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109th Tennessee General Assembly begins Work

First week sees Organizational Activities

Tennessee State Representative - District 67Nashville, TN – Akin to watching paint dry, the first week of the 109th Tennessee Assembly’s legislative session was focused on organization of committees and finalizing legislation. Most committees met for preliminary business and to hear budget presentations by the various departments of state.

“While necessary but certainly not exciting, the first few days of session are mostly organizational in nature,” said Rep. Joe Pitts (D-Clarksville). “Our committees are meeting to review rules and preview issues that may come before us in the coming weeks.”

Tennessee State Representative Joe Pitts
Tennessee State Representative Joe Pitts

Rep. Pitts serves on the Education Instruction and Programs Committee and subcommittee, along with the Insurance and Banking Committee in the House.

The Education committee was split into two committees by Speaker of the House Beth Harwell (R-Nashville) to even the workload of the single Education Committee from years past.

The inaugural meeting featured a budget presentation by new Department of Education Commissioner Dr. Candice McQueen. Commissioner McQueen outlined the goals for the department for the year, and highlighted her personal goal to visit school districts throughout the state to listen to educators and parents.

The Committee also heard from students who are part of the Skills USA co-hort through the Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology. These students represent their fellow students in a national competition featuring various industry areas.

In the next legislative update, we will share some of the legislation sponsored by Rep. Pitts and other members of the Tennessee General Assembly, and provide weekly updates about the progress of these issues.

If you have questions about the above or other issues of concern, please call me at 615.741.2043, or email me at rep.joe.pitts@capitol.tn.gov

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