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Capitol Update: March 1, 2024

School choice became the week's topic as vastly different versions of a school voucher proposal were presented in the House and Senate. Late last week, the Lee administration released amendment language for the Education Freedom Scholarship Act to be placed on HB2468/SB2787.

It closely mirrors how he has been talking about the proposal - 20,000 scholarships to provide students with $7075 a piece that could be spent on expenses related to private education. The Senate Education Chairman, Jon Lundberg, then filed his version of a program that included additional options for open enrollment between public schools. In his amendment, this results in TISA funds shifting between districts.

The bill also includes requirements for accountability and testing for private school students who take a voucher. Then, early this week, the House unveiled a 39-page amendment that went in a dramatically different direction. 

Click Here to Read This Week's Full Capitol Update from TCSA

TCSA Legislative Conference Registration Now Open

The room block at the Park Vista Hotel is now full. If you would like to be added to the overflow hotel request list, please email Carol Engroff at [email protected] to be added to that list. In the meantime, you can register for the conference now! 

Conference Registration - TCSA Website

You can register for the conference by clicking here to visit the TCSA event webpage.

You can mail or scan a completed registration form to the TCSA office by downloading and printing the form HERE.

226 Anne Dallas Dudley Blvd, Ste 700
Nashville, TN 37219
Email: [email protected]

Thank you, and we look forward to seeing you May 21 - 23 in Sevier County. 

Click Here to Register for Legislative Conference

Final Call!
County Government Day Survey

Members,

Again, thank you to everyone who attended TCSA's County Government Day on February 19-20 in Nashville. This is a reminder that all attendees who complete the survey will be entered to win a FREE registration to
TCSA's Legislative Conference in May at the Park Vista Hotel. 

Simply click the button below to complete the short survey, and you're automatically entered to win! We look forward to seeing everyone in May at our annual Legislative Conference.

Click Here to Complete the County Government Day Survey

USDA Rural Utilities Service Grant Announcement & Webinar for Counties

Presented by USDA Rural Development’s Rural Utilities Service, this webinar will provide information about the ReConnect Program and will cover the recently published Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). 

This webinar will include:

  • A brief overview of the ReConnect Program
  • The current Funding Opportunity Announcement
  • A summary of changes from NOFO 4 to NOFO 5
  • Next steps and important dates
  • An opportunity to ask questions about the NOFO
Date & Time:
  • March 6, 2024, from 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 pm EST
Click Here to Register for the Webinar

U.S. Election Assistance Commission Expands Security Funds to Include Countering AI-generated Disinformation 

Election security grant funds can now be used to fund voter education and the promotion of trusted information communications on accurate voting procedures, voting laws, and voting technology to counter disinformation generated from AI. 

  • What else can election security grants be used for? Election security grants can be used to improve the administration of elections for federal office, such as enhancing the cybersecurity of and upgrading voting equipment, voter outreach and post-election auditing costs
  • In April 2022 the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) determined that physical security services and social media threat monitoring are eligible uses of HAVA grant funds amid increased threats and harassment towards election workers 

Can counties access these funds?

HAVA-authorized funds are traditionally granted at the state level, meaning each state’s chief election official or office is the primary recipient of federal election administration grant funds.

Read More from NACo

Tennessee Starts New Year with Continued Low Unemployment

[Originally reported from www.tn.gov on Thursday, February 29, 2024]

Tennessee started the new year with little movement in its seasonally adjusted unemployment rate. New data from the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD) showed the statewide jobless number inched up only 0.1 of a percentage point to 3.5%. December’s revised rate was 3.4%.

In a year-to-year comparison, the statewide unemployment rate increased by 0.1 of a percentage point.

Employers added a healthy number of new jobs across the state between December and January. There were 9,900 new nonfarm jobs created month to month, and the largest increase came in the professional and business services sector. The trade, transportation, and utilities sector had the second-largest number of new jobs, followed by the manufacturing sector.

Click Here to Read the Full Unemployment Breakdown

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Tennessee County Services Association
226 Anne Dallas Dudley Blvd, Suite 700
Nashville, TN 37219

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