Legislative Update - Week of February 3, 2020

Legislative Update - Week of February 3, 2020

House Democrats Call for More Education Funding and Governor Lee Tips Hand on Education Priorities

Last week, the House and Senate Democratic Caucuses held a joint press conference to call on the Lee administration to increase funding for public schools by $1.5 billion. The legislators also called for a complete overhaul of Tennessee’s funding formula for schools while also taking the opportunity to criticize the administration and state Republicans for their prioritization of voucher programs and private virtual schools.  When asked to respond, Governor Lee referenced his budgetary priorities for public education which he will highlight during tonight’s State of the State Address. For more information, click here. To watch the State of the State Address at 6:00 p.m. tonight, click here.  

Governor Lee’s Second Budget Proposal Rolled Out This Week

While Governor Lee will hit the highlights of his second budget proposal during tonight’s State of the State Address, Commissioner Stuart McWhorter with the Department of Finance & Administration will give a full, detailed presentation to the Senate Finance, Ways & Means Committee tomorrow morning and to the House Finance, Ways & Means Committee tomorrow afternoon. The Senate presentation is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. and live and archived video may be found here, and the House presentation is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. and live and archived video may be found here. 

Bills to Watch This Week

SJR 0648 by *Kelsey, McNally, Johnson, Yager, Bailey, Watson, Bell, White, Powers, Rose, Roberts, Jackson, Stevens, Swann, Crowe, Haile, Bowling.

Proposes adding a provision to the Tennessee Constitution establishing right to work regardless of status of affiliation with any labor union or employee organization.

Last week, this resolution passed the Senate Judiciary Committee with a vote of 8-1, and it is now scheduled for a debate on the Senate Floor this evening at 5:00 p.m.

*HJR0658 by Clemmons.

Creates special joint committee to study Tennessee's long-term transportation infrastructure needs and funding.

This resolution is scheduled for a hearing in the House Infrastructure Subcommittee this Wednesday, February 5, at 2:00 p.m. 

*Once the filing deadlines have passed later this week, we will provide a list of all of the bills being tracked by the business community and an update on such bills.