The Tennessee legislature took the first step toward rejecting $1.8 billion in federal funding for K-12 education yesterday as members of a House panel approved creating a task force to determine the process for rejecting the money. If ultimately adopted, Tennessee would be the first state to reject federal funding that supports education programs, Main Street Media reports. The proposal is backed by House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, who has said federal funds are accompanied by federal mandates that can hinder the quality of the state’s education system. HB1249/SB1507 now advances to the full House Education Committee. The Senate Education Committee considered the bill today.

The U.S. government on Monday sued Rite Aid Corp., accusing the pharmacy chain of missing "red flags" as it illegally filled hundreds of thousands of prescriptions for controlled substances, including opioids. In a complaint filed in an Ohio federal court, the Department of Justice said Rite Aid repeatedly filled prescriptions from May 2014 to June 2019 that were medically unnecessary, for off-label use, or not issued in the usual course of professional practice. Pharmacists also are accused of ignoring “obvious” signs of misuse. Yahoo News has the story from Reuters.

Metro Nashville Chief of Police John Drake said the department is considering creating a new review unit to examine critical incidents involving police. A spokesperson for the police department told The Tennessean that the review unit would be part of the department's Professional Standards Division, which is led by Kathy Morante, a former Davidson County assistant district attorney and Tennessee deputy attorney general. The new review unit would not replace the current Force Review Board, which reviews critical incidents and makes recommendations on officer involved shootings. The new unit would focus on policy, training and supervision issues when an incident occurs.

Sign up now to make your voice heard at the Tennessee General Assembly. The Tennessee Bar Association is hosting a TBA Day on the Hill on March 22, followed by the annual Big Shrimp legislative reception that night. You’ll have a chance to meet with individual legislators to talk about issues of importance to the profession, such as the professional privilege tax and funding for indigent representation. Activities begin with a luncheon, followed by meetings with legislators in the afternoon, and the annual Big Shrimp legislative reception that night. Sign up now to take part.

A bill that would have ended permitless carry in Nashville and Memphis failed in the legislature, WKRN reports. Lawmakers leading the effort said it was a way to address the “out of control” gun violence in Tennessee’s urban communities and would reinstate the previous carry regulations. Senator London Lamar, D-Memphis, said the previous legislation had stricter regulations, background checks and gun safety education. “I’m not against anybody using a gun, I own a gun, but I went through the class and I demonstrated that I know how to use it,” Lamar said. “It wasn’t hard.” Opponents said they didn’t think the measure would help fix the problem of gun violence.

The Knoxville Latino Bar Association launched this week with a gala event honoring Knox County Criminal Court Judge Hector Sanchez, who became the state’s first Hispanic trial court judge when he was sworn into office last fall, Knox News10 reports. "There's obviously a sense of camaraderie and unity when you bring a bunch of folk from similar cultures together and identity as one, so it's very important," Sanchez said. The newly-formed group also hopes to support minority lawyers as they start their careers, and throughout their professional lives.

Transgender people in Tennessee would be prevented from changing their driver’s licenses and birth certificates under legislation approved on Monday by the Republican senators, WSMV reports. The legislation, which still must clear the House chamber, would define male and female in state law and base people’s legal gender identities on their anatomy at birth. Legislative officials have warned that enacting the bill could cost the state millions in federal funding because the definition conflicts with federal rules.

The owner of Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge and several other Nashville bars is pushing legislation to move control of establishments in the downtown tourism development zone out from under the control of the Nashville beer board and instead give oversight to the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission, Tennessee Lookout reports. Tootsie’s owner Steve Smith and the Metro Nashville government have butted heads in recent years, particularly over rules during the early months of the coronavirus pandemic.

The TBA Corporate Counsel Section will present sessions on accessibility in the workplace, administrative law changes, workplace health privacy laws and more during its upcoming annual forum, scheduled for April 14. Attendees will be able to earn four hours of general CLE credit during the virtual event, which will run from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. CDT. Katie Atkins of naviHealth in Brentwood and Hemant Sharma from the University of Tennessee are among the confirmed speakers.

Registration is now open for the TBA Annual Convention in Knoxville, June 14-17. Centered around the theme of "Where Law & Sports Come Together," this year's event will feature dynamic programming from UT men's basketball coach Rick Barnes, Women's Athletic Director Emeritus Joan Cronan and others. In addition, social events will include an evening at Neyland Stadium, featuring live music, food, refreshments and plenty of time to catch up with colleagues old and new. It is all headquartered at the newly renovated Marriott Knoxville Downtown Hotel in the World's Fair Park. Learn more or register now!