The Tennessee House voted April 21 to add "honorifics" to the state’s ban on forced use of preferred names or pronouns, barring schools and state agencies from requiring titles such as Mr., Mrs., Dr. or Mx.

Germantown leaders warn a slight enrollment dip and low per-pupil funding have pushed the district into a draft FY27 budget that could include staffing trims.

Five Democrats will face voters in a May 5 primary for Memphis-Shelby County’s District 6 seat; the winner will meet independent pastor Frederick Tappan in August.

Five Democrats — including incumbent Joyce Dorse‑Coleman — are competing for the District 9 MSCS seat. The May 5 primary pits neighborhood concerns and a state‑takeover fight against one another.

The Tennessee House passed HB2408 to cap automated calls and require reporting, but experts warn scammers may adapt with AI and spoofing rather than disappear.

Five Democrats and two Republicans are on the May 5 Shelby County sheriff primary ballot. Candidates clash over conditions at 201 Poplar and staffing shortages.

Gov. Bill Lee signed a resolution designating June 2026 as "Nuclear Family Month," a move critics say sidelines Pride and risks excluding nontraditional families.

The IRS offered disaster relief after Winter Storm Fern, but reporting differs: some outlets say Tennessee has until June 8 while an IRS release lists May 22 for named counties.

New federal SNAP and TANF rules could shrink Tennessee's count of economically disadvantaged students, risking tens of millions in K‑12 funding unless the state updates its formula.

HB2246 passed the Tennessee House on April 13, setting sourcing, storage and consent rules for non‑FDA stem cell and regenerative therapies while banning embryo‑derived products. The bill now heads to the Senate.

A coalition of Memphis nonprofits rolled out a "Moral Budget" urging tax increases to fund housing, youth mental health and transit ahead of the mayor's FY26 budget.

House and Senate measures would expand when Tennesseans could use deadly force to stop property crimes, prompting warnings from prosecutors and safety groups.

A Tennessee bill would have given Shelby County suburbs voting seats on the MLGW board — supporters called it fair, but the measure stalled in committee.