NASHVILLE -- Tennessee's Republican governor and legislative leaders are touting an estimated $164.1 million in tax cuts set to take place by 2016 through phasing out the state's inheritance tax, eliminating the gift tax and lowering the sales taxes on groceries from 5.5 percent to 5.25 percent.

NASHVILLE -- Gov. Bill Haslam has signed a bill that offers more outright cash grants than tax incentives to attract companies to locate or expand in Tennessee.

NASHVILLE — Gov. Bill Haslam has signed an administration measure that turns state efforts to attract companies more toward outright cash grants instead of tax incentives in some cases.

NASHVILLE -- Tennessee businesses, professional and trade groups as well as other organizations spent at least $458,000 on legislative receptions during this year's General Assembly, records show.

NASHVILLE -- Some Tennesseans could find it harder to get or maintain unemployment benefits under three bills that Gov. Bill Haslam signed last week.

NASHVILLE -- A law that requires Amazon.com to begin collecting sales tax in Tennessee doesn't take effect until 2014, but one provision that became effective immediately appears to be having some effect.

NASHVILLE — Gov. Bill Haslam has signed a bill that bans discussion of “gateway sexual activity” and directs an abstinence-centered approach to sex education in Tennessee public schools.

NASHVILLE -- Hamilton County school officials' attempt to win a multimillion-dollar grant for helping as many as seven failing schools didn't make the grade on Thursday.

NASHVILLE — Democratic U.S. Senate hopeful Park Overall said today she’s fully in support of President Barack Obama’s statement in support of same-sex marriage.

Republican Gov. Bill Haslam says he disagrees with President Barack Obama’s new stance in support of same-sex marriage.

A quarter-penny reduction in Tennessee’s state sales tax on groceries goes into effect July 1, state Revenue Department officials are reminding businesses.

NASHVILLE — Republican Gov. Bill Haslam says it's simply not his way to bully lawmakers into going along with his agenda and points to successes in this year's General Assembly as proof it isn't always needed.

NASHVILLE — Gov. Bill Haslam's press secretary says the governor plans to sign legislation requiring drug testing for some welfare applicants, despite calls from the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee to veto the measure.

NASHVILLE — Thirty-six members of the Congressional Prayer Caucus, including four Tennessee lawmakers, are urging Vanderbilt University to modify its "all-comers" nondiscrimination policy that has nearly a dozen religious groups complaining the private school has forced them to choose between their beliefs or leaving the campus.

Gov. Bill Haslam’s press secretary says the governor plans to sign legislation requiring drug testing for some welfare applicants, despite calls from the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee to veto the measure.

NASHVILLE -- Tennessee lawmakers this year passed measures to overhaul state civil service, cut taxes and combat crime, but issues like science and sex education, abortion and guns often wound up grabbing headlines.

NASHVILLE — Republican Gov. Bill Haslam said Wednesday he intends to issue his first veto -- a bill that seeks to pressure private Vanderbilt University into dropping an anti-discrimination policy affecting campus organizations that has religious groups and conservative state lawmakers in an uproar.

NASHVILLE — Republican Gov. Bill Haslam today said he is issuing his first veto on a bill that seeks to make Vanderbilt University drop an anti-discrimination policy that has had some campus religious groups and conservative legislators in an uproar.

NASHVILLE — Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield says the General Assembly's approval of his anti-gang crime bill will let police and prosecutors "cut the heart out of some of the worst gangs" in the city.

NASHVILLE — Tennessee's 107th General Assembly wrapped up its annual session Tuesday after racing through dozens of bills and giving final approval to several controversial measures including suspicion-based drug testing for welfare applicants.

NASHVILLE — An overhaul of the Tennessee Regulatory Authority passed Tuesday in the waning hours of the 107th General Assembly and is headed to Republican Gov. Bill Haslam's desk.

NASHVILLE — Tennessee lawmakers finished their annual session this evening and have adjourned for the year.

NASHVILLE — An overhaul of the Tennessee Regulatory Authority is on its way to Republican Gov. Bill Haslam after the House voted today to drop a provision objected to by the Senate.

People applying for welfare benefits in Tennessee could be required to undergo drug testing under a bill on its way to Gov. Bill Haslam.

NASHVILLE — Legislation expanding state racketeering laws to apply to criminal gang activity is on its way to Gov. Bill Haslam for his consideration.

NASHVILLE — A bill that helps Tennesseans get off unemployment and get training and a job is on its way to Gov. Bill Haslam for his consideration.

A local bill enabling Chattanooga to potentially purchase AT&T Field won’t be passing the General Assembly this year.

An overhaul of the Tennessee Regulatory Authority passed the House this morning after a contentious debate over why the changes are needed.

NASHVILLE — The House and Senate gave final approval Monday night to a compromise on the state's $31 billion budget, sending the annual spending plan to Republican Gov. Bill Haslam.

NASHVILLE — A controversial bill that would have slashed lottery-funded Hope scholarships in half for about 5,000 students appears dead for the year.

NASHVILLE — A change to the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Hospital Authority Act is on its way to Gov. Bill Haslam for his consideration.

NASHVILLE — The House and Senate gave final approval Monday night to a compromise on the state’s $31 billion budget, sending the annual spending plan on to Republican Gov. Bill Haslam.

NASHVILLE — A change to the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Hospital Authority Act is on its way to Gov. Bill Haslam for his consideration.

A controversial bill that could slash lottery-funded scholarships in half for some 5,000 students beginning in 2015 is dead for the year.

One of Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield’s anti-gang bills cleared the House Budget Subcommittee this morning.

Gov. Bill Haslam’s staff solicited input from nearly a dozen regulated utilities or industry associations about the administration’s controversial legislation to overhaul the Tennessee Regulatory Authority, records obtained by the Chattanooga Times Free Press show.

God rested on the seventh day, but state House members won't be resting this evening as they race to finish their annual legislative session on Monday.

House and Senate leaders met in a budget conference committee Friday night where they fought over cuts the respective chambers had made on $23.8 million worth of earmarks for projects or programs in the proposed $31.1 billion state budget.

House and Senate leaders met in a budget conference committee Friday night where they fought over cuts the respective chambers had made on $30.8 million worth of earmarks for projects or programs in the proposed $31.1 billion state budget.

NASHVILLE — The Senate approved Gov. Bill Haslam’s proposed overhaul of the on a partisan 20-13 vote.

A bill phasing out the state’s inheritance tax by 2016 is on its way to Republican Gov. Bill Haslam after GOP lawmakers tabled a Democratic critic’s effort to limit the levy to estates valued at $5 million and above.

NASHVILLE — The Senate today approved its version of the state’s budget after Republicans successfully beat back efforts by state Sen. Eric Stewart to save Taft Youth Development Center from being closed by Gov. Bill Haslam.

Legislation moving up the cutoff date to meet age requirements to enter kindergarten is on its way to Gov. Bill Haslam for his consideration.

A budget amendment aimed at blocking Republican Gov. Bill Haslam's closing of Taft Youth Development Center temporarily threw the House into a tizzy Thursday.

NASHVILLE — An amendment to block Republican Gov. Bill Haslam’s closing of Taft Youth Development Center failed this afternoon in the House.

NASHVILLE _ Efforts by House Majority Leader Gerald McCormick, R-Chattanooga, to table a budget amendment restoring funding for Taft Youth Development Center failed this afternoon, creating confusion and prompting a House recess where GOP leaders were expected to put pressure on members.

House Republicans today defeated Democrats’ efforts to accelerate cuts to the state’s sales tax on groceries.

Rep. Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, is planning to push a House floor amendment this afternoon intended to restore funding for Taft Youth Center in the state’s 2012-2013 budget.

NASHVILLE — A proposal to change how Tennessee Supreme Court justices and other appellate judges are selected and elected completed the first step of its three-leg journey today.

NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Legislature's $31.4 billion budget train came to a screeching halt Wednesday when a chasm opened up between House and Senate Republican leaders over a previously cut deal.