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The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –
As the January 2026 legislative session creeps closer, local governing bodies are preparing their legislative priorities for representatives in the General Assembly. While their focuses differ in several areas, the City of Clarksville and Montgomery County have found some common areas of need in their proposals.
Both the Clarksville City Council and Montgomery County Commission have named major road projects and infrastructure as the top priority in their proposals, specifically the widening of I-24 which has been a subject of much discussion and focus in recent years.
Beyond road work, the City Council is looking to crack down on code violations by asking the state to “explicitly define a ‘repeat violation’ and proved a tiered structure of increasing fines for each success offense.”
City leaders also want to establish a Fire Station Safety Improvement grant program, citing mold problems, unmet cancer-prevention standards, and the need for separate changing facilities as the number of female firefighters increases.
Other asks include laws requiring hospital transparency in disclosing how they use the 340B drug savings program to ensure both uninsured and underinsured people receive the discounted pricing the program allows providers to pass along to patients.
Additionally, the city is requesting approval to create a land bank which would acquire and repurpose abandoned or tax-delinquent properties to support affordable housing initiatives.
With just a few revisions to specify language, the city’s legislative agenda unanimously passed on Oct. 2.
At a county level, public policy was a central feature of the Commission’s proposed agenda with four items. The first requests changes to the law to enable counties to receive all or a portion of locally collected real estate transfer taxes.
Another request seeks to fully fund the state’s property tax relief programs to ensure continued assistance for low-income elderly residents and disabled veterans.
The third policy asks to “remove the burden” of local governments having to publish paid public notices in newspapers, instead seeking to use electronic messages on government websites and social media platforms.
Finally, the Commission’s last public policy request supports the passage of SJR48 which would increase the 911 surcharge rate from $1.50 to $1.86 to provide “critical funding” to 911 emergency communication services.
Per the resolution’s text, “due to advances in technology and increased operational costs, immediate and long-term additional funding is required to sustain and enhance operations of emergency communications districts.”
The Montgomery County Commission will further discuss the legislative agenda at the next meeting on Oct. 20.After approval and final passage by their respective local bodies and meetings with area lawmakers to discuss specificities the wish lists will be sent to the 114th General Assembly.
About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
