UNCATEGORIZED

Today, the U.S. Department of Labor will formally publish a final rule overturning the Biden administration’s 2024 overtime rule after multiple federal courts vacated the rule nationwide and the department declined to continue defending it on appeal. READ MORE

Tennessee taxpayers are about to spend millions on a Starbucks order they didn’t ask for. In April, the world’s largest coffee chain announced it would be opening a Southeast corporate office in Music City. READ MORE

Today, we released the latest installment of the Beacon Poll, a statewide survey of 1,200 Tennessee voters featuring questions about voters’ views on energy sources and production in Tennessee, the condition of roads and what revenue sources could be used to improve them, and political approval ratings at the state and federal level. READ MORE

On Thursday, April 23, 2026, the 114th Tennessee General Assembly adjourned sine die. From efforts to regulate data centers and pharmacy benefit managers, to a framework for state takeover of Tennessee’s lowest-performing school districts, legislators saw their fair share of robust policy debates this year. READ MORE

Tennessee’s rich nuclear history shows the state is a leader in nuclear energy and advanced technologies. With new technology and rising electricity demand, there are now opportunities for Tennessee to not only meet the energy needs of its growing population but also to be a model for the whole country in developing and deploying affordable, abundant energy.  READ MORE

Tennessee stands at a critical juncture facing unprecedented demands on the state’s energy infrastructure. By leveraging key opportunities, Tennessee can not only meet its own energy needs but also cement its role as a national model for abundant energy generation. READ MORE

Beacon is fighting back against immunity for arbitrary zoning decisions at the Supreme Court. READ MORE

The Volunteer State is building a serious energy future that will continue to anchor our leadership in the sector. Allowing competition and technology to improve our state's grid will not only make the state more attractive for investment but also keep more Tennesseans safe when it matters most. READ MORE

Executive Summary Technology is evolving like never before. Americans today benefit from rapid advancements in fields like artificial intelligence. These cloud-based advancements have a physical component: data centers. The data center industry has already generated trillions of dollars for the U.S. economy. And with companies projecting trillions of dollars more in investments to keep up... READ MORE

Tennessee has a choice: maintain outdated rules that restrict opportunity and choice or embrace reforms that respect individual rights, encourage productive achievement, and expand access to justice. READ MORE

"This awesome victory will help music made by people, together, in Music City, keeping creativity alive.”  READ MORE

Data centers may not be the typical industrial building, like a Nissan, General Motors, or Volkswagen plant, yet they are less of a boogey man than they are made out to be. READ MORE

With so much media coverage and discussion around a property tax cap, what is the reality of such a policy, and is one needed in Tennessee? READ MORE

We’ve made it just fine for more than 75 years without a state property tax, and we’ll be just fine in the future without one.  READ MORE

We’ve long called for reform to the practice of taxpayer-funded lobbying. But this NES response is probably the most glaring example of the need for reform. READ MORE

Today, we released the latest installment of the Beacon Poll, a statewide survey of 1,200 Tennessee voters featuring questions about voters’ views on property taxes, the federal school choice tax credit included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and political approval ratings at the state and federal level, and more. Tennesseans continue to prioritize key... READ MORE

We hope that TennSight will become the go-to source for you to learn what matters most to your fellow Tennesseans, why it matters, and what can be done about it. READ MORE

Taxpayer-funded lobbying (TFL) is nothing new in Tennessee, but it is almost universally frowned upon. READ MORE

Tennessee is doing well in providing Career and Technical Education (CTE) opportunities to students, but policymakers should recognize that improvements can be made. READ MORE

By elevating CTE in Tennessee schools, we can increase support for employers and improve workforce readiness for students across the state. READ MORE

Technical schools may not be the right choice for every high school graduate. Still, for those who have graduated from such programs, data shows they have the potential to make a good living while supporting their local communities, all while avoiding years of student loan payments. READ MORE

Current status: Along with EdChoice, we represent parents who have asked to intervene in defense of Tennessee’s EFS program in chancery court. A decision on our motion to intervene is expected later this year.  The Beacon Center of Tennessee, along with EdChoice, is intervening to defend Tennessee’s Education Freedom Scholarship (EFS) Program from legal attack.... READ MORE

If Tennessee wants to protect its residents in all aspects and truly take claim to being a low-tax state, lawmakers should look around the nation and see that we are in the small minority that fails to protect citizens from unjust property tax hikes. READ MORE

Today, we released the latest installment of the Beacon Poll, a statewide survey of 1,200 Tennessee voters featuring questions about voters’ views on socialism versus capitalism, the National Guard in Memphis, political violence, and more. In a surprising result that could have a national impact, a majority of Democrats in Tennessee hold a favorable view... READ MORE

This ruling is a landmark win for property owners and sends a clear message that government overreach will not go unchecked. READ MORE

By embracing Tennessee's nuclear roots, small modular reactor and micro modular reactor technologies will have a chance to thrive in a new era of energy independence. READ MORE

While the EFS success is a great reason to celebrate, there is more work to be done to unlock education freedom for all Tennesseans. READ MORE

Despite declining enrollment occurring all across the nation, recent news reports have claimed that the problem is specific to Tennessee because of the state's new Education Freedom Scholarships (EFS) program. Not only do these accusations wrongly place blame, many critics simply get the basics of the EFS program wrong. Let’s set the record straight.  READ MORE

Tell us about you—where you’re from, any fun facts about yourself, and where you spent your career prior to Beacon. I’m originally from Benton, Kentucky, a small town in the very western corner of the Bluegrass State. But, important to my upbringing, I am not a Wildcat! I spent four years in Nashville at Lipscomb... READ MORE

A majority of Tennesseans, 56% of voters, believe the cap on Education Freedom Scholarships should be lifted from where it currently sits at 20,000 so that all eligible families who applied this year can use the program, while 30% of Tennesseans disagree and believe the cap should remain where it is. Polling has shown consistent support... READ MORE

In light of Senator Marsha Blackburn’s recent announcement that she plans to run for governor of Tennessee, Beacon is releasing the poll results of the Republican gubernatorial primary a few days early. In the field before Senator Blackburn’s official announcement, the poll asked Tennesseans who they would support in the 2025 GOP primary for governor, Senator... READ MORE

As the school year begins, let’s celebrate not only a fresh start but also the "hope and opportunity" available to Tennessee families as new chapters open.  READ MORE

Beacon has petitioned the United States Supreme Court for review on an important property rights issue that affects thousands of Tennesseans. READ MORE

Housing affordability is one of the biggest challenges facing Americans today. The only way out of the mess is to let builders build more housing, and that’s why it’s crucial for the Supreme Court to take this case. READ MORE

In 2020, Beacon released its first-ever City Freedom Index to shed light on the ways taxpayers are impacted by local government policies. Five years and many changed local policies later, the time has come for an update.  READ MORE

Education Freedom Scholarships won’t just change where kids go to school. They’ll change who they become.  READ MORE

The Beacon Center and the city of Nashville jointly asked a federal court to preliminarily approve a settlement in a class action lawsuit Beacon filed challenging the city’s stormwater capacity fees. READ MORE

Policymakers face the challenge of creating a regulatory framework that provides clear guidelines without stifling the very innovation that drives the field forward. READ MORE

New Beacon Poll results are here... READ MORE

Simple policy solutions could remove some of the more heavy-handed regulations and improve the ability for educational entrepreneurs to offer more educational options for Tennessee students. READ MORE

CTE is setting up Tennesseans to enter the workforce and improve their lives. READ MORE

The 2025 legislative session saw monumental wins for freedom in Tennessee. READ MORE

Join us for the first installment of Beacon's new quarterly webinar series! READ MORE

It was free trade, not tired old tariff policies, that made us the strongest country in the world. READ MORE

The separation of powers in the Constitution is a crucial bulwark against tyranny and for preserving liberty. READ MORE

The unanswerable question seems to me, do the goods of AI outweigh the evils? READ MORE

With the bill passing, there has been an enormous amount of misinformation spread about what the legislation actually does. We seek to set the record straight and list the facts of the legislation as it passed in January. READ MORE

By working with Tennesseans from one corner of the state to the other, we can make this bold vision a reality and make Tennessee the land of opportunity. READ MORE

Today, we released our latest installment of the Beacon Poll, a statewide survey of 1,200 registered Tennessee voters comprised of questions about the 2024 election results, policy issues, and more. In a nailbiter, the Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) took home the infamous Pork of the Year award, with 35% of Tennesseans believing this was the most outrageous... READ MORE

The stormwater capacity fee is an unlawful exaction. If Nashville wants to improve its stormwater system for all Nashville residents, it may not single out and force residents who are seeking development permits to shoulder all the costs. READ MORE

The modern-day Davids gracing these pages are living proof that we can all leave an imprint on the world long after we’re gone. READ MORE

The "winner" of the Pork of the Year will be chosen by the people of Tennessee in the January Beacon Poll, and the winner will be announced with the rest of the poll results on Monday, January 6th. READ MORE

Tennessee should give families and students another reason to be thankful and celebrate this time of year in 2025, with the ability to receive more educational options provided to them, no matter where they live in the Volunteer State. READ MORE

With billions going towards expanding wired broadband to the most rural parts of the nation, Beacon looked at the performance and viability of currently active GONs. READ MORE

As long as government keeps picking winners, there are bound to be losers. Hopefully, though, as a result of our work, there will be fewer losers when we’re done. READ MORE

Executive Summary Animal chiropractors serve an important role in the animal health care system and are distinct from veterinarians. Although veterinary schools and colleges do not require animal chiropractic in their curriculum, Tennessee law requires animal chiropractors to obtain a veterinary medicine degree and become licensed veterinarians to practice animal chiropractic. As a result, it... READ MORE

To offer protection to all Tennessee residents, state lawmakers should look at the 46 other states that have implemented some sort of property tax cap and give Tennesseans similar protections. READ MORE

In 2012, legislators passed a bill to phase out the death tax over four years. Roger not only gets to save his farm and pass it on to his loved ones, but he saved thousands of other farms just like his from facing the same fate. READ MORE

As citizens, we can mobilize quickly, efficiently, and in heartfelt ways no federal government agency ever could. READ MORE

Today, we released our next installment of the Beacon Poll, a statewide survey of 1,200 registered Tennessee voters comprised of questions about political races, policy issues, and more. Former President Donald Trump leads Vice President Kamala Harris by 21 points in the first Beacon Poll since Harris became the Democratic nominee for president. While Trump still maintains a solid lead,... READ MORE

Flooding caused by Hurricane Helene left communities in East Tennessee devastated, and our fellow Tennesseans are in need of crucial resources. If you are looking for places to donate to help flood relief in Tennessee, please consider the following: Mountain Ways https://mountainwaystn.org/ Knox County Association of Baptists https://www.kcab.org/donate (To direct giving to the flood victims,... READ MORE

Amanda's story proves that states can put pressure on the federal government to act, and how just a few individuals like Amanda can have an outsized national impact. READ MORE

To further enhance Tennessee's economy, lawmakers should look at implementing additional tax reforms. READ MORE

Imagine losing your job because an unelected board of government bureaucrats—or even worse, a board of your competitors with the force of government power—suddenly declared it illegal. READ MORE

Operations like Quail Run Farms benefit Tennessee’s economy and help support the income of farms and rural communities.  READ MORE

Current Status: VICTORY! On May 7, 2026, the Association of Christian Schools International voluntarily dismissed its case after the U.S. Department of Labor acceded to court decisions invalidating the overtime rule. — Executive Summary The Biden Administration recently issued an Overtime Rule that would reclassify some 4.3 million salaried workers and make them eligible for... READ MORE

With Blue Oval City on the horizon, it is more important than ever for local policymakers to review and reform outdated and arbitrary zoning laws. READ MORE

On November 8, 2022, Tennessee became just the tenth state to make right-to-work a constitutional right when 1.14 million Tennesseans, or seventy percent of voters, cast their ballots in favor of Amendment 1. READ MORE

Mark and Taylor are BACK with a recap of the July Beacon Poll, thoughts on the Olympics and Southwest’s change in seating policy, and—of course—your monthly dose of hot takes! Check it out now! READ MORE

Today, we released our next installment of the Beacon Poll, a statewide survey of 1,200 registered Tennessee voters comprised of questions about political races, policy issues, and more. In a surprising turn of events, Donald Trump’s recent conviction of 34 felony charges for falsifying documents in New York has actually helped the former president in Tennessee. The guilty verdict... READ MORE

Thanks to the ruling, cities must now fund their own public works projects. READ MORE

Today’s Supreme Court decision overturns Chevron and returns the task of interpreting laws to the courts. That’s a great thing for liberty. READ MORE

Mark and Taylor are back with another episode of Decaf this week! From the WNBA to Elon Musk and so much more, get your hot takes here on Decaf! READ MORE

In the coming months, county commissioners will be taking up school board budgets. These discussions and votes are an annual occurrence, though this year’s discussion may have a different tone than years past. Billions of federal relief dollars are set to expire in September 2024 coupled with the state witnessing declining enrollments and increased staff,... READ MORE

Regulators should match their rules with reality and in the case of Net Neutrality, that’s clearly not happening.  READ MORE

With dozens of states providing choice programs and a growing number providing the same options to all students, Tennessee policymakers must make a choice. READ MORE

What to make of Nashville's new transit plan? We’ve got you covered. READ MORE

Many Tennesseans benefitted from fresh starts in education and enterprise. Many more would also benefit if the government stopped discriminating against them. READ MORE

Case status: The Supreme Court denied the petition on December 9, 2024 over the dissent of Justice Alito and Justice Thomas  — Racial discrimination is morally wrong and a barrier to opportunity. Boston Parent Coalition v. School Committee for the City of Boston involved yet another push for “equity” in schools. For decades, admission to... READ MORE

Due to their grassroots activism, Lij and Pat convinced the city council to soften the home business ban. READ MORE

We’re pleased that the legislature made strides to address many of Tennesseans’ biggest challenges this session. And for those they failed to advance like property tax caps and school choice, we will continue to make them top priorities on behalf of Tennesseans.  READ MORE

Mark and Taylor are BACK with hot takes on the WNBA, reality TV, national media, and more. Plus, we have a deep dive on the April Beacon Poll. Listen now! READ MORE

For the opponents, this was about protecting their bottom line. For hair braiders, this was about culture. It was about opportunity. It was about freedom. READ MORE

Tennessee policymakers should keep note of the trends at vocational schools and see the value of these programs, not simply for earnings and little to no debt for graduates, but for the benefits to the state as a whole. READ MORE

According to a Beacon poll released this week, the rising cost of housing is among the most significant barriers that Tennesseans face on the path to financial stability and growth. The Supreme Court’s decision this morning in Sheetz v. El Dorado County will help. READ MORE

Today, we released our fourth quarterly Beacon Poll, a statewide survey of 1,197 registered Tennessee voters comprised of questions about political races, policy issues, and more. READ MORE

Parents across Tennessee are able to exercise school choice, but only if they have the financial means to do so. That could all change with the proposed Education Freedom Scholarship program. READ MORE

All of us enjoy the freedom to choose when we marry a spouse, buy a car, or simply purchase a cup of coffee. Why shouldn’t parents have the freedom to choose the education they believe best suits their own children? READ MORE

As a state experiencing significant in-migration, it's crucial to welcome new additions to our workforce without imposing unnecessary barriers through licensing requirements. READ MORE

From baseball to Kate Middleton, March Madness to the Baltimore tragedy, we have it all on this episode of Decaf! Watch now! READ MORE

On the final day of the 2016 legislative session, lawmakers voted to repeal the Hall Tax. Jon and Linda remain engaged in Beacon’s work to this day. Thanks to their willingness to speak out about their challenges with the Hall Tax, they helped return more than $300 million a year to taxpayers and make Tennessee truly income tax-free for the first time in nearly a century. READ MORE

Just as Noah Webster paved the way for a new language, Tennessee lawmakers today have the opportunity to make our state a hub for new jobs, investment, and economic growth. READ MORE

Puerto Rico has appropriated Roberto Clemente’s trademark against his family’s wishes, and at the expense of his and his family’s reputation.  READ MORE

Current Status: The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee issued an unfavorable decision dismissing the case on March 10, 2025. We have filed an appeal,  but have agreed to temporarily stay the case while the new Administration considers repealing the Independent Contractor Rule. — Executive Summary With its bustling music industry, Nashville... READ MORE

CON reform will directly benefit Asher and other Tennesseans like her who suffer from a lack of quality healthcare options. It’s a powerful example of a mother refusing to give up the fight for what’s right. READ MORE

Typically, proposed laws at the local level rarely get any attention, let alone make national news. But here in Tennessee, we’re anything but typical. Recently, several zoning reform proposals were introduced in Nashville’s Metro Council garnering considerable local and even some national media attention. Some of these proposed policies include eliminating the requirement that lots... READ MORE

Beacon’s newest report, “A Dose of Free Market Medicine” compares Tennessee’s laws and regulations around pharmacists and compares it to recent reforms in other states such as Florida, Iowa, Kansas, and most notably Idaho. READ MORE

Education “is meant for service. It’s not a political thing. We are here to serve the children.” READ MORE

Dr. Jeff Schoondyke has been on both the patient and provider sides of the medical world. He understands the needs of his patients and the desires of the providers in his practice to meet those needs. What he doesn’t understand is the burden that the certificate of need (CON) process puts on the provider, making... READ MORE

Over the past few years, educational choice programs that allow students to use a portion of their education dollars to attend schools that best fit their needs have experienced sweeping changes. By 2023, dozens of states had educational choice programs and ten states enacted universal or near-universal universal choice legislation, affording educational options to every... READ MORE

From the start of Beacon’s 20th anniversary celebrations to the uproar Taylor Swift has caused by attending NFL games, Mark and Taylor have all of the hottest takes on this week’s episode of Decaf! READ MORE

Dr. Dishmon, a cardiologist in the Whitehaven community of Memphis, was denied a certificate of need for an ambulatory surgery center in his community. Over the last 20 years, approximately 1 in 5 healthcare innovations that require CON approval were rejected in the state of Tennessee. As a result, many facilities have never opened their... READ MORE

Certificate of need (CON) laws are a regulatory, administrative, and financial burden on community-centered medical practices like Watauga Orthopedics in East Tennessee. Kim Marden shares Watauga’s story in this video and asks the question—are CON laws really necessary in Tennessee? READ MORE

As Beacon celebrates our 20th year of fighting for Tennesseans’ freedoms, we will be celebrating our heroes all year long. Debra Nutall is one of those heroes. Debra is an entrepreneur who advocated for the right of hair braiders to earn a living without onerous government restrictions. She continues to be an innovator and trailblazer... READ MORE

Just over a year ago, Open AI released ChatGPT surprising analysts and users around the globe with its amazing capabilities. Within two months it surpassed 100 million users and became the most quickly adopted internet application in history. Because its capabilities were so surprising and usage so popular, the once-fringe debate about AI existential risk... READ MORE

Roxanne will continue to stand up for her daughter and the thousands of others being helped by educational choice. READ MORE

January 21 - 27 is National School Choice Week (NSCW), the annual celebration of education opportunity in the country, and this NSCW has a lot to celebrate. READ MORE

The January Beacon Poll results are here, and Mark and Taylor are ready to talk all about them! From the 2024 presidential election to New Years’ resolutions, you might be surprised about the responses to these questions. This is an episode of Decaf you do not want to miss! READ MORE

There’s a monster on the loose, and it’s wreaking havoc on the hard-working families of Tennessee. Its name is UPTI: the Unlimited Property Tax Increase monster. Do your part to vanquish the UPTI monster by visiting CaptheTaxTN.com. READ MORE

On this episode of Over-Caffeinated, Mark and Justin are joined by Dr. Art Laffer to take a deep dive on property taxes and the call for them to be capped in Tennessee. Dr. Laffer is one of the most famous economists in the world. He is so famous he is known as the “Father of... READ MORE

Cheers to 20 years fighting for Tennesseans’ liberty. And the best part of it all? This is only just the beginning.  READ MORE

Today, we released our third quarterly Beacon Poll, a statewide poll of 1,302 registered Tennessee voters comprised of questions about political races, policy issues, and more. READ MORE

Mark and Taylor are here with a special episode of Decaf where they’re talking about all things Pork Report, and college football, of course. If you haven’t checked out the Pork Report yet, take a look here: https://www.beacontn.org/pork/2023 READ MORE

2023's most offensive examples of wasteful spending across the state of Tennessee READ MORE

Justin joined Mark on the podcast this week to talk about the college football playoff controversy, school choice, Christmas songs, and so much more! You don’t want to miss this episode of Decaf! READ MORE

Beacon has long advocated for expanding parental choice, and we are grateful the governor is leading the charge to make it happen in 2024. READ MORE

Beacon Center and Southeastern Legal Foundation filed an amicus brief at the United States Supreme Court supporting George Sheetz, who was forced to pay over $20,000 dollars to fund unrelated road improvements before he could build a home on his own property. The issue presented is whether unreasonable permit conditions are exempt from judicial review... READ MORE

Case Status:Victory! Our lawsuit prompted Mt. Juliet to repeal its $100/day fee for food trucks.  Food trucks rushed to help Mt. Juliet residents in March 2020 after the city was ravaged by a tornado. The city and its residents welcomed food trucks with open arms in the wake of the tornado and the beginning of... READ MORE

Beacon recently launched a new case representing three innovative entrepreneurs from Middle Tennessee and their food truck businesses READ MORE

On this episode of Decaf, Mark and Taylor air their grievances about the “fall back” time change, make their predictions about the college football playoff, celebrate a new survey about the ESA program, and so much more! Listen now! READ MORE

Mark and Taylor dive into the results of the October Beacon Poll on this episode of Decaf! Check out the full poll results at beaconpoll.com READ MORE

Today, we released our second quarterly Beacon Poll, a statewide poll of 1,181 registered Tennessee voters comprised of questions about political races, policy issues, sports questions and more. In one of the country’s most watched 2024 Senate races, the poll results find incumbent Senator Marsha Blackburn with leads over her two potential Democratic rivals, Gloria Johnson and... READ MORE

Tennessee holds strong in state financial rankings; be careful what you believe in the media; a preview of next week’s poll release; and thoughts on one of the most important questions this time of year. Listen to it all on Decaf! READ MORE

The only person that should have access and control over your money, is you. Not the federal government. READ MORE

Of the 15 NFL stadiums that have synthetic turf, all but three received taxpayer money to help build the stadium. READ MORE

Local and state policymakers should be aware of the coming calls to fund public education more at the local and state level. READ MORE

Current Status: On November 10, 2025, Beacon filed a petition for review at the U.S. Supreme Court. The Court will likely act on the petition in early 2026. — The Story Particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more Americans use the internet to buy goods, conduct meetings, and even consult with their doctors. As... READ MORE

Today, the Beacon Center filed a First Amendment lawsuit against the state of Tennessee. Beacon is representing Will McLemore and other online auctioneers in a challenge to a Tennessee law that requires online auctioneers to be licensed. This law threatens the livelihoods of Will, his employees, and other online auctioneers across the state, many of... READ MORE

It’s not just the seasons that are changing, but also Vanderbilt’s ranking on a popular list, the Senate dress code, and the SEC’s position of power. Plus, Dave Portnoy calls out a journalist on some questionable practices, and Mark and Taylor don’t hate to see it. All on this episode of Decaf! READ MORE

It was America’s tech industry that was the most vocal in calling for a pause in AI innovation. READ MORE

Stephanie joins Mark on Decaf this week to talk about Beacon’s new first amendment lawsuit, a looming government shutdown, and unlikely celebrity couples—including the one that has the whole nation talking. You won’t want to miss this episode of Decaf! READ MORE

Mark and Taylor’s big takeaways on this episode of Decaf: – If you think Nashville property tax rates are bad, it could be worse (and it is in another big city in Tennessee). – If you are going to make a career of trying to take down school choice, maybe don’t send your kids to... READ MORE