Tennessee lawmakers are reviewing proposed changes to enhanced handgun permit training that would prohibit use of live firearms and ammunition during classroom instruction, limiting their use only to the shooting range portion of courses, Fox 17 reports. The Tennessee Department of Safety said the rule aims to improve safety and reduce liability following a classroom shooting incident. The proposal would require instructors to hold the same enhanced permit they teach and restrict the sharing of students’ personal information. Firearms instructors have raised concerns that the ban could hinder effective instruction and increase theft risks if guns are left in vehicles. After discussion in the Government Operations Committee, lawmakers approved a 30-day stay on the rule, giving the department time to work with instructors and clarify concerns before further review.

The U.S. Senate confirmed four Trump nominees to the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) board last week. Senators voted 53-47 to confirm Knoxville attorney Jeff Hagood, Memphis hospital CEO Mitch Graves, Florida chemical engineer Arthur Graham and Alabama insurance agency owner Randall Jones, according to Knox News. The moves gives the board a quorum for the first time since April. President Donald Trump also had nominated Nashville businessman Lee Beaman to serve on the board, but that nomination stalled in committee.

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti has sued online gaming platform Roblox, alleging the company violated the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act by misleading consumers about safety risks to children on its platform. The lawsuit claims Roblox has for years deceived Tennesseans about serious dangers to minors, prioritizing profits over child safety. “Roblox is the digital equivalent of a creepy cargo van lingering at the edge of a playground,” Skrmetti said in a news release. The attorney general’s office is working with the Nashville-based law firm Stranch, Jennings & Garvey PLLC, including founding and managing member J. Gerard Stranch IV, to prosecute the case on behalf of the state.

The TBA Young Lawyers Division, in partnership with the TBA’s General, Solo & Small Firm Section, is offering a new Rookie Series CLE program in January aimed at helping attorneys build practical skills early in their careers. “The Rookie Series: Opening Your Own Firm” webcast will take place Jan. 29, 2026, from noon to 1 p.m. CST. The session will cover key steps, common pitfalls and available TBA resources for lawyers interested in launching a solo or small firm. For those who missed the last installment in the Rookie Series, "Making the Most of Mediation” will run as a webcast replay on Dec. 22. In this session, Nashville mediator Susan McDonald provides guidance on ethical and effective mediation preparation using neuroscience-based strategies, risk assessment and client engagement tools.

The TBA is offering 1-Click packages organized by practice area,  a convenient year-end option that allows attorneys to quickly find relevant programming across 33 different practice areas. The on-demand packages are designed to help lawyers efficiently earn CLE credit before the end of the year while tailoring coursework to specific fields of practice. Check out the specific courses included on the TBA CLE website. Looking for something else? TBA also has six, eight, 10, 12 and 15-hour packages based on specific topics, live webcasts and on-demand video all month long. Explore all the Year End options to complete your CLE requirement by Dec. 31.

According to a press release from Gov. Bill Lee, longtime state employee and attorney Andy Kidd will lead the Tennessee Department of General Services beginning Jan. 15, 2026. Kidd will take over for Jeff Holmes, who has served in an interim role since former commissioner Matt Van Epps stepped down after winning his bid for the U.S. House of Representatives. Kidd currently serves as the deputy commissioner of fiscal and administrative services at the Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging. He previously served with the Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration and in the General Services’ central procurement office. He holds a master’s and bachelor's degree in business administration from East Tennessee State University and a law degree from Nashville School of Law.

The Nashville Arts & Business Council, in partnership with United Way of Greater Nashville and the Nashville Financial Empowerment Center, will host a pro bono tax clinic for artists, musicians and creatives on Jan. 14, 2026. The event will offer individuals the opportunity to meet with a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) volunteer to learn how to file their taxes in the way that is most beneficial for them and/or to meet with a financial counselor for help repair credit and manage debt. Prospective clients should register by Jan. 9, 2026. The event will take place at the Nashville Financial Empowerment Center, 217 South 10th St., Nashville 37206.

More than 30 people, including country music star and Nashville native Jelly Roll, have been pardoned by Gov. Bill Lee, WKRN reports. According to officials, each case was extensively reviewed and the Tennessee Board of Parole was heavily involved in the decision-making. “After thoroughly reviewing the merits of each case, I have decided to grant 33 individuals executive clemency,” Lee said. “Each individual case is unique and warranted consideration, and I thank the Board of Parole members for their thoughtful recommendations throughout this process.” All 33 reportedly have served their sentences and are not subject to any type of supervision. The Tennessean has the full list of those pardoned.

U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn has introduced legislation to bring accountability to name, image and likeness (NIL) deals and help college athletes invest the money they earn from these arrangements. According to Knox News, the bill would direct the U.S. Treasury to establish NIL regulations, require agents to register with their states before representing athletes, cap agent fees at 5% of the deal, and direct athletic associations to maintain public registries of agents. For athletes, the bill would create tax-advantaged investment accounts and allow up to $35,000 of unused NIL funds to be rolled over into an IRA or other retirement plan once the athlete has been out of college sports for at least a year. According to a press release from Blackburn's office, the proposal has the support of SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey and the University of Tennessee.

Missouri-founded law firm Spencer Fane, which has offices in Nashville, will enter the New York market through a merger with Golenbock Eiseman Assor Bell & Peskoe. The move, set to take effect on Feb. 2, 2026, will leave the firm with 700 lawyers in 31 U.S. offices. The news comes as law firm mergers are heating up. Reuters reports that Chicago-founded Winston & Strawn and UK firm Taylor Wessing plan to merge in May while international firm Ashurst and Perkins Coie plan to merge later in 2026. The news source also reports that mergers increased through the first nine months of 2025 compared to the same period last year.