New concealed handgun carry permit axes fee, reduces training requirement

A bill that would create a new concealed handgun carry permit process that requires no fee and only a two-hour, online-training certificate will be heard again March 6. Rep. Andy Holt, R-Dresden, District 76, presented HB1264 to House Judiciary Committee members on Feb. 26. The bill passed by voice vote with three Democratic members requesting…

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GOP Bill to ‘Fast Track’ Death Penalty Convictions Moves to Finance Committee

A bill to “fast track” death penalty convictions will be considered on March 6 in a Tennessee House subcommittee. House Bill 0258, sponsored by Rep. Mary Littleton, R-Dickson, District 78, passed the House Judiciary Committee on Feb. 27. The legislation would remove an appeal to the Court of Criminal Appeals in death penalty cases, which…

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Sen. Dickerson Ignores Effort to Expand On-Site Voting for Senior Citizens, Disabled

A measure to expand on-site voting access to elderly and disabled Tennesseans living in certain institutional homes failed Feb. 26 in a Senate committee. Senate Bill 0192, sponsored by Sen. Katrina Robinson, D-Memphis, District 33, would have expanded a popular voting program that facilitates on-site voting at licensed nursing homes to include “institutions designated for…

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GOP kills DMV automatic voter registration bill

The House Subcommittee on Elections & Campaign Finance rejected a measure that would create an automatic voter registration option when qualified citizens apply for a drivers license or photo identification. Sponsored by Rep. Bo Mitchell, D-Nashville, District 50, House Bill 1210 was straightforward; citizens applying for driver license or photo identification card in Tennessee would…

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