Tennessee lawmakers and agriculture leaders gather for Ag Day on the Hill.
More than 600 people gathered on the Beth Harwell Plaza to celebrate Ag Day on the Hill, an annual event highlighting the importance of agriculture in Tennessee. The event featured participation from key agricultural organizations, including the Tennessee Farm Bureau, the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Pick Tennessee Products, and university schools of agriculture.
Agriculture is the number one industry in Tennessee, and it’s essential we do all we can as a state to support our hard-working farmers. It’s always inspiring to see farmers, industry leaders, and the next generation of agricultural professionals come together in support of this important industry.
FFA and 4-H members showcased their award-winning animals and advocated on behalf of agriculture education. Attendees also heard from Governor Bill Lee and Commissioner Charlie Hatcher before watching Senator Shane Reeves (R-Murfreesboro), Senator Page Walley (R-Savannah), and Senator Adam Lowe (R-Calhoun) compete in a corn shelling competition.
Ag Day on the Hill celebrates Tennessee’s diverse agricultural industry, which spans the entire state. Each year, the event brings together farmers, policymakers, and advocates to honor the industry’s impact and future.
Extending the James Dustin Samples Act to support more first responders.
In an effort to improve mental health support for first responders, the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee unanimously passed Senate Bill 289, expanding workers’ compensation benefits for law enforcement officers and emergency medical responders suffering with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Our first responders risk their lives every day to protect our communities, often facing highly traumatic and challenging situations that can take a serious toll on their mental health. By reducing the stigma around mental health and removing barriers to early intervention, we can save lives, support those who serve, and create healthier first responders—ultimately making our communities safer.
This legislation builds on the James Dustin Samples Act, which was first enacted in 2023 to provide workers’ compensation benefits to firefighters diagnosed with PTSD due to their service. The original act sought to combat the stigma surrounding PTSD and ensure that firefighters received the care they needed. This legislation seeks to extend the benefits of the James Dustin Samples Act to law enforcement officers and emergency medical responders.
The law is named in honor of Captain James ‘Dustin’ Samples of the Cleveland Fire Department, who tragically committed suicide in 2020 after a years-long struggle with PTSD.
Senate passes legislation targeting organized retail crime to protect Tennessee businesses and maintain law and order
The Tennessee Senate took action to protect businesses and consumers by passing Senate Bill 240, which is designed to combat the growing threat of organized retail crime (ORC) that is driving up costs for all Tennesseans. With Tennessee retailers losing an estimated $500 million annually to theft and the state losing $117 million in tax revenue each year, this legislation strengthens penalties and closes loopholes exploited by criminals.
Organized retail crime is not just a petty theft problem—it is a sophisticated, large-scale operation that hurts businesses, raises prices for consumers, and funds other criminal activities. This legislation strengthens law enforcement’s ability to dismantle criminal networks and protect both retailers and consumers. It ensures that criminals who exploit retailers, defraud businesses, and threaten public safety face appropriate consequences.
The bill builds upon the ORC Prevention Act of 2017 by expanding the definition of ORC and strengthening enforcement measures.
By addressing emerging tactics used by criminal enterprises, this bill sends a strong message that Tennessee will not tolerate organized theft that undermines local businesses and threatens public safety.
Legislation advances to crack down on AI-generated child pornography
In a move to combat child pornography, the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously passed Senate Bill 741 this week. This bill aims to take a strong stand against the Artificial Intelligence (AI) enabled technology and software that creates pornographic material of minors. Under the bill, it becomes a criminal offense to possess, distribute, or produce any technology or software specifically designed to create or facilitate the creation of AI-generated child pornography.
The rise in AI use and advancements has unfortunately enabled bad actors to abuse the technology and exploit images of children to create AI-generated pornography. This legislation is important because it will allow law enforcement to crack down on the criminals engaging with such heinous content and protect children from abuse and exploitation.
Possession of these tools would be classified as a Class E felony, while distribution would be considered a Class C felony, and producing the illicit material using these tools would be a Class B felony. The bill outlines specific factors that courts must consider when determining whether a tool falls under this prohibition.
To the Citizens of Senate District 15
As we conclude another week in the 114th Tennessee General Assembly, I want to once again express my gratitude to the residents of District 15 for trusting me to represent you in discussions and deliberations on potential legislation. Our priorities remain clear—supporting business growth, ensuring the best possible education for our families, and advancing healthcare to provide quality care for all Tennesseans.
This has been a productive week of service and representation. I’ve had the opportunity to meet with fellow members to discuss upcoming legislation, engage with hardworking constituents in District 15, and connect with the next generation of leaders in our community. We also began work on our final calendar in the Commerce and Labor Committee and made meaningful progress on several key discussions and bills.
I am truly honored by the trust you have placed in me to represent District 15. I remain committed to advocating for policies that benefit our community and Tennessee as a whole. As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out if I can be of assistance.
All My Best,
Paul