The Tennessee Attorney General's (AG) Office plans to settle a lawsuit from the American Civil Liberties Union-Tennessee (ACLU), which challenged a state law penalizing local officials who support sanctuary city policies. According to WPLN, the state concedes it cannot support the law’s constitutionality, saying it “infringes[s] on principles of legislative immunity and independence.” It thus has agreed not to enforce the law. Last year, the AG's office said it was open to a settlement. In a recent statement to the news outlet, AG Jonathan Skrmetti said: “Sanctuary policies remain illegal in Tennessee, but city and county officials cannot be imprisoned for voting for such policies. As a result, we agreed that dismissal of this case was the appropriate outcome.” According to Tennessee Lookout, the settlement must be approved by the courts before it takes effect. Read more from the ACLU.

The state’s AI Council met for the first time this year as members began setting a “roadmap” to transition from planning to implementation, the Tennessee Journal reports. At its last meeting in November, the council approved recommendations for the governor in areas including workforce development, education and government operations. “Since the report was issued in November, which was a great milestone for this council, we're moving from vision-setting to really operationalizing,” said Finance Commissioner Jim Bryson.

Rep. Aftyn Behn, D-Nashville, is calling for a federal investigation into the Tennessee Department of Children's Services (DCS). According to The Tennessean, the move comes "after months of independent research, review of federal oversight records, and conversations with impacted families and whistleblowers." In a news release, Behn called for the U.S. Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division to investigate, saying DCS failed to comply with key federal requirements and create stability for children in its custody. Behn also alleges issues of segregation that affect children with disabilities. The agency has faced scrutiny after records showed hundreds of children slept in DCS offices in 2024 and 2025. A recent audit found persistent safety and oversight gaps. A DCS spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment. DCS Commissioner Margie Quin is scheduled to appear before a House committee this week.

Two nonprofits are suing the city of Memphis, alleging it unlawfully denied access to Memphis Police Department (MPD) records. According to the Daily Memphian, Stand for Children Tennessee and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) have filed suit after the city declined to provide records related to the 2024 U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) civil rights investigation into the department. The groups are seeking use-of-force reports and field investigation memos to determine whether MPD addressed concerns outlined by the DOJ. Their public records request was filed in May 2025. The investigative findings, published under former President Joe Biden’s administration, cited concerns about MPD’s treatment of Black residents, people with disabilities and children. After President Donald Trump took office, negotiations over remedies ended and the findings were rescinded.

Gov. Bill Lee signed SB16 into law this week, allowing Tennessee high school athletes to gain immediate eligibility after one transfer beginning July 1. The law expands eligibility for student-athletes in grades 6-8 and 9-12 who transfer schools for the first time during the summer without making a bona fide change of address, provided other requirements are met, Knox News reports. The Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association, which governs high school sports in the state, worked with bill sponsors on the legislation and is expected to present bylaw revisions to its Legislative Council in April to comply with the new law. Traditionally, many state athletic associations have denied immediate eligibility to transferring student-athletes unless they moved into a new school district, though some states, including Tennessee, are shifting to one-time transfer policies.

The family of Conor Dolin, a teen killed in a December 2022 single-vehicle crash in South Knox County, filed a lawsuit this week in Knox County Circuit Court accusing the Knox County Sheriff’s Office of negligence. The suit seeks $10 million in damages from the family of the unlicensed 15-year-old driver and an undisclosed amount from the county. According to Knox News, the lawsuit alleges the sheriff’s office lost the initial investigative file, deleted body camera footage, failed to conduct a crash reconstruction and did not complete key interviews, which contributed to the district attorney declining to bring charges. The driver's family also is accused of wrongful death, negligent supervision and creating a GoFundMe using Dolin's name and likeness without permission. Dolin's family argues the statute of limitations should begin in April 2025, when they say they first learned the driver was unlicensed and had a history of reckless driving.

In an opinion released today, the Tennessee Supreme Court held that a Grundy County resolution regulating quarry locations is effectively a zoning ordinance enacted in violation of the Tennessee County Zoning Act (CZA). The act requires counties to hold a public hearing and submit proposed ordinances to the regional planning commission before adopting zoning measures. The court found that Grundy County passed the ordinance without complying with those requirements. The suit was brought by two quarry owners after they were informed their property was in violation of a county ordinance requiring quarries to be located more than 5,000 feet away from specified types of establishments. The trial court and Court of Appeals agreed with the county that the ordinance was not a zoning regulation subject to the requirements of the CZA. The Supreme Court unanimously reversed, finding the ordinance divided the county into zones and regulated land use in a manner consistent with zoning, making it subject to the CZA's requirements. Read more in a release from the court.

The TBA’s 4th Annual Day on the Hill and the Big Shrimp legislative reception will take place March 18 in Nashville. The day will begin at 10:30 a.m. CDT at the Cordell Hull Building with presentations from TBA’s lobbying team and members of the General Assembly. Attendees then will meet with various legislators throughout the day, focusing on building relationships, championing TBA’s legislative priorities and advocating for elimination of the professional privilege tax. After the day’s meetings, attendees are invited to join colleagues, lawmakers and legislative staff at Hotel Indigo Nashville from 5-7 p.m. for the perennial favorite Big Shrimp legislative reception. The hotel is located at 315 Union St., Nashville 37201. Register here or email govaffairs@tnbar.org with questions.

Dickson Judge Shipp Robbley Weems died Nov. 14, 2025, at age 77. While attending the Nashville YMCA Night Law School (now Nashville School of Law), Weems was a teacher at White Bluff Elementary School. At the age of 29, he became the youngest Dickson city judge of record. In 1986, he established the state's first Public Defender Pilot Program. Following its success, the state adopted the model, leading to the creation of the Public Defender’s Office as it exists today. Weems also served as the elected public defender in Dickson County and surrounding counties for several decades, then served as assistant public defender in Columbia and its surrounding counties until retirement. In 2025, Weems’ daughter established the Weems-Rezapour Family Scholarship for Justice and Public Service in his honor. The scholarship supports high school seniors in Florida (where she lives and practices) who demonstrate integrity, civic engagement and a commitment to careers connected to justice and community leadership. Donations in Weems’ memory can be made here.

The Davidson County State Trial Courts are implementing revised Local Rules and Chancery Electronic Filing Rules. Pursuant to Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 18, the trial court judges of the 20th Judicial District are soliciting and will consider input from members of the public and attorneys concerning the proposed rules. Copies also are available in the Trial Court Administrator’s Office, Ste. 601 of the Historic Metro Courthouse. The deadline for comments is March 31. Comments may be submitted electronically or by mail to the Metro State Trial Court Administrator, 1 Public Square, Ste. 601, Nashville, TN 37201.