TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Julia Wilburn on Feb 11, 2025

In his seventh State of the State Address, Gov. Bill Lee unveiled a $59.5 billion budget proposal Monday that focuses on core government services including education, public safety, infrastructure upgrades, farmland grants, nuclear energy and increased investments in trade schools. Axios reports the breakdown includes $37.9 million for the Tennessee Highway Patrol, which would cover 100 new state troopers; $3.4 million in funding for 22 new positions at the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation; $1 billion to the Tennessee Department of Transportation; and $275 million for a newly created emergency operations center. According to the Nashville Banner, in addition to the $145 million for his private school voucher program, Lee’s budget proposal includes more than $580 million in public school investments, including both one-time teacher bonuses and teacher pay increases promised during the special session. See a detailed breakdown of the proposed budget.