SUMMER GUIDE
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SPRING FLING
MAY 30, 2024 | VOLUME 36 | NUMBER 21
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Andy Ogles’ amended finance reports leaves watchdog with even more questions
Gov. Bill Lee on the last day of the 113th Tennessee General Assembly
PHOTO: HAMILTON MATTHEW MASTERS
Republicans praise session’s slate of criminal justice legislation
The legislature threw bipartisan support behind some bills affecting courts and crime — with opposition from Democrats on others BY NICOLLE S. PRAINO While the 113th Tennessee General Assembly debated how to alter the state’s franchise tax and whether there would be a universal school voucher plan, dozens of bills passed centering on crime and courts — a slate of legislation Republicans now tout as one of their greatest accomplishments of the session. “I think when you look back at this session, one of the things it will be defined by will be the different types of criminal justice reforms that we have done,” said House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) during a press conference at the end of session. “There’s a lot of things that we did this year to protect our communities, protect our streets and protect our citizens.” Sen. Jeff Yarbro (D-Nashville) countered,
pointing to the passing of a bill that would allow local school boards and law enforcement to decide whether teachers can carry guns in schools. “A year after the Covenant School [shooting], this General Assembly has done nothing to make people safer and has instead thumbed their noses at public safety by putting more guns into teachers’ hands in public schools,” Yarbro said. Even so, Democrats got behind several pieces of criminal justice legislation. Passed unanimously in the House and Senate, SB2507 was signed into law by Gov. Bill Lee on May 1. It requires children admitted to juvenile detention to be allowed within 24 hours to have at least one phone call and a 30-minute in-person visit with their parent
or guardian. The companion House bill was co-sponsored by Rep. William Slater (R-Gallatin) and Rep. G.A. Hardaway (D-Memphis). Hardaway, a member of the House Criminal Justice Committee, was also a co-sponsor for HB0701, which also passed unanimously in both chambers. The law adds continuous sexual abuse of a child to the list of criminal misconduct receiving sentences of community supervision for life in addition to other imposed punishment. “I’ve said for years that public safety is not a partisan issue,” says House Majority Leader William Lamberth (R-Portland). “Republicans or Democrats alike, or anyone in between, should be able to come together — and we do come together in the legislature — to pass bills that >> PAGE 2
5th District congressman admits $300,000 loan never happened as primary opponent pounces BY STEPHEN ELLIOTT, NASHVILLE BANNER This story is a partnership between the Nashville Banner and The News. The Nashville Banner is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization focused on civic news. Visit nashvillebanner.com for more information. U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles amended nearly a dozen past campaign finance reports this week, acknowledging that a reported $320,000 personal loan he made to his campaign never happened. The Republican representative for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District has been under scrutiny for his financial reporting for months, and last year, he paid a fine to the Federal Election Commission for seemingly unrelated violations. According to the amended reports, Ogles loaned his campaign for Congress just $20,000. “I am a grassroots representative, and I pledged everything I own to run for the honor of representing Tennessee’s Fifth Congressional District,” Ogles said in a statement Thursday. “That $320,000 pledge comprised several documented assets, including bank and retirement >> PAGE 3
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