Gov. Bill Lee has announced tax relief measures for residents and businesses in eight counties impacted by Hurricane Helene. Residents in Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hawkins, Johnson, Unicoi and Washington counties can receive a sales tax refund of up to $2,500 on essential purchases for repairs, while all taxpayers in those areas will have extended deadlines to file and pay certain taxes until May 1, 2025. Additionally, the department will extend the franchise tax Schedule G refund filing deadline for businesses located in the counties to May 1. The department also will approve, on a case-by-case basis, tax extension requests from affected taxpayers for other taxes. Get details in a press release.

A U.S. district judge last week temporarily overturned a decision by a Tennessee official to place a woman on the sex offender registry for life, despite never being accused of a crime involving sexual misconduct. The Tennessean reports, this has for nearly a decade, kept the woman, who is referred to as Jane Doe in court records, from living with her family or attending her son’s school events. While the order is preliminary, it will be in place while the case proceeds. Tennessee classifies those convicted of kidnapping as sex offenders, even if there was no sexual component to the crime. Jane Doe was convicted of kidnapping in 2011 but claims she was forced to participate. The judge acknowledged the possibility that she might have been a victim, a perpetrator, or both, the paper reports.

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti filed a response brief with the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday defending a state law banning gender transition procedures for juveniles. Skrmetti emphasized in a press release that the legislation aims to protect children from "irreversible, unproven medical procedures" and aligns Tennessee with 23 other states that have implemented similar restrictions. The brief argued that states have the authority to regulate medical practices and rejected the federal government's position, asserting that those opposing restrictions can advocate for change through state elections.

The American Bar Association (ABA) has revised the criteria for its Judicial Clerkship Program, which connects law students with judges and law clerks to educate them about the long-term benefits of judicial clerkships. The ABA eliminated references to schools sending students from "underrepresented communities of color" and judges hiring "minority" students after the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty threatened to sue over the program. The new criteria states that law schools are "encouraged to select a diverse group of students" to participate. Judges no longer have hiring parameters, Reuters reports.

Jillian's Law — a Tennessee law enacted in response to the death of Jillian Ludwig, which requires mentally incompetent defendants to be committed for treatment — is raising concerns about the availability of hospital beds in state treatment centers. According to Fox Chattanooga, critics worry about potential waiting lists, especially at the Harold Jordan Center, the state's sole facility for intellectual disabilities. State officials, citing privacy laws, have not disclosed the number of patients awaiting treatment. They say they have taken steps to implement the law but challenges remain in ensuring adequate resources and capacity. Ludwig, a first-year Belmont University student was fatally shot in a park near campus. The alleged offender had been released  just six months earlier after a judge ruled he functioned at a kindergarten level, and was unable to stand trial on shooting charges.

Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee Reagan Fondren announced Tuesday that two Memphis organizations were awarded federal grants totaling more than $2 million. The Shelby County Office of Reentry received funds to provide safe, affordable housing and comprehensive services to formerly incarcerated individuals. Heal 901 will use the funds to implement an intensive program to reduce violent crime in Memphis. "These organizations have demonstrated their commitment to working with the Department of Justice to decrease crime, advance opportunities for ex-offenders, and protect our community," Fondren said in a press release.

Join the YLD for its first Exploration CLE. Take the day to experience the beauty of one of Tennessee's state parks while earning three hours of ethics credits. Presentations will discuss ethical pitfalls for new lawyers, the science and practice of heart-based resilience and a guided visualization. Join us at Old Stone Fort Park in Manchester on Oct. 23 for this special CLE, which includes a ranger-led hike and lunch. Click here for more information and to register.

The TBA’s Corporate Counsel Section will hold a one-hour webcast on the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on corporate governance. The program will air at 9 a.m. CDT on Oct. 25. Tune in to hear from Matt White, a shareholder with Baker Donelson and co-chair of the firm’s Financial Services Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Team, and Barbara Bennett with Frost Brown Todd, a nationally recognized health care, data privacy and AI governance attorney.

This webinar will explore how in-house legal teams can effectively balance the strategic advantages and inherent risks of integrating AI. It will cover:

• What AI is and its practical applications
• Key risks and considerations to address before implementing AI
• AI governance frameworks and compliance
• Ethical challenges and responsible AI use

Attendees will gain valuable insights on managing AI in the corporate environment while mitigating legal and ethical concerns. The course offers one hour of dual CLE credit. Learn more and register online.

A growing firm is a great thing. It's a sure sign that your hard work is paying off with happy clients and more opportunities. As your business expands, it's important to bring new people up to speed smoothly and efficiently. Use this list to make sure you cover everything without overwhelming the new hire. Find more resources in the Management Section of TBA’s Law Firm in a Box.

The TBA’s 2024 Health Law Primer and Health Law Forum take place next week. The primer will be held Oct. 16 in downtown Nashville. Designed for those new to health practice, it will provide a general health law overview and practical tips to identify and avoid the pitfalls of real-life situations in the heavily regulated health care industry. Then on Oct. 17 and 18, the forum will take place in Franklin’s Cool Springs area. The two-day event will dig deeper into topics such as private equity, antitrust laws, digital health, cyber security, legislative and state case updates and ethics. You don't want to miss the state's premier health law event!