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Contributed commentary by state Rep. Jeff Burkhart.
As a state legislator, one of my top priorities is improving the quality of life for residents of Montgomery County. The Republican-led General Assembly this session listened to the Tennesseans who elected us by supporting our state’s great farmers, improving education and preserving economic freedom and the right to keep and bear arms.
Digital dollar concerns
In 2022, President Joe Biden issued an executive order to look into the risks and benefits of a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), which are federally controlled so-called digital dollars. This represents a real threat to Americans’ finances. China has already implemented one and a headline from Wired two years ago says it all: “China’s Digital Yuan Works Just Like Cash—With Added Surveillance.”
I share the concerns of many Tennesseans who are worried about increased government surveillance and restrictions on economic freedom. Republicans in the Tennessee legislature will not sit by as the Biden administration attempts to subvert the freedoms of the American people. I was proud to sponsor legislation this year to protect the personal information and financial well-being of Tennesseans. The bill, which will take effect July 1, clearly states that a CBDC cannot be considered money in Tennessee.
Farmer protections
I also supported policies this session to protect the livelihood of Montgomery County’s hard-working farmers.
A bill I co-sponsored will expand our state’s greenbelt program from 1,500 to 3,000 maximum acres, allowing Tennessee growers additional property that’s taxed based on how it’s used rather than market value. This will lower the tax burden on farmers and make the Volunteer State more competitive agriculturally.
Farming is an essential industry in our community, and I will continue supporting farmers in any way I can.
Second Amendment rights
The freedom-loving residents of the 75th House District often encourage me to stand up for their Second Amendment rights as well. A co/efficient poll conducted last summer showed the rest of the state feels similarly, with 84% of Tennesseans wanting dangerous individuals off the streets rather than guns confiscated.
We passed several bills over the past few months preserving this right, including prohibitions on local governments enforcing red flag laws and on banks enacting merchant category codes for gun sellers.
I was honored to co-sponsor both of those bills. The Second Amendment Financial Privacy Act prevents financial institutions from conducting unauthorized mass surveillance of Tennesseans’ gun and ammunition purchases. This is an important step in ensuring gun owners aren’t being unfairly targeted by the federal government.
While liberal states like New York, California and Washington dangerously crack down on the constitutional right to bear arms, Republicans in the Tennessee General Assembly will ensure residents have the autonomy to protect themselves and their families.
Improving teacher pay
We also prioritized improving Tennessee’s education system by making new investments in schools, passing needed safety measures and providing students and teachers with the resources needed to succeed.
Last year, I voted to raise the annual starting base salary for educators in Tennessee to $50,000 by 2026, which will put the Volunteer State in the top 10 for highest-paid teachers. This is a great investment that will benefit our state’s educators and students.
Additionally, a law passed earlier this year will require public school districts and universities to adopt policies regulating artificial intelligence (AI) in education. We cannot let our students become test subjects for the latest advances in AI, and this bill will offer protections ensuring the technology doesn’t inhibit learning or compromise integrity.
Our community desires protected fundamental freedoms, strong farmers and the best education possible. My role as a legislator is to represent these interests, and I always take the opinions of District 75 with me when I go to Nashville.
Jeff Burkhart represents House District 75, which includes part of Montgomery County. He serves on the Commerce, Local Government and Transportation committees. He also serves on the Business and Utilities Subcommittee and the Elections and Campaign Finance Subcommittee. He can be reached at rep.jeff.burkhart@capitol.tn.gov or 615-741-6804.