General Assembly televised

Tennessee General Assembly television coverage has been expanded. The KNS reports. On-going online coverage of the House and Senate chambers is here.

No LLC disclosure

A supposed 'anti-corruption' bill that would've required LLCs' owners and investors be identified died in committee earlier this week, as the General Assembly reaches toward the budget debate. The TFP's Andy Sher has it.

TTDC stakeholders throng Legislators

Twenty-one organizations joined Tennessee Technology Development Corporation this week in exhibiting their products and services on tabletops lining the main corridor of Legislative Plaza. Most of the companies seemed to be in capital-raising mode. TTDC will soon face its fate, as the annual process proceeds. The story's here. The list of 21 exhibitors is here.

Tech corp in Legislative Plaza

Today, Tennessee Technology Development Corporation constituents are taking to the halls of Legislative Plaza, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Twenty-one companies are registered to mount table-top displays in the corridors, from which venues they intend to spread the word among legislators and staff members about their ventures and about TTDC. The event is timed to coordinate with the budget debate, through which TTDC hopes to become a recurring budget item, and receive up to $5MM per year.

TN education reform advances

The General Assembly and Gov. Phil Bredesen showed what they can do when they're on even-close to the same page. Yesterday, the legislature passed the "First to the Top" bill Bredesen will sign, positioning the state to win some federal "Race to the Top" money, through a grant that would tie teacher retention to student performance. The City Paper reports. Tom Humphrey of the KNS reports. Rick Locker of the CA reports.

Kisber, Cromwell face challenging year

Here's our story on the challenges facing State ECD Commissioner Matt Kisber and TTDC President Eric Cromwell, and what priorities they've set themselves in 2010.

VC incentives approved by General Assembly

[Update 5:52 p.m.] There's $120MM on tap for Tennessee-based startups...now that both Tennessee House and Senate have approved a new investment-company incentive, dubbed TSBICCA, which has been in debate since January. Pro or con, read about it here.

Venture capital bill advances in TN Gen. Assembly

Things could change, but the odds now seem high in favor of Tennessee lawmakers' submitting to Gov. Phil Bredesen a provision that would leverage insurance companies' premium-tax obligations to direct pools of capital toward early-stage ventures based inside the state. A tax-credit would be the incentive vehicle. If it doesn't happen this spring, in our judgment, it's still likely, however it might be modified, before July 1, 2010. See these links for an update on the bill's progress in the General Assembly and a sampling of VC comments.

General Assembly focus on TN venture capital

The General Assembly and instate VCs and pro-venture allies are grappling with new legislation to provide new sources of funding for Tennessee ventures. A meeting last week in Nashville brought some ray sof sunshine and some awkward moments. Read about it here.

Tennessee legislature's website 'upgrade'

Our thanks to Gail Kerr, Tennessean columnist, for reminding us this morning about the General Assembly's website upgrade and a new URL. Unfortunately, while the site looks miles better, and the addition of staffers' names is great, the search function, as of today, absolutely stinks.