two Tennessee representatives to the ABA House of Delegates, one of whom must be a young lawyer. The 2025 Election Notice has more information on the open positions, including the qualifications for each and the process for applying. Questions? Visit the TBA’s election guidelines webpage.