NASHVILLE — Tennessee Senate Democratic leaders are reacting to the release of test scores from third graders across the state. According to state education officials, 60% of third grade students are at risk of being retained in the third grade — based on a single test score — due to…

NASHVILLE — Senate minority leader Sen. Raumesh Akbari, D-Memphis, and Sen. Sara Kyle, D-Memphis, issued statements calling for common sense gun reform to feature prominently in Gov. Bill Lee’s August special session of the legislature. Sen. Raumesh Akbari: “The General Assembly should embrace this opportunity to pass sensible gun laws that stop future…

by Sen. Raumesh Akbari and Rep. Karen Camper — Families are reeling from the tragedy that unfolded in late March at The Covenant School in Nashville, Tenn., where six people, including three children, were murdered in a 15-minute storm of gunfire from a person who should not have had a gun. The Tennessee General Assembly was called once more…

NASHVILLE — Senate minority leader Sen. Raumesh Akbari, D-Memphis, issued a statement in response to the Justice Department challenging a Tennessee law that bans gender-affirming medical care to transgender youth. Lawyers for the federal government are arguing the law violates the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause. Sen. Raumesh Akbari: “Every family should have the freedom to access care they need — without interference from politicians — and every kid in our state deserves to feel safe and supported.

Sens. Akbari, Lamar: Students, families deserve a vote before session ends — NASHVILLE — Senate minority leader Sen. Raumesh Akbari, D-Memphis, and Democratic caucus chairwoman Sen. London Lamar, D-Memphis, issued a joint statement today in response to Gov. Bill Lee’s draft legislation to establish an order of protection process to remove firearms from people who present a danger to others. “We urge Republican leadership to put the governor’s order of protection legislation in a committee for immediate consideration. Tennessee students and families are desperate for solutions to stop gun violence and they deserve a public debate — and vote — before this session ends.”

Republican state budget busts the ‘Copeland Cap’ on state spending by $2.5 billion — NASHVILLE —Republicans love to moralize about following the constitution and limiting spending. But when they have power, these considerations take a back seat. Today, the Republican-controlled Senate is expected to approve legislation to pop the “Copeland Cap” on state spending. The Copeland Cap — Article II, section 24 of the…

Leader Akbari, Chairwoman Lamar urge court to uphold the Constitution — NASHVILLE — Beginning Monday, the Davidson County Chancery Court will hear the case Wygant v. Lee, challenging the constitutionality of the House and Senate maps enacted by Republicans in 2022. The lawsuit against the House map claims that Republicans divided an excessive number of cities and counties, which conflicts with…

NASHVILLE — Senate minority Leader Sen. Raumesh Akbari, D-Memphis, issued a statement urging the Republican supermajority to take up Gov. Bill Lee’s call for gun reform. “In this moment, our families deserve action to stop future gun violence. The governor is right to make this a priority before session ends,”…

NASHVILLE — Democratic lawmakers, who have long championed legislation to prevent gun violence, are introducing a package of late-filed bills to stop future school shootings and gun violence. Members of the both the House and Senate Democratic caucuses, who announced five gun safety bills in joint press conference, acknowledged they’ll…