Applications are now being accepted for the 2025 Reporters Workshop. Sponsored by TBA’s Communications Law Section, the program will be held in person April 25-26 in Nashville. Organizers will select 15 print, online, television and/or radio journalists who want to develop a deeper understanding of media law issues that may affect their everyday work, including access to government information, defamation and privacy concerns in reporting. Journalists interested in attending should apply before 5 p.m. CDT on March 11. Read more about the program and the application process. Tennessee lawyers are encouraged to share this opportunity with members of the media with whom they have relationships.

State legislative committees met recently to consider special session proposals. Gov. Bill Lee’s Education Freedom Act of 2025 (SB6001/HB6004) passed out of the House and Senate Education Committees as amended and is expected to be on the House and Senate floors on Thursday, the Nashville Post reports. The move came after President Donald Trump spoke publicly in support of the initiative. During committee consideration, an amendment was added to specify that $77 million in the bill for school infrastructure would first be used to bolster the HOPE scholarship if a shortage occurs in that fund. The amendment also specifies that infrastructure funds would go first to schools in economically distressed or at-risk counties, followed by those that are high-performing and then those in fast-growth areas. House and Senate committees also considered immigration legislation (SB6002/HB6001). Funding for local governments that agree to crack down on undocumented immigrants was reduced from $20 million, as proposed by the governor, to just more than $5 million. In addition, state Sen. Todd Gardenhire, R-Chattanooga, split from his party to oppose a provision charging local elected officials with a felony if they support sanctuary city laws. Gardenhire called the provision a slippery slope and argued that elected officials should not be punished for taking a political stance. The amended bill passed the Senate with a vote of 26-7; the House is scheduled to vote tomorrow. The Nashville Banner has more on this bill.

The TBA Young Lawyers Division (YLD) Board recently held its winter meeting in Nashville. YLD President Sean Aiello presented Stars of the Quarter to Nashville attorney Darius Walker Jr. for his role as treasurer, Nashville attorney Alix Rogers for her role as Middle Tennessee Governor and Lewisburg attorney Savannah Oliver for her role as chair of the Public Service Committee. The board also welcomed the Diversity Leadership Institute (DLI) Class of 2025 for its first in person meeting. Special thanks to YLD Board members Ginny Blake, Grace Burnett, Billy Leslie, Alix Rogers, Jennifer Safstrom, Darius Walker Jr. and Rod Watson who held programming for the students. The DLI class will join the board again at the Mock Trial Competition in March and the TBA's Annual Convention in June. See photos from the event.

TBA members were sent an email today with profiles of the two candidates running for TBA vice president. The email was sent this afternoon from the email address elections@tnbar.org. If you did not receive the email in your inbox, please check your spam folder. If the email indeed was not received, please contact elections@tnbar.org to request that it be resent. Electronic voting will begin on Jan. 31 and close on Feb. 14. Watch for an email with a link to the ballot from Intelliscan Inc.

Gov. Bill Lee has announced that his seventh State of the State Address will take place on Feb. 10 at 6 p.m. CST. The speech will be presented in the House Chamber of the Tennessee State Capitol. In the announcement, Gov. Lee emphasized Tennessee's role as a leader in opportunity, security and freedom, and expressed his commitment to innovation for the state's future. He also indicated that he would share his budget and legislative priorities for the year during the address. The address will be live streamed on the governor’s Facebook and YouTube channels.

At its January meeting this past weekend, the TBA Board of Governors certified election filing results. One contested election will be held this year for the office of vice president. Nashville attorneys Amy Bryant and John Farringer are both running to become TBA’s president in 2027-2028. TBA members will receive an email tomorrow with more information about the candidates. Electronic voting will begin on Jan. 31 and close on Feb. 14. Watch for an email with a link to the ballot from Intelliscan Inc.

The board also declared election results for uncontested seats with seven individuals deemed to be elected because they were the only duly qualified candidate for that seat. Finally, the board declared a vacancy in the three positions: Fourth District Governor, East Tennessee Governor and young lawyer delegate to the ABA House of Delegates (position 3). To be considered for any of these positions, email TBA Executive Director Sheree Wright at barED@tnbar.org with a statement of interest and resume by March 3. The board will consider nominees at its March 20 meeting.

For positions in the TBA House of Delegates, the House met on Jan. 17 to declare the election of 25 uncontested delegates. They will take office on June 11. It also declared a vacancy in 13 seats. To be considered for any of these positions, email TBA Executive Director Sheree Wright at barED@tnbar.org no later than March 3. See the full list of certified candidates and all available vacancies on the TBA website.

Pursuant to Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9, Section 10.5 and Rule 43, Section 14, the following attorneys have been suspended in 2025 for failure to timely pay their annual registration fees and/or submit certification that all eligible funds are held in an IOLTA account. The annual registration fee is due and payable to the Board of Professional Responsibility on or before the first day of the attorney’s birth month of each year. Attorneys who have since complied with the requirements, and for whom notices have been received from the court, will be noted as reinstated.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on Jan. 23 suspended 13 attorneys for failure to pay the annual registration fee; six of them also failed to file proof that client funds are held in an IOLTA-compliant account. View the fee suspension order and IOLTA suspension order. Recent reinstatements include eight lawyers in 2024, one in 2022 and one in 2021. See the list of all lawyers suspended and reinstated for fee and IOLTA violations in 2025 or access all administrative suspensions dating back to 2005.

TBA's 20th Annual Bankruptcy Law Forum will take place in Chattanooga, May 16-18. Friday's programming will include a discussion on recent developments impacting mortgages in bankruptcies, a case law update and a "View from the Bench" session. On Saturday, attendees will participate in small group discussions with bankruptcy judges from across the state serving as group leaders. Programming on Sunday will cover ethical issues that arise in bankruptcy cases. Learn more or register. Bankruptcy Law Section members enjoy discounted registration. Join here.