Jackson lawmakers discuss legislative session, $10M for juvenile detention center
JACKSON, Tenn. — State representatives Chris Todd and Johnny Shaw gathered at the JEA Training Center for a Capitol Talk, giving residents a direct line to their lawmakers.
The Capitol Talk discussed bills that have passed in the Senate and House during the 114th Tennessee General Assembly.
Several pieces of legislation regarding hunter education in public schools, local government employment and illegal immigration are waiting on a signature from Gov. Bill Lee.
Juvenile detention center funding
One of the biggest accomplishments locally was the announcement of $10 million in state funding approved for the new juvenile detention center in Madison County.
Rep. Chris Todd, who represents District 73, said the money is just the beginning.
“We were able to get $10 million towards that and it is a good amount of money for developing the final plans and actually maybe getting the site ready and actually ready for a building to go up,” Todd said. “Next year we’re gonna come back and look for more money to be able to get that fully funded if at all possible.”
Property tax proposal
Todd is working on a proposal for the next General Assembly that could affect property owners.
“One of the most exciting things I am working on is a property tax replacement bill,” Todd said. “We have talked about this for a few months now and we’ve got some work done on it, but we will bring it back next year with a much more coordinated effort to get more people involved.”
Agriculture education bill
Rep. Johnny Shaw, who represents District 80, highlighted a bill he passed aimed at teaching Tennesseans how to grow their own food through the UT system and other institutions across the state.
“What we are doing now is bringing it back home to the community where people can be taught to grow their own food and what it means to grow their own food and most of all ag touches the lives of people across the state everyday in some way or somehow with the weights and measurements and so forth and so on,” Shaw said.
Shaw’s retirement
For Shaw, the event carried deeper meaning as he is retiring from being a state representative.
“I wish I had the right words. I do not have the right words to tell you,” Shaw said. “It has been the honor of my life. It is something I would do again right now all over again if I was younger and had the time and so forth and so on, so it has been the greatest honor of my life.”
The Greater Jackson Chamber of Commerce and sponsors hosted the final Capital Talk of this legislative period. The 114th Tennessee General Assembly adjourned late Thursday evening.
