Tennessee Legislative Leaders Academy

Please note: this program is available only to Tennessee’s state representatives and senators.

The Tennessee Legislative Leaders Academy (TLLA) is a three-day training for newly elected state legislators. TLLA helps Tennessee’s representatives and senators in the General Assembly acclimate to their new positions and network with other members in a non-partisan atmosphere.

Workshops feature nationally renowned speakers who focus on a wide variety of topics, including:

• The transition from campaigning to governing
• A national perspective on the states and state budgeting
• Tennessee's revenue structure and budget
• Economic development trends
• Financing of education and health care.

To cap this experience, former governors and state legislators share their diverse and personal experiences in a roundtable discussion.

How to Participate

The next TLLA will be held in January 2025. This program is only open to Tennessee’s newly elected state legislators. The Naifeh Center and our partner the UT Baker School of Public Policy and Public Affairs will extend an invitation to elected officials. While all newly elected legislators are invited, participation is voluntary.

A Legacy of Civility

James O. Naifeh, commonly known as Jimmy Naifeh, served from 1991-2009 as Tennessee Speaker of the House. He announced his retirement in 2008 and remains the longest-serving House Speaker in the Tennessee Legislature. 

Speaker Naifeh believed in civility and the importance of having positive working relationships during sessions of the General Assembly. We hope to expand that legacy through TLLA.

Since its inception, over 100 members of the Tennessee House and Senate have participated in the training and are active alumni of this long-standing Naifeh Center program. Learn more about Speaker Naifeh and his legacy.