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
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
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
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
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
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
Many Tennesseans benefitted from fresh starts in education and enterprise. Many more would also benefit if the government stopped discriminating against them. 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
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
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
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
Education “is meant for service. It’s not a political thing. We are here to serve the children.” READ MORE
During his State of the State address earlier this week, Governor Bill Lee outlined his proposed program to offer every Tennessee family a voice in their child’s education. The program, dubbed Education Freedom Scholarships, would provide around $7,000 for a student to attend a school of their choice as well as pay for other approved... 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
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
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
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
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
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 was America’s tech industry that was the most vocal in calling for a pause in AI innovation. 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
✅ Knoxville residents are making moves toward more affordable housing. ✅ Should politicians have age limits? ✅ SEC teams were not looking great in week 1 of college football… ✅ Taylor has some controversial pizza-topping opinions. Get it all this week on Decaf! READ MORE
Giving people back their money puts it in the productive private sector of the economy where it can be invested, spent, or used more efficiently. READ MORE
Only time will tell what the true impact of the Fed's inflation-reducing policies will be on the American economy. READ MORE
More transparent and accessible government data will go a long way in holding the government accountable and making Tennessee a thriving place for innovation, entrepreneurship, and public participation moving forward. READ MORE
Corporate welfare is costing Tennesseans and Tennessee businesses. READ MORE
Tennesseans with student loans should begin preparing to make monthly payments. Furthermore, if those borrowers are unable to make payments, all Tennesseans should know that taxpayers could eventually face that burden. READ MORE
This morning the Beacon Center released our first non-partisan statewide poll which will be the first poll to be released quarterly throughout the state. The focus of this poll was to gain insight into what Tennesseans truly think about what’s going on in the state, and in the country. The poll examined nationally relevant issues... READ MORE