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Decision on Planned Parenthood in Memphis delayed for a week
State Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris, R-Collierville, told The Commercial Appeal last week that he is working to find alternatives to Planned Parenthood, possibly other non-profit community health centers or additional money for the county health department to expand. more...

Summer course clearance now official for Hope scholarships
Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris (R-Collierville), Sen. Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville), House Majority Leader Gerald McCormick (R-Chattanooga) and Rep. Jim Coley (R-Bartlett), sponsored the legislation that passed the Senate in a vote of 27 to 1 and the House 96 to 0. more...

Haslam Signs "Old Forest" Bill
On the Senate side, this bill was sponsored by Senator Beverly Marrero and co-sponsored by Senators Mark Norris, Ophelia Ford, Brian Kelsey, Jim Kyle, Reginald Tate, and Tim Barnes. more...

Governor Haslam Signs Law Allowing Students To Use Hope Scholarship For Summer Courses
Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris (R-Collierville), Sen. Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville), House Majority Leader Gerald McCormick (R-Chattanooga) and Rep. Jim Coley (R-Bartlett), sponsored the legislation that passed the Senate in a vote of 27 to 1 and the House 96 to 0. more...

Memphis-area public schools wary of charters' recruiting
Norris says charters offer teachers and administrators flexibility to turn around persistently low-performing schools. more...

Library receives technology grant
"I would like to thank both of our mayors here," said State Sen. Mark Norris. "This community has really been through it, and on a year to the date from the last flood. It's refreshing to stand here and represent the future." more...

Budget headlines close of 2011 Legislative Session
"I am proud to have carried this budget for the Governor,” said Leader Norris.  “It was a complex process, but we never allowed complexity to outweigh common sense. The budget is balanced. Overall spending is reduced. Some taxes have been lowered.” more...

Lawmakers pass $30.8 billion budget that includes funds for Electrolux, U of M takeover of Lambuth
Senate Republican Majority Leader Mark Norris, R-Collierville, sponsored the budget and bond bills in the Senate. more...

Legislature adjourns after passing $30.8B budget
"This has been a real labor of love to get the budget where we are today," Norris, a Republican, said. "We have collaborated a great deal on getting where we are." more...

Charter School Bill Passes Removing Cap, Expanding Enrollment
Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris (R-Collierville), Speaker Pro Tempore Jamie Woodson (R-Knoxville), House Majority Leader Gerald McCormick (R-Chattanooga) and Rep. Mark White (R-Memphis) sponsored the charter school legislation that passed the Senate 22-9 and the House 72-18 with bipartisan support. more...

Tennesseans for Economic Growth Praise Governor Bill Haslam and Tennessee Lawmakers for Passing Comprehensive Civil Justice Reform Law
“He and the chief sponsors of the bill, Senator Mark Norris and Representative Gerald McCormick, have done a great service to the people of Tennessee and for our state’s future in guiding this bill through the legislative process.” more...

Haslam Lauds Summer Scholarships For Students
Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris (R-Collierville), Senator Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville), House Majority Leader Gerald McCormick (R-Chattanooga) and Rep. Jim Coley (R-Bartlett) sponsored the legislation that passed the Senate in a vote of 27 to 1 and the House 96 to 0. more...

Haslam Close to Signing State Civil Justice Act
“This is a very important piece of legislation,” Norris said on the Senate floor at the outset of the final debate in the 33-member chamber with 14 attorneys serving. more...

Extra jobless benefits up to Senate
Norris said Monday that was in part because a spokesman for the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, which oversees the benefits program, told the committee that Gov. Bill Haslam opposes the extension. more...

Nashville: Democrats push for jobless benefits
Harwell and Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris, R-Collierville, meanwhile, sought to blame former Gov. Phil Bredesen. more...

Senate approves $97 million in state money to Electrolux for Memphis plant
Senate Republican Majority Leader Mark Norris of Collierville, who sponsored the bills, said the passage of the Electrolux funding marked a milestone for economic development in Memphis and Shelby County. more...

Legislation Paves Way for Third Political Parties
“What we’re doing to lessen the burden, under the bill as currently proposed, is to streamline some of the filing requirements as it relates to time, and no longer require people to declare their party when they file.” more...

Bill making it easier for more political parties to be placed on ballot headed to governor
"This legislation gives minor party candidates more opportunities than any time in recent state history to be placed on the ballot and properly recognized," Norris said. "It eases requirements for those signing the petition and simplifies the timeline required." more...

Governor, state officials tour flooded region
Joining Haslam on the tour were Rep. Bill Sanderson, Dyer County Sheriff Jeff Box, Sen. Mark Norris, Sen. Roy Herron, Dyer County Emergency Management Director James Medling and others. more...

Electrolux Financing Clears Senate Finance Committee
The committee vote was a unanimous 11-0. Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. credited the Shelby County legislative delegation and, in particular, Memphis Democrat Jim Kyle and Collierville Republican Mark Norris who are the Senate’s Democratic and Republican leaders, respectively. more...

Editorial: Tougher penalties worth the cost of proposed bills
Another bill, sponsored by state Sen. Mark Norris, R-Collierville, and state Rep. Barrett Rich, R-Somerville, would enhance the penalties for drive-by shootings into houses when a deadly weapon is involved. more...

Norris Appointed to Economic Development Consortium on Nuclear Energy
"Reducing risk reduces costs which strengthens opportunity for future economic development," according to Norris who also serves on the Southern States Energy Board and Tennessee Technology Development Corporation. more...

Tenn. presidential primary date moving to March
The chamber voted 31-0 on Monday to approve the bill sponsored by Republican Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris of Collierville. more...

Tenn. proposal would allow multi-party nominations
The legislation is similar to an original bill proposed by Republican Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris of Collierville, which would take a petition of about 40,000 signatures to have minor party candidates' affiliation listed on the ballot. more...

Haslam Marks 100 Days as TN Governor
"I've found him to be sufficiently adaptable," said Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris of Collierville. "He's learned to be quick on his feet. And we have processed a lot of legislation in a little bit of time here." more...

Tennessee legislation gives Shelby County advantage over Memphis for disputed MLGW payments
Norris says he introduced the bill this week on a request from the county administration and that county Mayor Mark Luttrell spoke to the Shelby County legislative delegation about it during a visit to Nashville Wednesday. more...

Senators Challenge, Defend Tort Reform Job Claims
Norris: “There is not that concise of a correlation. The issue here is really to sort of level the playing field in this arena. It’s not who competes for the tightest cap or the lowest cap.” more...

Veteran artist, educator Dolph Smith honored by state for work that evokes 'fabric of life'
"He's had a subtle but significant impact on the culture of our community," Norris said. "He is quintessentially West Tennessee, strong yet understated like his work 'Confluence' at the Cannon Center." more...

TN GOP leaders says Dems reckless on hospital fee
The Collierville Republican said Democrats are "holding health care hostage" because they don't want to support the measure before evaluating the final version of the state's annual spending plan. more...

Tenn. Senate GOP leaders say Dems playing politics on hospital fee to draw down federal money
"I think you should pick a better fight — you've got lives at stake here," Norris said. "They don't seem to be too worried about that." more...

Tennessee's proposed hospital tax becoming an issue for legislators
Senate Republican Majority Leader Mark Norris of Collierville said Democratic Minority Leader Jim Kyle of Memphis told him Democrats are "not intending to support the hospital assessment, which they fully supported a year ago. more...

Medical Association to Honor Norris for Community Service
April 14, 2011 Tennessee Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris (R-Collierville) will be recognized this Saturday by the Tennessee Medical Association for his legislative efforts and advocacy on behalf of the health care community. more...

Overton Park bill providing protections for Old Forest area clears hurdle
Legislation designating 126 acres of Overton Park's old-growth forest as a state natural area won committee approvals Wednesday in the state House and Senate. more...

Norris Congratulates West Tennessee’s Champions of the Arts
Tennessee Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris (R-Collierville) will, tonight, join Governor Bill Haslam and First Lady Crissy Haslam at the Tennessee Residence to honor the recipients of the 2011 Governor’s Arts Awards.  more...

Tennessee Committee Passes Ballot Access Bill with No Changes, but Amendments Likely in Senate
Amendment #4, by the bill’s sponsor, Senator Mark Norris, the Majority Leader, requires exactly 10,000 signatures. more...

Tenn. proposal would allow multi-party nominations
Norris' changes would bring the measure closer in line with a proposal introduced by Democratic Senate Minority Leader Jim Kyle of Memphis to require 10,000 signatures from eligible voters. more...

Historic Collierville License Plate Close to Production
“This is a great way to support Collierville,” said Norris of the initiative.  “I look forward to seeing these specialty plates that support our Town’s growth and its history.” more... 

Tort Reform Amendment Surfaces
Norris calls the bill “very much a work in progress.” more...

Editorial: Give third parties a fighting chance on the ballot
However, he indicated that he could issue another ruling if the legislators fail to act, according to Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris of Collierville, who is sponsoring the current legislation, SB935. more...

GOP, Dems clash over 3rd parties on Tenn. ballot
Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris, R-Collierville, is a main sponsor of the ballot access measure that became necessary because of a federal judges’ ruling last year that the state’s current standards are too burdensome on smaller parties. more...

GOP Balks At Dem Proposal On 3rd Parties On Ballot
Norris said he doesn't have a problem with making it even easier for smaller parties to be listed on the ballot, but that it may come down to a "cost factor" of making a sweeping change. more...

GOP senators want to limit TN attorney general's powers
Others include a proposal from state Sen. Mae Beavers to elect the attorney general, as most other states do, and a resolution filed earlier this week by Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris to give the governor the power to appoint the position. more...

Teacher tenure bill OK'd
Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris, R-Collierville, proclaimed the bill "consumer friendly" and "part of a long period of transition arising out of deregulation" of the telecommunications industry. more...

Phone Parity Bill Passes Senate
Senate sponsor Mark Norris says the bill gives the companies five years to adjust, beginning by reducing the charge 20 percent this July. more...

Tennessee Governor Weighs In On Whether State Should Take Over Memphis City Schools
Norris said, "I think the Shelby County Charter addresses the number and if they want to change it, I recommend they take it to the people for a referendum vote." more...

School District Map on Tap for County Commission
State Senate GOP leader Mark Norris of Collierville, a former Shelby County Commission chairman, is among critics of the move who contend the commission is reading state law incorrectly. more...

Haslam, Norris Talk Schools amid Grant News
"I encourage them to come along with us, join arms and move forward," Norris said. "They're wasting their time." more...

Haslam says communication will be critical during school merger
"I think Section 6 of the charter of Shelby County prescribes the number of members on the Shelby County School Board, and they should adhere to their own charter," Tennessee Senator Mark Norris said. more...

Budget proposal preserves direct services
Balancing the state's budget — it's the one task the Tennessee Constitution mandates that we address each year. more...

Measure to ID 3rd parties advances
The judge did not order any specific remedy, but left the door open to doing so if his ruling is ignored, said Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris, R-Collierville, sponsor of the legislation. more...

Teacher tenure reform rolls through Senate
“This is the administration’s effort to make tenure meaningful for teachers, and we believe it provides more flexibility and greater accountability of our teachers in their performance,” said Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris, R-Collierville. more...

GOP wants 'labor' axed from Tenn. committee name
"We're just trying to shorten the names," said the Collierville Republican. "It's all still within their purview." more...

State GOP Looks to Drop 'Labor' From Committee Name
Republican Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris of Collierville said Thursday that it's in the interest of brevity that he has proposed excising the term from the Senate Commerce, Labor and Agriculture Committee. more...

State Senate backs Haslam, votes for stricter teacher tenure time
“This is the administration’s effort to make tenure meaningful for teachers. And we believe it provides more flexibility and better accountability of our teachers and their performance,” Senate Republican leader Mark Norris said. more...

Tennessee governor's tenure proposal passes Senate
Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris of Collierville, who's carrying the legislation for the governor, said federal regulations require specific initiatives to be in place by July and that teachers are not being targeted. more...

State Senate Approves Tenure Changes
Senator Norris, the elected leader of the Republicans in the Senate, says the new system which requires five years of experience before a teacher may gain tenure is actually an easier system to deal with than the make-or-break three-year cycle they now face. more...

TN bill would allow local governments to keep business dealings secret
The measure, introduced in the state Senate by Sen. Mark Norris, R-Memphis, and in the House by Rep. Larry Miller, D-Memphis, is backed by the Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce, which complained that the city lost a potential new manufacturing plant because no guarantee could be given that proprietary information about its operations would remain private. more...

Suburbs Vow to Fight Schools Merger
Tennessee Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris, a Republican who represents those suburbs, said a merger "could be a very good thing," but time would be needed to make sure it is handled properly and to heal wounds caused by "ugly, outmoded" racial remarks made recently. more...

Moving Forward on School Consolidation
The timeframe for the consolidation process was crafted by state legislation introduced by Senator Mark Norris of Collierville and signed into state law just a few weeks prior to Tuesday's referendum vote. more...

They said it: Officials react to Tuesday's referendum
"It is a watershed event. Those of us who care about education reform embrace this as a rare opportunity to focus attention and effort on what should matter most -- how to make the best education available to every child regardless of ZIP code." more...

Transition meetings, court battles loom over Memphis-Shelby school merger
The new state law, pushed by Sen. Mark Norris, R-Collierville, and others, delays any merger until the 2013-14 school year and calls for the appointment of a 21-member transition planning commission. more...

Hall income tax proposal worries Germantown
"You wouldn't want anybody unduly disadvantaged," Norris said. "The 'what ifs' and the 'how tos' are the next questions." Without the tax, he added, "I believe that more disposable income generates more revenue in the state in the long term." more...

Legislation could alter consumer protections
He told NashvillePost.com that he is still reviewing the bill as it is part of Haslam's legislative packet and that he and legislative committees would work to ensure that Tennessee consumers have appropriate recourse available against fraudulent securities brokers. more...

Teacher tenure bill advances in Tennessee Senate
Senate Majority Mark Norris, R-Collierville, said the bill, which among other things expands the probationary period before tenure is granted from three to five years, will “help us all along on this next stop on the continuum of reform.” more...

Republicans tell Nashville business audience job creation not government's role
Harwell, Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey and Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris disputed those notions and said cutting red tape and reforming the civil court system do more than government initiatives could. more...

Restrictions proposed for Tennessee Consumer Protection Act
Senate Bill 1522 is sponsored by Majority Leader Mark Norris, R-Collierville, but has not been set for a hearing. more...

Telephone co-ops may soon face fiscal blow
This bill is sponsored by State Senator Mark Norris (Republican), of Collierville, and State Representative Gerald McCormick (Republican), of Chattanooga. more...

Alignment … and Chaos
The occasion was the announcement of a new Mitsubishi plant-to-be in a ceremony that brought together such figures as the Grizzlies' Rudy Gay, Governor Bill Haslam, venerable former U.S. senator Howard Baker, Mayors A C Wharton and Mark Luttrell, and state Senate majority leader Mark Norris, principal author of the currently controversial Norris-Todd bill on school-system consolidation. more...

School Charter Showdown: OYSI Obtain Internal Email
Senator Mark Norris says Wharton asked for a law outlining a plan for a potential school merger, and that's what Nashville delivered. more...

A Communications Gap and a Probing for Answers
In the few days between an emergency City Hall summit of local officials two weeks ago and the unveiling of Norris-Todd and its passage last week by party-line votes in the Senate and House, there had been an understanding locally that Wharton would be interceding with Haslam in order to soften the requirements or the bill’s provisions. more...

Governor Haslam Defends Signing Norris Consolidation Bill to Law
Before Shelby County Commissioners met Monday afternoon, they had an opportunity to express their displeasure with Nashville directly to Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam. Haslam tried to defend his decision to sign into law a controversial merger transition plan developed by Collierville State Senator Mark Norris. more...

Cease Fire In School Transfer Fight?
Mayor A C Wharton, State Senator Mark Norris, Governor Bill Haslam, various members of the Memphis City Council and Shelby County Commission were all in one room. more...

Editorial: Closing in on a merger
Whatever course is taken, there should be nothing to fear from a consolidation process that is fair to both sides. more...

Haslam Signs SB25, the Norris-Todd Bill
"We appreciate the Governor's expeditious review and support of this important legislation. His decisive action should help resolve some of the confusion and restore the focus on education," said Norris. more...

SCS Files Suit After Governor Signs Bill
Senator Mark Norris said he appreciated the signing of his bill into law, "We appreciate the Governor's expeditious review and support of this important legislation. His decisive action should help resolve some of the confusion and restore the focus on education." more...

Exclusive: Senator Norris on School Merger Bill
Collierville Republican state senator Mark Norris who introduced the bill to delay the school merger by three years joined FOX13 in an exclusive interview. more...

Memphis City Council Accepts Charter Surrender
Norris says he is looking over what has taken place at Memphis City Hall. He says it would be premature to comment on the council's vote at this time. more...

Senate Bill 25/ House Bill 51 Signed Into Law
Tennessee Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris (R-Collierville) and House State and Local Government Chairman Curry Todd (R-Collierville) announced that Governor Bill Haslam signed Senate Bill 25 / House Bill 51 into law this morning. more...

House Passes Norris-Todd Bill on School Consolidation; Stage is Set for Action by Haslam, Council, Commission
Meanwhile, the Norris-Todd bill will go to Governor Haslam for action. He may sign it into law; let it pass without his signature (which would happen automatically after 10 days); or veto it, in which case a simple majority vote in both House and Senate would be enough to override. more...

Unity, Plan Needed for Schools
The magnitude of this undertaking and the potential consequences to thousands of Tennesseans, make SB25 compelling: Providing a roadmap for transition, which assures a quality education and a stable tax base. more...

Alternate Realities
In essence, Norris' bill attaches a number of subsequent stages to the court-ordered city referendum he and other merger opponents had earlier been unable to impede. more...

Wharton Riled Up on Passage of Norris Bill
"We cannot have a shotgun marriage of these school systems. He said such a marriage won't work," Norris quoted. more...

TN Senate Passes Norris School Merger Bill
The Tennessee State Senate has approved a bill by Sen. Mark Norris. more...

Norris bill passes Tennessee Senate
"I was able to accomplish the beginning of a process where the sides are going to have to work together," Norris said. more...

MCS/SCS Merger Updated Timeline
The Tennessee General Assembly reconvened on Monday to debate the Mark Norris Bill that would delay the merger for 3 years. more...

Legislature to vote on bill on Memphis school merger 
Proposal would put move on hold following angry reactions more...

City, State Leaders Hammer Out Schools Consolidation Bill
The Tennessee Legislature begins its working session Monday evening with schools consolidation legislation the first bill on the floor for the state House and the state Senate. more...

D-Day Monday For School Merger Plan
Sponsored by Sen. Mark Norris (R-Collierville) the plan would set up a transition team of twenty one people who would have three years to work out merging both systems into one. more...

Factions move and counter in high-stakes battle over future of schools
The Norris-proposed legislation – as now written – would require a three-year planning period before any merger of Memphis City Schools and Shelby County Schools. more...

Memphis City Council Poised to Force School Merger
Norris' bill is expected to pass Monday, but Mayor A C Wharton said the governor has vowed not to sign it into law until the city council has a chance to take action if necessary. more...

State Legislators Look for Education on Schools Standoff
The bill by state Senate Republican leader Mark Norris keeps in place the March 8 citywide referendum on a surrender of the Memphis City Schools charter that would effectively consolidate the system with Shelby County Schools. more...

Shelby County Mayor Luttrell Supports Norris Bill
"I commend Senator Norris for his leadership on this issue. I would hope the committee's work would be completed sooner than three years. However, as indicated in early January, I think it is absolutely critical that a clear and legal transition process take place," Luttrell stated. more...

Amended Norris Bill Passes Senate Committee, Would Stand Referendum on Its Head
Norris himself defined his measure as one that provided “enhanced self-determination” for Memphis, as “an orderly transition process,” and as an effort “to facilitate the referendum and the process to make it not only meaningful but successful.” more...

School Charter Showdown: City Council could vote to accept charter surrender before bill is approved in Nashville
Republican State Senator Mark Norris presented a bill Wednesday during a committee meeting in Nashville. more...

Senate Committee Passes Bill Regarding School Charter
A Tennessee State Education Committee has passed a bill from Tennessee State Senator Mark Norris that would implement a three year waiting period if Memphis voters decide to surrender the Memphis City Schools charter. more...

Amended Norris Bill Clears Senate Education Committee
The proposal by Senate Republican leader Mark Norris of Nashville was amended with changes that were still being written up to the start of the committee session. more...

Words Chosen Carefully in Schools Standoff
In a written statement, state Sen. Mark Norris of Collierville said Haslam and Smith share his concerns about a transition to a consolidated school district. more...

County Republicans to Push School Merger Bill in Nashville
I am pleased that the Commissioner of Education shares my concerns, and those of many Shelby County and Memphis City residents, regarding the attempt to transfer the administration of the Memphis City Schools to the Shelby County Board of Education without proper planning. more...

Charter Surrender Showdown: Norris Bill Moving Ahead
State Senator Mark Norris is crafting a bill he says would provide a roadmap if Memphis votes to transfer the administration of the Memphis City Schools to the Shelby County Board of Education. more...

Mixed Reactions to Governor Haslam's School Merger Directive
That's where Collierville Senator, Mark Norris, backed by the power of ally Lieutenant Governor Ron Ramsey, plans on seeking a legislative block to the referendum vote. more...

Timeline of Events Leading to Merger Vote
Wednesday, February 2nd – The education and finance committees in the State Senate will meet and Republicans will try to push Senator Mark Norris’ bill through. more...

Shelby Democratic Legislators Without Details on Schools Legislation
“No plan worth executing that will achieve positive results for educating all of our children can possibly be written or formulated by Feb. 15 or March 1,” Norris wrote. more...

Council Weighs Legislative Wish List
It’s not on the agenda, but council members could react Tuesday to the prospect of an amendment to Norris’ bill in Nashville on the standoff between Memphis City and Shelby County schools. more...

Elected Leaders Meet Tuesday on Schools Legislation
The legislation proposed by Senate Republican leader Mark Norris of Collierville, as it is currently, would delay any consolidation by the two school systems for at least a year. more...

Mayor Wharton Vows to Defend Referendum Vote
If approved, the legislation Mark Norris filed, which is backed by Ron Ramsey, could be ready for floor votes in both legislative chambers next week. more...

Wharton, Haslam React to Referendum Delay Talk
A bill by State Senate Republican leader Mark Norris of Collierville to include county voters outside Memphis in the referendum and lengthen the transition process by as much as a year is due in two Senate committees next week in Nashville. more...

TN Lt. Governor: State May Need To Take Over MCS
Norris is in the midst of proposing his own legislation that would open up the referendum for county citizens outside the city limits to vote on March 8 as well. more...

Memphis to Vote on Transferring School System to County
“In no other case did we have this inversion where the surrendering system dwarfed the receiving system,” said Mark Norris, the Republican Senate majority leader, whose district includes parts of suburban Shelby County. more...

Still the Big Story
Even state senator Mark Norris, the GOP majority leader of the state Senate and the author of legislation designed to avert the consequences of an MCS charter surrender, has expressed himself as being open-minded to some such formula. more...

The Senate Bill 25 that I’ve introduced [providing for dual city and county votes] needs to proceed forward. That’s the current law. It is the law. more...

Norris Lays It Out
The bottom line with state senator Mark Norris of Collierville on the standoff between Memphis City Schools and Shelby County Schools: Yes, his legislation to mandate separate city and county votes on merger of the two systems (via transfer of MCS authority to SCS) is going forward in the General Assembly. more...

Tennessee Legislators React to School Board Vote
Norris notes that Tennessee code provides that any vote on consolidation should be county-wide. However, others argue that law, and it could open up another legal battle. more...

Shelby County Election Commission sets school referendum for March 8
The Shelby County Election Commission voted Wednesday afternoon to put a March 8 referendum before Memphis voters on whether to dissolve Memphis City Schools. more...

Council Approves MCS Charter Surrender
The Republican senator is trying to change the law to make sure county residents can vote on Memphis City Schools decision to surrender its charter. more...

Norris and Haslam on MLK Day
The definition of Norris’s role in the current schools standoff depends on who you talk to. Norris, himself, describes himself as a mediator between the two school systems — not by choice — but because mayors Wharton and Luttrell — asked him. more...

Norris Bill Moves As Compromise Questioned
School consolidation legislation proposed by State Senate Republican leader Mark Norris of Collierville is moving in the Tennessee legislature in advance of Saturday’s inauguration of Bill Haslam as Tennessee governor. more...

Gov. Haslam Sworn Into Office
Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris, R - Collierville, said, "There is some special significance for we Republicans this time, but it's really about a new beginning. It's an inauguration of a new administration for all the people of Tennessee, regardless of their political party." more...

Roadmap to MCS School Success: Clear Vision, Exceptional Strategy, Collective Effort
Senator Norris believes this discussion warrants a clear vision, exceptional strategies and a collective effort by all. more...

Shelby County Referendum Vote Bill Advances
State Senator Mark Norris of Collierville introduced legislation this week that would allow people outside the city limits vote on the looming referendum. more...

Memphis City Schools may halt charter surrender; referendum on system transfer advances
Norris said in a statement later Thursday that after learning of the possible agreement between MCS and SCS, "further legislative action this week seems unwarranted, therefore, in light of this positive development." more...

Haslam Readies for Office
Haslam had already been in touch with state Senate Republican Leader Mark Norris about the legislation Norris proposed hours earlier to slow down the consolidation move and require a countywide vote in any referendum. more...

A See-Saw Struggle
The struggle between Memphis City Schools and Shelby County Schools, two separately operating systems which at the moment somewhat uncomfortably share the same district, continues to look like a see-saw act performed on a high wire. more...

TN Senate majority leader's next step in school battle hinges on compromise
I commend the representatives of both school systems for their efforts and hope they result in an orderly process. The right of our citizens to vote based on accurate information is critical to our future success. more...

Mayors Won't Confirm Likelihood of School Deal
Norris’ bill would make dual passage necessary before the charter surrender could occur. more...

Haslam says lessons from Knoxville consolidation not applicable to Memphis
Senator Mark Norris will introduce a bill this week that could stop the forced consolidation. His bill would require Shelby County residents to be included in the vote. more...

Wilson, Lillard re-elected; Legislature may intervene in Shelby County crisis
Readers in West Tennessee may be aware that a crisis has developed in Shelby County over the issue of consolidation of the Memphis City Schools and the Shelby County schools more...

Commission Clashes On Consolidated School Board Planning
Meanwhile, state Sen. Mark Norris of Collierville, the Senate GOP leader, formally introduced Senate bill 25 Tuesday. more...

Memphis City Schools charter bill on fast track in Tenn. legislature
Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris and new House Speaker Beth Harwell said Tuesday that final approval of a bill Norris has drafted intervening in the Memphis City Schools showdown could occur as quickly as Saturday. more...

Norris prepares legislation to join charter surrender fight
Norris has written a draft of legislation that could stop Memphis schools from surrendering its charter if Shelby County residents are not included in the vote. The bill will be filed sometime this week. more...

Heads Continue to Clash Over MCS Charter
Norris calls MCS’ December vote to dissolve and merge with the County School district a “hostile takeover.” more...

Mayor Wharton Anxious for School Merger Action
Wharton said he did talk by phone with State Senator Mark Norris Tuesday morning, who said he will delay any legislation in Nashville he would bring up on the consolidation issue until Wednesday. more...

Lawsuits Not Filed in School Case. Not Yet.
In Nashville, the General Assembly got together for their first day back at work. State Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris (R-Colllierville) says he's already got a bill planned. more...

Memphis council members blast bill calling for county vote in city schools' charter surrender
The legislature took no action today on the Memphis schools showdown but both Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris, R-Collierville, and the new House Speaker Beth Harwell, R-Nashville, said final approval of the bill Norris drafted could occur as quickly as Saturday -- an extraordinarily swift action. more...

State Senator Mark Norris plans bill to stop MCS vote without suburban input
"Unification without unity is not unity at all," Norris said. "We have people trying to have a hostile takeover. We need a measured and considered approach." more...

 

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