Tennessee Unemployment Claims filed for the week ending in April 4, 2020

TIPTONVILLE – Five inmates at the Northwest Correctional Complex may have potentially been exposed to a non-state employee who tested positive for COVID-19.

Today, Governor Bill Lee provided an update on Tennessee’s efforts regarding COVID-19 relief. Gov. Lee’s daily press conferences can be viewed live this week Monday through Thursday at 3 p.m. CDT here. Gov. Lee has also established a website specific to COVID-19 updates which can be found here.

The TN Council on Developmental Disabilities is pleased to announce a fiscal year 2020 COVID-19 Special Funding initiative through June 30, 2020. Individuals with disabilities, families of people with disabilities, and disability non-profit organizations are encouraged to apply for one-time grants to use technology in innovative ways to support people with disabilities to continue their leadership development and help with connecting people with disabilities during the social distancing for COVID-19.

The Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI) recognizes the impacts the pandemic event is having throughout Tennessee including straining the operational resources of the banks and credit unions we supervise. It is critically important that depository institutions can continue to focus their efforts on operations, their employees, their customers and their local economies during this pandemic crisis. In order to support those efforts, we are postponing examination activities through April 30, 2020 to avoid further strain on resources or distraction of institution personnel. For those banks or credit unions already contacted about an upcoming examination, we are suspending any examination-related requests unless you notify us that you do not desire a delay in the examination. If a bank or credit union requests that an examination continues during this time, we will certainly accommodate that request and complete the examination entirely offsite.

Today, Governor Bill Lee provided an update on Tennessee’s efforts regarding COVID-19 relief. Gov. Lee’s daily press conferences can be viewed live this week Monday through Thursday at 3 p.m. CDT here. Gov. Lee has also established a website specific to COVID-19 updates which can be found here.

NASHVILLE--Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions Commissioner Greg Gonzales announced today that the maximum effective formula rate of interest in Tennessee is 7.25 percent per annum. The rate is based on a ceiling of 4 percent over the weekly average prime loan rate of 3.25 percent as published by the Federal Reserve on April 6, 2020.

The Federal National Mortgage Association has discontinued its free market auction system for commitments to purchase conventional home mortgages. Therefore, the Commissioner of Financial Institutions hereby announces that the maximum effective rate of interest per annum for home loans as set by the General Assembly in 1987, Public Chapter 291, for the month of May, 2020 is 5.28 percent per annum.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Today, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced $200 million in grants to be distributed to every county and city government across Tennessee for one-time, local expenses in fiscal year 2021.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Today, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced the State of Tennessee will allocate $10 million in Small and Rural Hospital Readiness Grants to support hospitals that are facing financial strain due to the ongoing response to COVID-19.

NASHVILLE - The Tennessee Department of Revenue has extended the due date for filing and paying the professional privilege tax from June 1, 2020 to July 1, 2020. Governor Bill Lee included the tax extension in Executive Order No. 24.

The Department of Commerce and Insurance and the Department of Financial Institutions (collectively, “Departments”) continue to recognize the impact and the consequences of the efforts of individuals and the business community to limit the spread of COVID-19. The Departments further recognize that premium finance companies licensed under the Premium Finance Company Act, Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 56-37-101, et seq. provide an important lending function to individuals and businesses with respect to financing the payment of insurance premiums pursuant to premium finance agreements. Further, the Departments understand that disruptions to normal operations resulting from COVID-19 may result in insureds being unable to meet payment obligations under these agreements.

The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) launched a special hotline this month to help make it easier for families with children to check on their application for emergency cash assistance. Applicants can call 833-496-0661 to learn the status of their application, including approval or denial and how much money the approved family can expect to receive.

NASHVILLE – While being treated at a local hospital for an unrelated medical issue, an inmate assigned to the Turney Center Industrial Complex in Only, Tennessee tested positive for COVID-19.