TN SR0245Tennessee Senate Resolution 245 (SR0245) honors and commends Kortland Whalum of Memphis for his contributions to American theater and soul music. A dynamic vocalist, actor, and educator, Whalum has become a prominent figure in Memphis's theatrical community and has emerged as a soul artist in his own right. Born into the renowned Whalum family, he is the son of Rev. Kenneth Whalum Jr. and the nephew of Grammy-winning saxophonist Kirk Whalum. His artistic journey reflects deep Memphis roots, a family legacy, and a lifelong commitment to storytelling through song. ([capitol.tn.gov](https://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/114/Bill/SR0245.pdf?utm_source=openai))
TN SR0245 is a senate bill in the Tennessee 114th General Assembly, sponsored by Raumesh Akbari (D), currently “Passed” since April 25, 2025.
We track 9,160 Tennessee bills this session, 237 of them sponsored by Raumesh Akbari.
The resolution has been positively received, with unanimous support in the Senate. On March 13, 2025, the Senate adopted the resolution with a 32-0 vote, reflecting bipartisan appreciation for Whalum's contributions. ([wapp.capitol.tn.gov](https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default?BillNumber=SR0036&GA=114&utm_source=openai)) While specific media coverage is not detailed, the unanimous vote suggests broad support and recognition of Whalum's impact on the arts community.
No negative media coverage or opposition to the resolution has been reported. The unanimous Senate vote indicates a lack of significant dissent or controversy surrounding the recognition of Kortland Whalum.
The bill SR0245 is a resolution to honor and commend Kortland Whalum of Memphis, which does not involve any regulatory or financial implications that would directly impact the sponsor, Raumesh Akbari. The sponsor's personal financial interests, including her occupation as an attorney and her involvement with various organizations, do not intersect with the arts, culture, or religion sectors in a way that would create a conflict of interest. The resolution is purely ceremonial and does not provide any financial benefits or regulatory advantages to the sponsor or her businesses.
Given that there are no direct overlaps between Akbari's personal financial interests and the subject matter of the bill, the risk of a conflict of interest is minimal. The resolution does not affect any industries where the sponsor has a vested interest, thus ensuring that her personal financial gain is not a factor in the sponsorship of this bill.
Unlike federal analysis based on campaign donations, state analysis examines legislators' personal financial interests — their jobs, businesses, and investments.
| Type | Description | Industry | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Occupation | Attorney | Lawyers/Law Firms | AI-researched |
| Employer | Self-employed at Akbari Law | — | TN Legislature bio |
| Board Member | Board member of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators | — | AI-researched |
| Employer | AKBARI CORPORATION | — | TN Ethics Commission |
| Employer | DELIVER THE AMERICAN DREAM | — | TN Ethics Commission |
| Occupation | Law, HAIR, COSMETOLOGY, BEAUTY, PUBLIC POLICY | — | TN Ethics Commission |
| Asset | Leadership PAC: AKBARI PAC | — | TN Ethics Commission |
Items marked "AI-researched" are generated from public sources but have not been independently verified. Verified data is sourced from official legislature websites and disclosure filings.
About This Analysis
This summary was generated using AI from the bill's official text and metadata. Data sourced from LegiScan and the Tennessee General Assembly. Conflict analysis examines the sponsor's personal financial interests for potential overlaps with the bill's subject matter.
What does TN SR0245 do?
Tennessee Senate Resolution 245 (SR0245) honors and commends Kortland Whalum of Memphis for his contributions to American theater and soul music. A dynamic vocalist, actor, and educator, Whalum has become a prominent figure in Memphis's theatrical community and has emerged as a soul artist in his own right. Born into the renowned Whalum family, he is the son of Rev. Kenneth Whalum Jr. and the…
What is the status of TN SR0245?
TN SR0245 is currently “Passed” in the Tennessee legislature.
Who sponsored TN SR0245?
Raumesh Akbari (D) sponsored TN SR0245.
