March 23, 2026 - March 27, 2026.

Thank you for your continued support of the Tax Law Section. It has been a busy year, led by section chair Brad Sagraves. The executive council is busy planning CLEs for late May and into the summer and fall, so keep an eye out for more information to be announced soon! As a reminder, the Tax Law 2025: Divorce & Taxes webcast is available on demand now, and all section members receive a discount on all section-sponsored CLE! Additionally, the section's executive council currently has open positions. The executive council meets monthly to develop and implement section initiatives, discuss relevant legislation as needed, and provide feedback to TBA leadership on tax law issues. If you are interested in getting involved, please email section coordinator Jamie Rhode with your bio for consideration.

In the meantime, you do not have to wait to connect with colleagues. The section directory is a great resource for meeting other government attorneys or for referrals. We hope to see you at the annual forum, and if you have thoughts or ideas about future section initiatives, please do not hesitate to reach out to Jamie Rhode.

Changes at the Shelby County Youth Justice and Education Center — following its transfer from the sheriff’s office to the Division of Corrections in October 2025 — are aimed at improving conditions for juveniles in custody, the Daily Memphian reports. Officials said reforms include replacing traditional prison-style uniforms with khaki clothing to promote a more normalized environment, and providing full-size hygiene items such as toothbrushes, deodorant and soap. Additional changes include adjustments to facility policies intended to reduce contraband risks while addressing morale and behavioral outcomes. Judge Tarik Sugarmon said the transition has improved logistics and daily operations for juveniles appearing in court, while corrections officials emphasize that the updated approach incorporates mental health considerations.

Make plans now to join colleagues from across the state at the TBA’s 2026 Annual Convention, set for June 10-13, in downtown Knoxville. Annual favorites such as the Public Service Breakfast, Lawyers Luncheon, compelling CLE and swearing in of TBA’s new president will return, as will the Wednesday night welcome reception and a Thursday evening reception at Knoxville’s minor league ballpark, home of the Smokies. Again this year, the Tennessee Lawyers' Association for Women (TLAW) and Tennessee Alliance for Black Lawyers (TABL) will hold meetings and events in conjunction with the convention. This year’s convention also will include TBA’s first-ever Tech Showcase and several lunch and learn opportunities with tech vendors on Thursday. The four-day event will take place at the Crowne Plaza Knoxville. Don’t miss this annual gathering of Tennessee lawyers! Access registration, hotel reservation information and more on the event website. Day passes for the Tech Showcase on June 11 also are available for those who unable to attend the full convention. Learn more about that option.

The Tennessee Centralized Immigration Enforcement Division has distributed nearly $900,000 in grants to local law enforcement agencies participating in federal immigration enforcement efforts, according to a report obtained by the Tennessee Lookout. The division, established in 2025 under the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, oversees coordination with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement through 287(g) agreements, which authorize local officers to perform certain immigration enforcement functions. Between August and December, the division allocated $866,843 in funding for equipment and operational expenses, though it has not disclosed the agencies receiving the grants. The office, led by Chief Immigration Enforcement Officer Ryan Hubbard, was created by state lawmakers to support expanded immigration enforcement. It has faced criticism over limited transparency, as some records are exempt from public disclosure under state law.

Brett Windrow has announced that he will run for the Tennessee House of Representatives District 13 seat. Windrow, an attorney and graduate of Belmont University College of Law, said he is seeking the office to address economic, infrastructure and education challenges facing the district, which includes parts of Rutherford County. Windrow has prior experience working with the General Assembly and said he aims to improve affordability, support public schools and represent the interests of working families. “Government’s most basic job is to make people’s lives better. For too long in Tennessee, it has failed to do so. I’m running to change that,” Windrow said. Read more in a press release and on his campaign website.

A Tennessee law that went into effect Jan. 1 is the nation's first registry to track repeat domestic violence offenders, but there are holes in the system, according to Knox News. Under Savanna's Law, a "persistent domestic violence offender” — defined as someone with more than one domestic violence offense — is required to register in a public database maintained by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. But if the person has an offense expunged, the record no longer shows up and a new conviction would not trigger the registration requirement. Legal experts say the intersection of diversion, expungement and registry requirements exposes limitations of the law as judges cannot consider expunged offenses in setting bond or identifying repeat conduct.

Gov. Bill Lee has proposed that the state cover a funding shortfall for the Tennessee Poison Center following the loss of a federal grant, according to the Tennessee Lookout. The center, based at Vanderbilt University, operates a call service that provides free emergency poison information, reportedly handling more than 50,000 calls annually. Officials estimate the center saved taxpayers $44.6 million in 2024 by reducing unnecessary emergency room visits, particularly among underinsured populations. The center also serves as a surge backup call center for the Tennessee Department of Health during public health emergencies. Lee included funding for the center in his annual budget amendment, which must be approved by state lawmakers before the end of the legislative session.

Fired University of Tennessee (UT) professor, Tamar Shirinian is asking a judge to add specific state and federal legislators to her lawsuit against the university in a new court filing. According to Knox News, the new motion zeroes in on people Shirinian says defamed her and directly intervened with UT leaders to urge that she be fired. Shirinian was fired after her private Facebook comment criticizing Charlie Kirk after his assassination was shared online by another individual. Shirinian added Rep. Chris Todd, R-Jackson, and U.S. Republican Rep. Tim Burchett, along with an anonymous donor who allegedly threatened to pull a $10 million gift to the university's engineering department if she was not fired. The motion also refines Shirinian's claims against university administrators, alleging they “did not rely on, ignored, or purposely failed to seek legal guidance before acting." UT System spokeswoman Melissa Tindell responded to the report saying, “As a matter of practice, the university does not comment on pending or active litigation."

The Tennessee Bar Association Young Lawyers Division (YLD), alongside students from Belmont University College of Law, recently hosted an essential documents clinic for the Wilson County Sheriff’s Department. During the event, five attorneys and three law students worked together to prepare wills, advance directives and powers of attorney for 12 individuals affiliated with the sheriff’s office. In total, the clinic delivered approximately $10,000 in pro bono legal services to dedicated members of the community. The initiative was led by YLD District 8 Representative Grace Burnett.