The Tennessee Senate on Monday passed SB2093, a bill that will allow records from the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development to be exempt from public records laws if the tourism commissioner and attorney general deem them “sensitive.” The Tennessean reports that the House passed a version of the bill in February, but the legislation has faced more debate in the Senate, where amendments were added to define how long documents could remain secret without being destroyed. The two chambers will have to work out their differences before the legislation can go to Gov. Bill Lee for his signature.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Office of the Solicitor has ordered Morristown manufacturer Tuff Torq Corporation to pay a $296,951 penalty for illegally employing children as young as 14 years old. The Knoxville News Sentinel reports that the DOL's Wage and Hour Division confirmed several children worked for the manufacturer, which supplies parts for John Deere and Yamaha. Additionally, Tuff Torq will set aside $1.5 million from profits made during the children's employment, which will go to the children.

Make plans now to join colleagues from across the state at the TBA’s 2024 Annual Convention, set for June 12-15, at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis. Perennial favorites such as the Bench Bar program and lunch, Lawyers Lunch and joint event with the Tennessee Judicial Conference return to the agenda alongside new offerings including a Wednesday night dine-around for all attendees; a Public Service breakfast, where TBA will honor legal aid, private practice and law student pro bono work; a ticketed reception on Thursday night open to the entire legal community; and a chance to be the honorary Peabody Duck Master! This year’s theme — “A Bridge to the Future” — also will bring compelling CLE programs focused on artificial intelligence and how this rapidly expanding technology will impact the practice of law. During the week, the Tennessee Lawyers' Association for Women, Tennessee Alliance for Black Lawyers and Tennessee Trial Lawyers' Association also will hold meetings and events at the Peabody, making Memphis the place to be this June. Access registration, hotel reservation information and more on the event website.

The Tennessee Bar Association is accepting nominations for its 2024 Claudia Jack Award and Justice Frank F. Drowota III Outstanding Judicial Service Award. The Claudia Jack Award honors an outstanding public defender or court-appointed private practitioner who has served the legal community and clients in an exemplary fashion. It is named after the late Claudia Jack, a public defender and long-time champion of the poor and underprivileged. The Drowota Award is given to a judge or judicial branch official of a federal, state or local court in Tennessee who has demonstrated extraordinary devotion and dedication to the improvement of the law, the legal system and the administration of justice, as exemplified by the career of former Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Frank F. Drowota III. The deadline to submit nominees for both awards, which will be presented at the TBA Annual Convention in June, is April 1.

The American Bar Association (ABA) has garnered dozens of pages of comments in response to a proposal to allow fully online law schools to become eligible for provisional and full ABA approval. Law.com reports today that those comments indicate “overwhelming support” for the idea. The ABA began soliciting comments on the proposal in January.

Tennessee’s population growth puts it on track for an additional U.S. House seat in 2032, Tennessee Lookout reports. According to the latest U.S. Census data, Tennessee’s population grew to 7.1 million people in 2023, which, if maintained, would mean it would gain another seat during the next redistricting cycle eight years from now. The paper reports that the state has not had more than nine House seats in some 80 years. After the Civil War, Tennessee had 10 congressional districts before losing one during the 1930 redistricting process, regaining it in 1940 and losing it again in 1950.

The 22nd edition of the Alimony Bench Book is now available. Published by the TBA’s Family Law Section, the book provides a ready resource for dealing with alimony cases in Tennessee. Current Family Law Section members can access their copy at no cost on the Family Law eCommunity page but must be logged into their TBA account. Others may purchase an electronic copy for $25 from the TBA Store.

Belmont Law Review at Belmont University College of Law will host its spring event on April 4 with a panel discussion on “Artificial Intelligence’s Breakthrough Into the Legal Field.” The panel will focus on recent developments in artificial intelligence (AI) and how these developments impact different areas of the legal world, including private law firms, professional responsibility concerns, and entertainment and copyright practice. The event will take place from 6-7:15 p.m. CDT in Room 157 of the Randall and Sadie Baskin Center, 1901 15th Ave. S. Nashville 37212. The event is free but attendees must register.

Judge Terry Fann has announced his candidacy for the 16th Judicial District Circuit Court, which serves Rutherford and Cannon counties. Fann is currently serving in the role after being appointed by Gov. Bill Lee in November 2023 to fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Mark Rogers. Prior to his appointment, Fann tried cases in circuit and chancery courts as well as federal courts from his office on the historic square in downtown Murfreesboro. He also has been a volunteer legal counsel for the Child Advocacy Center. Fann earned his law degree from the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law at the University of Memphis. Read more in his campaign announcement.

Two seats currently held by Memphis-based judges would be moved out of Tennessee's largest county and placed elsewhere in the state under a bill advancing in the state House, the Tennessee Journal reports. The measure would move the circuit court seat held by state Supreme Court designee Mary Wagner to the East Tennessee district composed of Cocke, Grainger, Jefferson and Sevier counties, while the criminal court seat held by Melissa Boyd would go to Montgomery and Robertson counties. Learn more in an amendment to HB2002/SB2517 that passed the House Civil Justice Subcommittee last week.