RESEARCH

As May turns to June, there is one other group coming back to work: the General Assembly. State lawmakers have a unique opportunity to build on Gov. Lee’s overall deregulatory approach by codifying many of the reforms from his recent executive orders. If these regulations, often implemented in the name of public health and safety, are waived in the biggest public health crisis of our lifetime, what (or whose) purpose do they really serve? By making these temporary reforms permanent, lawmakers will enhance the state’s ability to manage and fight the ongoing pandemic, prevent spikes of the outbreak as society continues to reopen, and better prepare Tennessee for future challenges.