[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6201623,"mediaKeyId","3791817-88f7af2e7439b03532d0976cab160538","parentId",3791817,"title","TACIR adds six legislative studies to 2025–26 work program; amendment approved by voice vote","audioSeconds",968,"startMs",782000,"endMs",1750000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3791817-88f7af2e7439b03532d0976cab160538&start=782&end=1750","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3791817-88f7af2e7439b03532d0976cab160538/thumbnail_782000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6201623/Tennessee/TACIR-adds-six-legislative-studies-to-202526-work-program-amendment-approved-by-voice-vote","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6201623-d526acbd8d951dc8db73bcafb7671f61/orig.mp4?Expires=1770951137&Signature=BO68gYBNRlDbkhiPXmM16nt-ZGBbfHRsmMmeAKFdKSN-XdHkWhc3ds2rom6XhBacwjy9lAZjsKLHsidWQ28G2jhPFBCfinwPlxFx1O3wp4gsAhc2YyAD-ITZXvyzJ1-zOXQlWXrtpXYvm4IiEY7z05MQiTjFdetlS-81rqyaHJlqrE4i7L7jihEERBvhik4r-0UHHr7pssfjasHFp1ufhf~XayuOW691xEffaTBYXOqJewW-LpYOs-h~mUv9vSWZnBeHVCbQyQxkuFPQn7S~v3G-4hBY084rgn83~VtSRs1I309MQOM~dTS49QB6Tfnea0LrY5pOK0bKyZ6EocJ20g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","TACIR","date","2025-06-12T00:00:00Z","article","The Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations on May 20 approved an amendment adding six legislatively requested studies to its 2025–26 work program by voice vote.

The amendment, presented by Deputy Executive Director Melissa Brown, adds studies required by public acts that direct TACIR to examine (1) housing and treatment availability for adjudicated juvenile offenders, (2) continuums of care and how they might be improved, (3) the feasibility and effects of required insurance coverage for habilitative/rehabilitative speech therapy for stuttering, (4) sustainable funding sources for future transportation infrastructure, (5) the economic and workforce impact of cosmetology and barbering professions, and (6) county ambulance service models and reimbursement including commercial payers, Medicare and Medicaid. Several of the added studies carry statutory due dates ranging from Jan. 31, 2026, to Sept. 30, 2026.

Brown told the commission the amendment includes draft research plans (subtabs A–F) outlining timelines and benchmarks for each study and that the bills requesting the studies are attached in the docket. “Beginning at the top of the page, public chapter 418, Acts of 2025, requests a study regarding availability of housing and other treatment facilities for juvenile offenders …” she said when listing the additions. The commission recorded the associated statutory due dates in the draft plans presented with the memorandum.

Chair Senator Ken Yeager called for a motion; a motion and second were made and, after a brief period for discussion, members approved the amendment by voice vote. The transcript records a voice vote in which the chair asked, “Those in favor of approval of the 2025–26 work program amendment, say aye,” and the ayes carried. No roll-call tally was recorded in the meeting minutes. The commission did not amend the statutory texts; it accepted draft research plans and scheduled the listed deliverables and deadlines.

Why it matters: the new studies come directly from public chapters enacted by the General Assembly and will inform future policy by supplying staff research and recommendations on matters that affect counties and municipalities, such as ambulance funding and juvenile placement capacity.

Next steps: staff will carry forward the draft research plans and deadlines; the studies will be prepared by TACIR research staff and presented to the commission on the timelines shown in the draft plans; members may request interim updates as work proceeds.

(Reporting note: the commission’s presentation and the voice vote are recorded in the meeting transcript.)

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","TACIR\tJun 12, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations on May 20 approved an amendment to its 2025–26 work program to add six studies requested by the General Assembly.","taxTitle","TACIR, Joint, Committees, Legislative, Tennessee","taxId",36471,"location","Tennessee","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6201603,"TACIR draft urges regional crime‑lab expansion, rapid‑DNA authority at booking and digital‑forensics study",722,6609000,7331000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3791817-88f7af2e7439b03532d0976cab160538&start=6609&end=7331","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3791817-88f7af2e7439b03532d0976cab160538/thumbnail_6609000.jpg","/articles/6201603/Tennessee/TACIR-draft-urges-regional-crimelab-expansion-rapidDNA-authority-at-booking-and-digitalforensics-study","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6201603-2c199376df72523007d17bfb135eaaf2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770951137&Signature=QijWPslaPz-q~3G9z6Azr2ARc-Ojmgq66U3ialT-CagnsE9t7rjMmJIN0IC6jO~FJFHvNWERGFM0Db3OAo5fMdthtE74FXTPSnryVGVnZuz3AhKmTX7nj1iQOMWBtGHiF733VAHrlX-38vlxhVMADRmk19w1eP-jdZK-oNVMx-f4IJRTi1XHxduF0SVTo3mDDbIq0k9ykvg2pYHAjhrW2bkaLptsP1lOp4zGpUg9CPIQGRmfsA3Q3gwyfnwQRzOCkEHYcFHCM2XKkApeuWACIYItTJ95qJH1TPcWGmU0uKAwz9pNR-KXe3qY5SprTKl3FYxcVbEppBwGnnSQvWn67w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations staff presented a draft report May 20 that urges expansion of crime‑lab capacity across the state, statutory changes to allow rapid DNA testing at booking stations, and strengthened regional partnerships to address backlogs and turnaround times.

Madison Thorne, the presenting researcher, said Tennessee has made progress reducing forensic backlogs but capacity constraints remain. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) increased scientist headcount but faces a primary constraint of laboratory workspace; TBI’s 2024 real‑estate strategic plan calls for expanding the Jackson lab, renovating and expanding Nashville, replacing the existing Knoxville lab with a larger facility equipped for firearms testing, and creating a smaller Chattanooga lab focused on drugs and toxicology. Thorne recommended the commission support capacity expansion in each grand division, prioritize overburdened disciplines (forensic chemistry and toxicology in Nashville), and pursue partnerships such as embedding a dedicated firearms analyst in Jackson to serve Memphis cases.

The draft also recommends the General Assembly amend statutes to permit rapid‑DNA technology at law‑enforcement booking stations so offender profiles can be uploaded quickly to CODIS. Thorne said other states have used rapid‑DNA to reduce similar backlogs. The draft advises TBI to pursue process‑improvement methods and resource‑sharing partnerships to train and assist local law enforcement.

Members questioned staffing and space constraints, the high turnaround times documented for firearms analyses and database entries, and whether digital forensics was within the study’s scope. Thorne said digital forensics is currently in a different TBI division and the draft did not make recommendations for it. Commissioner Representative Williams moved—and the commission agreed without objection—to direct staff to include digital‑forensics capacity and resource analyses in the study.

Why it matters: forensic turnaround times affect criminal cases, victims’ investigations, and public confidence; regional capacity expansion and statutory clarity on rapid‑DNA could reduce delays.

Next steps: staff will incorporate member input, include digital‑forensics analysis per the commission’s request, and refine cost and capacity estimates to inform potential funding requests.","TACIR’s draft report recommends expanding TBI crime‑lab capacity across Tennessee’s three grand divisions, pursuing rapid‑DNA testing authority at booking stations, and supporting regional resource‑sharing; commissioners requested staff add a review of digital forensics capacity to the study.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6201608,"TACIR draft report recommends stronger notary ID rules, journals and a register‑of‑deeds review process to reduce deed fraud",1313,5298000,6611000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3791817-88f7af2e7439b03532d0976cab160538&start=5298&end=6611","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3791817-88f7af2e7439b03532d0976cab160538/thumbnail_5298000.jpg","/articles/6201608/Tennessee/TACIR-draft-report-recommends-stronger-notary-ID-rules-journals-and-a-registerofdeeds-review-process-to-reduce-deed-fraud","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6201608-11655fbb99e9af4e6a8d8517cae775c9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770951137&Signature=JLVvpYcc7PcHpfAiNwFXYMPc5w9CXYYzYnu~kXtZlIpANrd6jqyY6MFycUJS6EznJ-EiJVSjCOvhENqMIxp0tUCdsyh9xKLlJZZ1mChLwHP1dx1TLles~-kO24TD20zv7Km2fl7-rYMKvcxLEutLoCjiR~7DXD4P2beYw5gboQ~22gcukAMEfO-eVr2UGfYv6b8RU6B~WpCYrG8f4EtyCTGEtGCkwRMYYql~CqjbVgvIp~bc4HOs~LUO3LNUefs2b1Z8n-M-rzYrEmRAjZi8oII5phJgC9xHcscaDDoq4pi0tFTTdwD6z5Xkho8W6FyR4IgiJXRw4ZhTlxzkE3anwg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations staff presented a draft report May 20 recommending statutory and administrative changes intended to reduce real-estate fraud and protect property owners.

Bob Morio, presenting the draft required by Public Chapter 941 (2024), summarized national and state indicators of deed and title fraud and proposed three primary recommendations: require instruction for in‑person notary applicants and renewals; require notaries to verify identity with government‑issued credentials and maintain a notarization journal for at least five years with specified entries; and authorize counties to establish fraud-referral and review processes allowing a county register of deeds to refer suspicious instruments for administrative review before recording.

The draft notes that Tennessee currently allows a notary to identify a signer based on personal familiarity or a credible witness and that, unless a notary charges a fee, a journal is not required for in‑person notarizations. Morio cited other states that require training, examinations, or multi‑year journals; he cited California’s prohibition on relying solely on personal knowledge for identity verification and other states that require detailed journal entries and retention periods. He said Tennessee registers and law‑enforcement officials cited local instances of attempted fraudulent filings and that TBI and local prosecutors report theft‑of‑dwelling incidents in multiple counties.

Commissioners asked whether fraud mostly stems from negligent notaries or from counterfeit documents and fake stamps. Morio said available case reports show a mix and that precise breakdowns require case‑by‑case review. Some commissioners urged focusing on strengthening the Register of Deeds’ ability to flag and initiate review of suspicious documents. No vote was taken; commissioners provided feedback and staff will refine the draft for later consideration.

Why it matters: notary practices and the recording process are two checkpoints where fraud can be detected or prevented; statutory adjustments could add safeguards for property owners without changing the underlying criminal penalties.

Next steps: TACIR staff will incorporate feedback and may propose draft statutory language for consideration in a future meeting or by the General Assembly.","A draft TACIR report on real-estate fraud recommends requiring in-person notaries to use government-issued ID, maintain multi-year journals, receive initial notary training, and authorizes counties to establish fraud referral and review processes for deeds similar to Illinois.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6201613,"TACIR approves rolling‑stock final report after members add economic development recommendation",1011,4260000,5271000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3791817-88f7af2e7439b03532d0976cab160538&start=4260&end=5271","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3791817-88f7af2e7439b03532d0976cab160538/thumbnail_4260000.jpg","/articles/6201613/Tennessee/TACIR-approves-rollingstock-final-report-after-members-add-economic-development-recommendation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6201613-49e3141380290b46bda60cc7733c9767/orig.mp4?Expires=1770951137&Signature=UlwGdLHQTkD94BuEx4VkH-2AXMvv7HAQW1hd8snp3M~rt~OgLr0elEvGFbN8UWpO0~i54A1gHOHcldpd67R1jOv9zq3WZkYBpLWnPtQXMTpFEhjsyHyhz9aiqWsXcQqfBgBHcgmaWOA32zmznicjUotJqtQfifLP-5gzSe5Pjuvo4nUQi6El8Plaq5mZ6vTzBiWkPgzb0xGw0N0gOGeWURiHHFGyl7Q3TcbudSNu2sZ5Wn2c~Tby1mY8ftSo9IOj7aQTF6HTioUKcx8uuOV2ow4m2v~dIUWXRE0~B7Dbw8rvYwBqnh5WvIdepHzXIFp-BtJGTEqkWps0ecLh85mfuA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations approved a final report on rolling stock procurement delays and cost increases and added a member amendment asking the Department of Economic and Community Development to encourage in‑state manufacturing to address supply shortages.

Research Director Jennifer Berry presented the final report, which TACIR prepared in response to a local request to study procurement challenges for vehicles such as fire trucks, ambulances and school buses. Berry told commissioners interviews with more than 30 Tennessee officials found large cost increases and lengthy procurement delays, often driven by global supply-chain disruptions and industry consolidation affecting specialized vehicle manufacturers. “Interviews with over 30 Tennessee officials revealed that there have been large cost increases and long procurement delays, mostly caused by global supply chain disruptions,” Berry said.

The report lists strategies local governments can use without new state legislation, including improved vehicle replacement and maintenance plans, fleet-management software and GPS, extended vehicle repairs instead of replacement where safe and feasible, contingent leasing plans, alternative vehicle options, and fleet consolidation. The report added examples from local governments (Gallatin, Williamson County, Dickson County) in response to commissioner input.

During discussion members raised the severity of long lead times—one commissioner noted ladder-truck delivery times of five years in some cases—and urged exploration of federal grants and other funding. Representative Williams moved, and Mayor Frank seconded, an amendment requesting TACIR send a letter to the commissioner of Economic and Community Development encouraging that office to solicit and incentivize relocation or expansion of companies that can produce required heavy vehicles and chassis in Tennessee. The commission approved the amendment by voice vote and then approved the final report by voice vote.

Why it matters: local governments have reported multi‑year waits for critical emergency and public-service vehicles; the report documents widespread delays and offers adaptation strategies while the amendment asks the state to explore industrial responses.

Next steps: TACIR will publish the final report with the added recommendation to ECD; staff will continue to share examples and best practices and consider any follow-up work requested by the commission.","TACIR approved its final report on rolling stock procurement delays and rising costs, and amended the report to ask the Department of Economic and Community Development to explore encouraging in‑state production of heavy apparatus and chassis.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6201618,"TACIR review flags virtual-school enrollment as driver of funding shifts; members request follow-up analysis",835,2509000,3344000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3791817-88f7af2e7439b03532d0976cab160538&start=2509&end=3344","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3791817-88f7af2e7439b03532d0976cab160538/thumbnail_2509000.jpg","/articles/6201618/Tennessee/TACIR-review-flags-virtual-school-enrollment-as-driver-of-funding-shifts-members-request-follow-up-analysis","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6201618-872851065cba046249772c5593a9870c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770951137&Signature=lHsO-VCnr5br1Tj-K-LOXalu72wQwz5QGYmSDggb-9uWtaf1to-sjAmI9alOOKOLUwtwQ0jvWjJCeKIAIRYjVs1j3MXJH9NdiUVOF3bP4mEnpWCQLdOzLAh20XnpnB9CIlzaJ5WPaXU4wX8IIKVbhkrE3csqH67XHdFGHEdbtzo8quiPuwo0UOjsV1psz-N8sx8hNNsFwh~-fduUL9nOdbV4n2ShdFVuceFpXt8DT0tquZgc~lgXU7RWYqPMMdu70lE4LX71FxVhuISYCJ0JATyEkEDbWCk~NqgBgJF2OACCuBgKDsCu1n1cbz2WdYOlbC6hHfuyUNvYtyS59cUW2w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations research director Michael Mount presented the commission’s annual county-level fiscal capacity index on May 20 and members pressed staff to model how virtual-school enrollment and other factors shift state funding between counties.

Mount said fiscal capacity measures a county’s potential ability to fund education from local taxable sources and explained that TACIR uses multiple regression with factors including sales tax base per student, equalized property assessment per student, per-capita income and service responsibility measured by students per population. “Fiscal capacity answers the question how much each local government must contribute,” he said. Mount noted fiscal capacity is a relative measure: a county’s share changes both with local growth and with growth in the other 94 counties.

A recurring point of discussion was virtual schools. Mount noted Tennessee counts virtual school students as enrolled in the virtual-school county regardless of the student’s residence; those students increase service responsibility for the operating county without proportionally increasing its property or sales tax bases. Senator Raum Yarbrough (Senator Yarbrough) and other members raised concerns that large virtual-school enrollments in a small number of counties were effectively shifting state funding toward those counties and away from others. “Those two counties alone have something like 6,000 of the virtual school students in the state,” Yarbrough said, adding that the distribution can create incentives and fiscal distortions.

Chair Senator Ken Yeager asked Director Lippert to prepare follow-up analysis. Lippert said staff can model alternative approaches—treating virtual students as resident students for fiscal-capacity calculations or other options—and present results at the next meeting or the following meeting. Yeager said he would form an ad hoc committee of legislators and local officials to review the issue and work with TACIR staff.

Commissioners also discussed Greenbelt/qualified agricultural property assessments and how the Comptroller’s tax-aggregate reports account for present-use assessment. Members asked for the regression spreadsheet and the model’s weights; Mount and Lippert said those files would be provided to members and that TACIR staff will bring a modeling update to the commission soon.

Why it matters: the fiscal capacity index feeds the BEP (Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement) equalization elements. Material changes to how students are counted or to how tax bases are treated can shift millions of dollars in state aid among counties.

Next steps: TACIR staff will prepare modeled alternatives showing fiscal-capacity impacts of virtual-school enrollments and other adjustments; the chair will convene an ad hoc committee to review results with staff.","TACIR presented its annual fiscal capacity report and commissioners pressed staff to analyze how virtual-school enrollment changes the county-level fiscal capacity index and state funding allocations; an ad hoc group will be formed to pursue further modeling.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

TACIR adds six legislative studies to 2025–26 work program; amendment approved by voice vote

TACIR draft urges regional crime‑lab expansion, rapid‑DNA authority at booking and digital‑forensics study

TACIR draft report recommends stronger notary ID rules, journals and a register‑of‑deeds review process to reduce deed fraud

TACIR approves rolling‑stock final report after members add economic development recommendation

TACIR review flags virtual-school enrollment as driver of funding shifts; members request follow-up analysis