Murfreesboro, TN—With the legislative session winding down, State Senator Shane Reeves (R, District 14) reports that the final bills of the year are now heading to the Finance Committee and the Senate Floor. As lawmakers wrap up their work, Reeves expressed pride in the new legislation that has moved forward and anticipation for its impact.

This past week, Reeves successfully advanced seven key bills, tackling everything from tax adjustments to public safety and opioid treatment:

• SB 889 paves the way for a gradual 15-cent increase in the mineral severance tax over a decade, allowing counties to adjust rates through local votes.

  

• SB 1427 calls for the abolition of the Bedford County Road Board, pending approval.

• SB 0425 strengthens public records protections, adding exemptions for the residential information of local government employees.

• SB 0433 prohibits the abandonment of animals, ensuring that those left near shelters, clinics, or other care facilities without proper arrangements are still considered abandoned.

• SB 1024 tasks the Department of Education with assessing the effectiveness of an innovative school district after its first year and making recommendations.

• SB 0421 expands prescribing authority for physician assistants and nurse practitioners working within correctional facilities, allowing them to prescribe buprenorphine for opioid use disorder under certain conditions.

• SB 0428 grants insurers more flexibility in managing preferred drug lists (PDLs) for state employee group insurance plans, ensuring that non-opioid treatments remain accessible to covered employees.

In addition to his legislative victories, Reeves received the 2024 Legislative Leadership Award from the Tennessee Association of Optometric Physicians. Grateful for the recognition, he thanked visitors to his office and encouraged constituents from District 14 to reach out, whether by phone or in-person.

“As always, feel free to call my office at (615)-741-1066 with any questions or concerns, or if you’d like to meet me in Nashville,” Reeves shared.

As Tennessee’s legislative session comes to a close, the focus shifts from debate to implementation, with residents set to see the effects of this year’s decisions unfold in the months ahead.