“A Time For Us To Innovate,” Governor Bill Lee Delivers 2025 State Of The State Address

Image Credit: TN General Assembly

The Tennessee Conservative [By Adelia Kirchner] –

On Monday evening, Tennessee’s General Assembly held a Joint Convention and Governor Bill Lee (R-TN) delivered his seventh State of the State address to lawmakers and members of the public.

The theme of Gov. Lee’s 2025 State of the State address was innovation.

Prior to the governor’s official speech, the Lee Administration released a preview titled “Tennessee Innovates.”

From the well of the House floor, Gov. Lee discussed the disaster caused by Hurricane Helene in East Tennessee last fall, as well as other issues considered by the General Assembly during the recent special legislative session.

“East Tennesseans continue to face an unprecedented disaster, damages to the tune of $1.2 billion,” Gov. Lee said, noting that the initial response by the state agencies was “immediate and substantial” but that the impacted areas still have “a long road ahead.”

“Hurricane Helene was a disaster that requires innovative solutions to ensure full recovery and that’s exactly what was accomplished in the special session just a week ago,” stated Gov. Lee. “This General Assembly, representing the entire state, stepped up to support East Tennesseans in their greatest time of need and I thank you for that.”

The governor also broached the subject of illegal immigration saying that the American people have been “loud and clear” about wanting secure borders and the removal of dangerous illegal immigrants.

“Last week, this General Assembly demonstrated a continued commitment to combating the problems of illegal immigration,” he said, “and we will once again make significant investments in local crime prevention grants in the upcoming budget, to keep Tennesseans safe.”

“We innovated our approach to education with new creative investments in public school facilities,” the governor continued, “and we have finally brought universal school choice to Tennessee families.”

Gov. Lee shared that these were all “pressing issues” that “couldn’t wait.”

“Just as Einstein challenged the accepted theories of his time, we too must be willing to rethink, and reimagine, and embrace bold ideas,” he said. “God has favored our state for sure, and one of the things that has helped Tennessee lead the nation is our willingness to take on complex problems and to try things that have never been done before.”

“Just like a business innovates to better serve their customers, or science innovates to save lives, or an athlete innovates to change the game,” Gov. Lee said in his closing remarks, “this is a time for us to innovate to create a brighter future for Tennesseans.”

Gov. Lee’s agenda for fiscal year 2025-2026 covers many things from rural development grants to paid parental leave for public school employees. 

See some of the “highlights” of this agenda as outlined by the governor’s office below: 

Economic Opportunity + Tax Relief

• $35.6 million investment in Tennessee’s Rainy Day Fund, bringing Tennessee reserves to nearly $2.2 billion, the largest in state history
• $7 million to expand the Tennessee Youth Employment Program to operate year-round, double its participation, and reach even more underserved communities
• $45.8 million for Rural Development Grant Fund to enhance Tennessee’s rural and distressed communities through site development, community asset improvements, strategic planning and downtown revitalization
• $25 million for FastTrack grants to recruit new business to Tennessee and support workforce development
• $6.3 million to create a statewide Micro-Credentialing Program to develop short-term, targeted certifications that equip Tennesseans with high-demand skills identified by industry and state partners

• $25 million to expand the RevV Program to connect private companies with Tennessee’s research institutions to drive research and development and job creation
• $5 million to create TN Accelerates, a partnership between Tennessee Economic and Community Development and the Department of Labor and Workforce to create customized workforce training programs tailored to the specific needs of incoming and existing businesses
• $5 million for the Tennessee Entertainment Commission to fund incentive grants to strengthen Tennessee’s music and film industry
• $10 million for the Rural Grant Opportunity Fund to match funding for at-risk and distressed counties seeking state and federal grants
• $10 million for the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Matching Funds to match federal funds assisting Tennessee startups in securing competitive research and development grants

Housing + Infrastructure

• $1 billion to the Tennessee Department of Transportation to address the state’s infrastructure needs, including expediting existing road projects and funding new projects across rural and urban Tennessee
• $60 million to create the Starter Home Revolving Loan Fund to support construction of new, affordable starter homes for hardworking Tennesseans, prioritizing rural communities
• $30 million to fund the Rural and Workforce Housing Tax Credit, making it easier to build homes and businesses

Disaster Relief

During the special legislative session in January 2025, Gov. Lee and the General Assembly appropriated more than $450 million in direct disaster relief as part of a comprehensive plan to support ongoing recovery efforts and allow for proactive preparation for future emergencies. Gov. Lee’s proposed FY25-26 budget includes the following additional investments:

• $4 million to implement and maintain a Mesonet system, which will monitor weather-related and flooding threats in the state
• $3 million to upgrade TEMA’s regional response vehicles

Education

Public Education Investments

• $198.4 million for teacher bonuses in recognition of their hard work and dedication and for leading the nation in student achievement and growth
• $244 million to strengthen education through the Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) formula growth, including teacher pay raises
• $62.7 million for K-12 infrastructure and facilities funding
• $27.3 million for summer learning programs to support students between school years
• $25 million further investment in the Fast Growth Fund, to support fast-growing districts
• $17 million for Grade A School Grants
• $10 million to provide paid parental leave for Local Educational Agency employees

Expanding Choices for Tennessee Parents

• $145.9 million for Education Freedom Scholarships, to empower parents with the freedom to pick the right school for their child and have a say in where their tax dollars are spent – regardless of income or zip code

Higher Education

• $12 million to create the TennesseeWORKS Scholarship, a new award that will cover every penny of Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology (TCAT) tuition and fees for all students while relieving the extra cost burden of tools and equipment for those most in-need
• $52.8 million to fully fund the outcomes-based funding formula, which may be used for program improvements that assist higher education institutions in meeting outcomes including student progression, degree production, research and service, efficiency metrics, and other measures related to institutional mission
• $2.27 million to develop Tennessee Board of Regents’ Center for Workforce Development to expand workforce training for businesses and industries, including specialized onboarding and apprenticeship programs, in partnership with TN Accelerates
• $2 million to create a common application system for Tennessee’s community colleges, streamline student transfer, and implement a statewide customer relationship management system to enhance student outreach and support

Strong + Healthy Families

• $95.5 million utilizing Shared Savings to enhance long term care services and supports for older adults and people living with disabilities
• $41 million to support the Department of Children’s Services (DCS) with placement of children within the provider network
• $7.2 million to expand the WAGE$ Program and reduce turnover in Tennessee’s childcare workforce by increasing pay and rewarding greater education
• $5.9 million to cover childcare for more working families through an expansion of the Smart Steps Child Care Program and ease the benefits cliff
• $24 million to continue a Department of Health pilot program to address unmet dental service needs and increase the number of dentists in Tennessee
• $11.8 million to reduce waitlists in the OPTIONS and Senior Nutrition programs
• $10.9 million to expand programming at the Boys & Girls Club of Tennessee
• $5 million to increase bed capacity at the Middle Tennessee Regional Mental Health Institute
• $3 million for a partnership between Department of Children’s Services (DCS) and Department of Disability and Aging (DDA) to provide additional support services for children in DCS care with intellectual and developmental disabilities

Safe Neighborhoods

During the special legislative session in January 2025, Gov. Lee and the General Assembly passed a robust legislative agenda and appropriated $5 million to prepare Tennessee to assist in implementation of the Trump Administration’s illegal immigration policies. Gov. Lee’s proposed FY25-26 budget includes the following additional public safety investments:

• $130 million further investment in the Violent Crime Intervention Fund to support local law enforcement and local jurisdictions through grants to fund evidence-based strategies to improve public safety
• $75 million to establish Downtown Public Safety grants to increase public safety in downtown areas with businesses and commercial activity
• $38 million in funding for an additional 117 State Troopers and related support staff to improve public safety across the state
• $5 million to further expand the Statewide School Resource Officer (SRO) Program Grant, which places SROs in each K-12 public school and public charter school in Tennessee
• $3.7 million in funding for an additional 22 TBI positions to support victim services, intelligence analysis, aviation, security, Medicaid fraud enforcement, and administration
• $1.3 million in additional funding for Houses of Worship Security Grants
• $1 million to expand the school-based behavioral health liaison program, giving students across Tennessee schools important resources and mental health support

Conservation

• $100 million to execute a comprehensive regional water resource plan to ensure long-term water needs are met while protecting the ecological health of the Duck River
• $52 million to create five new Tennessee State Parks, with the goal of funding a total of eight new state parks by the time Gov. Lee leaves office, setting the Tennessee record for the most state parks created by one administration
• $6.2 million to address maintenance needs at Tennessee State Parks, preventing a backlog of deferred maintenance
• $40 million for environmental cleanup, including creation of a comprehensive water resource management plan in the Duck River region, state water revolving fund projects and electric grid enhancement
• $30 million to aid Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency’s capital outlay and maintenance needs

Agriculture

• $25 million to create a Farmland Conservation Fund
• $20 million in additional funding for the Agricultural Enterprise Fund and Agricultural Enhancement Fund, both of which are utilized to aid Tennesseans in creating and expanding agricultural, food and forestry businesses and make long-term strategic investments in rural communities

Energy

• $50 million to create the Small Modular Reactor (SMR) Grant Fund to support Tennessee Valley Authority’s Clinch River Nuclear SMR project to position Tennessee as a leader in next-generation nuclear energy
• $10 million further investment in the Nuclear Energy Fund to attract advanced nuclear technology companies
• $2.6 million to develop the nation’s first regulatory framework for commercial nuclear fusion power
• $10 million further investment in Governor’s Investment in Vocational Education (GIVE) to support nuclear workforce education, as recommended by the Nuclear Energy Advisory Council
• $20 million for the Federal Grant Matching Fund, to support proposals from Tennessee universities and businesses applying for research funding from federal agencies like the National Science Foundation and Department of Energy

About the Author: Adelia Kirchner is a Tennessee resident and reporter for the Tennessee Conservative. Currently the host of Subtle Rampage Podcast, she has also worked for the South Dakota State Legislature and interned for Senator Bill Hagerty’s Office in Nashville, Tennessee. Adelia is The Tennessee Conservative’s on-site reporter for the Tennessee General Assembly. You can reach Adelia at adelia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.