[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6365647,"mediaKeyId","2159969-558666afd9e7d90fad0235a479efd624","parentId",2159969,"title","Appropriations bill clears committee, includes disaster relief, teacher bonuses and one-time allocations","audioSeconds",343,"startMs",10066000,"endMs",10409000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2159969-558666afd9e7d90fad0235a479efd624&start=10066&end=10409","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2159969-558666afd9e7d90fad0235a479efd624/thumbnail_10066000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6365647/Tennessee/Appropriations-bill-clears-committee-includes-disaster-relief-teacher-bonuses-and-one-time-allocations","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6365647-e1519ef4724a78d12183138bfd53ea31/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151777&Signature=DWQ6hGCUbypMM9BsPYz3FfghEhFy-nzwVLAvpjk5sCCEcyC5TFbiewnV~OhE2mCXvJiZmm8ddV8C2EvuavmjTRJGAg8c~lHCrC~QZNG4H93P8N~NRkh6RLdUW2SGD2kImb4ChI1sLFe9F5oY23DsCDmvalVFSRz5stTP~wg8NieCcUQa5yfi9S1aFt410ZYSMKso10a-MDKzhOQk08SnMPe7idcLwekVVDlDyYyw7TQbRtZSeHZQUSvc6fkjT0~-vyZ8IYerlobaXR99oiRyusSdCLH0cmspkNoHWJOEcQFQE2n3Ky~1PEBhCqt6Qt1a28XjAXOV4SMlqvZUPfvuBQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Tennessee House of Representatives","date","2025-01-29T01:47:26Z","article","The Finance, Ways and Means Committee approved House Bill 6005 on Jan. 28, the appropriations bill for the special session that bundles the funding elements debated earlier in the meeting.

Representative Peter Lambert, who described the appropriations, said the bill contains a range of recurring and nonrecurring items discussed in committee: education-related allocations (including the Education Freedom Scholarships and a $2,000 one-time teacher payment), a recurring estimate of sports-wagering revenue routing, and multiple disaster-relief items tied to Hurricane Helene including local disaster relief, an interest-payment subsidy and funds to seed a recovery loan program.

Lambert described the bill as including “approximately $910,390,000” in spending as discussed in committee and listed several line items in his opening remarks: a teacher-bonus allocation for roughly 86,000 teachers, nonrecurring funds for interest-payment assistance for loan interest, $100,000,000 for a future disaster relief fund, $240,000,000 directed to local Hurricane Helene relief, and other listed items including $20,000,000 for Hampton High School reconstruction and a recurring $6,270,000 estimate tied to sports-wagering revenue flows. The sponsor called one amendment a clerical fix and introduced an untimely administrative amendment that the committee accepted.

Committee members debated standalone amendments (one to remove the scholarship language from the appropriation bill was tabled) and a late-filed amendment by the sponsor was adopted. The final roll-call recorded 21 ayes and 5 no votes; the committee chair announced that the motion carries and the bill moves to calendar and rules.

What this does: If enacted, the appropriation bill would enact the funding lines approved by the committee, including disaster-relief disbursements, the teacher bonus, and the allocation mechanics for sports-wagering revenue to the facilities account; several items were described as nonrecurring and some depend on later rulemaking or administrative actions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Finance, Ways, and Means Committee- 1st Extraordinary Session- January 28, 2025- HHR1","oneSentenceSummary","The committee approved House Bill 6005, the special-session appropriations measure that packages multiple nonrecurring and recurring allocations discussed during the session; committee approved the bill and sent it to calendar and rules by recorded vote (21 ayes, 5 nos).","taxTitle","Finance, Ways, and Means, House of Representatives, Committees, Legislative, Tennessee","taxId",31062,"location","Tennessee","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6365649,"Committee advances education package with scholarships, teacher bonus and school facilities funding",4851,5176000,10027000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2159969-558666afd9e7d90fad0235a479efd624&start=5176&end=10027","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2159969-558666afd9e7d90fad0235a479efd624/thumbnail_5176000.jpg","/articles/6365649/Tennessee/Committee-advances-education-package-with-scholarships-teacher-bonus-and-school-facilities-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6365649-835631f091d85e4337205749f3a9d2b2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151777&Signature=ocAjZKEiY9nuomchVTtiw2qtrqXqQART7gGGf2ig5cnvzSE3OvZjJR0vZ~CuGfYDm~N2oaagwc1Uhy2JBjgokwCX08T0rpZipvK4z-pl2seRCBblyB2jA2rZU4wnicN2CRMgMsGMt7tYMTTI3Ih6CSp8dWOagZWRo1ppa0rmlaUt4hCv0J9LBj7T0RjrRv74Avu5cjXOWRzfhiO0cvajUGGV-3xsThkMpMZ0juvP3HJU9A8aq7~4A~nhjYRo4Aor4xjaiVGhOWDjtflBdVzWcfuLw2XuZ6YL5B478CeqngKOl87S1VO81yKcOObpHKNIvyj0YYzdybD6jt~yPwjkAA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Finance, Ways and Means Committee approved House Bill 6004 on Jan. 28, a multi-part education package that creates Education Freedom Scholarships, channels a portion of sports-wagering revenue to school facilities and offers a one-time $2,000 teacher bonus for participating local education agencies.

Representative Peter Lambert, sponsor of the bill, described multiple funding streams. He said about 80 percent of sports-wagering tax revenue would be distributed by the council to the treasurer for deposit into an account “for use by local education agencies … for the construction and maintenance of public school buildings.” Lambert said the bill also directs a $2,000 nonrecurring payment to teachers through their local district payroll, conditional on the district adopting a resolution to accept the payment for teachers.

The bill also creates 20,000 scholarships in year one: 10,000 reserved for families under an income cap (described in committee as 300 percent of poverty for certain tiers) and 10,000 for applicants without an income cap on a first-come, first-served basis. The sponsor said the scholarships would be subject to testing and sampling requirements to monitor outcomes.

Committee debate was robust. Representative Clemens and others questioned the distribution model used in the fiscal note and raised concerns that a large share of scholarship dollars could go to students already in private schools. Lambert disputed the underlying assumptions and said the scholarships were designed to empower families while the bill also continues to increase state funding for public schools and includes a “hold-harmless” for district funding so that districts would not see reduced TISA allocations because of short-term disenrollment.

Public witnesses included Walter Blanks Jr., who described his personal experience benefiting from school choice; Kevin Klein, superintendent of Lakeway Christian Schools, and Betsy Henderson, chair of the Knox County School Board (testifying in an individual capacity) who urged support while stressing that public-school investments continue.

The clerk recorded a roll-call vote of 21 ayes and 6 nos. Chairman Hicks announced the bill moves to calendar and rules.

What this does: If enacted, the package would create a scholarship program in the near term, allocate a set percentage of sports-wagering revenues to school facilities and provide a nonrecurring $2,000 teacher payment administered through local payroll at the school board’s election. The bill also includes a statutory hold-harmless to limit immediate funding declines for districts that experience enrollment losses.","Committee approved House Bill 6004, which creates 20,000 Education Freedom Scholarships, directs sports-wagering revenue toward school facilities and provides a $2,000 local teacher bonus; the bill passed the committee 21-6 and moves to calendar and rules.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6365656,"Amendment to create tax-relief grants for Helene victims, clarify local resource-sharing rolls to Hill",664,4400000,5064000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2159969-558666afd9e7d90fad0235a479efd624&start=4400&end=5064","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2159969-558666afd9e7d90fad0235a479efd624/thumbnail_4400000.jpg","/articles/6365656/Tennessee/Amendment-to-create-tax-relief-grants-for-Helene-victims-clarify-local-resource-sharing-rolls-to-Hill","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6365656-e3a5532b57a0f345149251e0338b5cb1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151777&Signature=f5amdHDIA~J-A9q~3LPSJOFpgGOYChDNq~4vNr3oOqDmaSKZU719YVoRE-jKUt7VQWXqHJyhR8MVHtt4sW57W5xuj0qukdhU2uvz9Ri-KXxM6FtGm8cVzYGpVtN5gldFlON9y~hBh4WALrAbjWMEk3aNdhsl6aylBLeP4~g95QSoV37INIOhx9f3ZnQOlDXaXwGegQXBxCUsP4Tf-Dzk61Yhpds6kRlUUOzQMWorHzCwUii4otGIIxIciVhfKWIg9RZfiPrmq3LyKTla3UqivnDE11ifgJBIVWKMbN0UWjlgu-WhnGKB9GkncKWJZ5kOS6ElRLhokrt0uG3FPgXXFw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chairman Faison presented an amendment to House Bill 6007 that would create a grant program to reimburse property owners whose parcels were damaged or destroyed in Hurricane Helene for their 2024 property tax bills, plus an additional 30 percent to help with other costs.

Faison told the committee that the comptroller and the attorney general had identified a constitutional mechanism to make the grants administrable through the comptroller's office. He said the program is designed for property that was “hurt, damaged, destroyed in hurricane Helene” and that applications would be processed by the comptroller. The sponsor emphasized the grant is intended to help people whose homes or other property are gone or unsalvageable for the Feb. 28, 2025 property-tax deadline.

The amendment also clarifies that during declared emergencies local governments may share local resources with neighboring jurisdictions without worrying that those shared resources will create procurement or accounting problems. Faison described examples from the immediate recovery, including damaged trash trucks and the need to coordinate salvage and cleanup.

Representative Gantt asked how the program would prevent fraud and whether grant recipients who already had insurance could claim the grant; Faison said the comptroller and county assessors had already identified damaged parcels and the grant is calculated from the 2024 tax obligation. Faison said the grant “matches that plus 30%” and that the program is limited to tax relief; it does not replace or duplicate homeowner-insurance payments.

Committee action: Without objection, the committee rolled House Bill 6007 to the Hill for further consideration rather than voting on final passage.

What this means: If the bill proceeds, homeowners and property owners in affected counties would apply to the comptroller for a grant equal to their 2024 property tax bill on damaged property plus 30 percent; the program would be limited to the 2024 tax year as described in committee testimony and would not itself extend or alter homeowner insurance contracts.","An amendment to House Bill 6007 would create a one-time grant to cover taxpayers' 2024 property tax bills for parcels damaged by Hurricane Helene (matching tax amount plus 30%) and clarify that local authorities may share resources during emergencies; the bill was rolled to the Hill for further consideration.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6365660,"Committee advances fund to cover local loan interest and a recovery loan program for Hurricane Helene",418,3818000,4236000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2159969-558666afd9e7d90fad0235a479efd624&start=3818&end=4236","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2159969-558666afd9e7d90fad0235a479efd624/thumbnail_3818000.jpg","/articles/6365660/Tennessee/Committee-advances-fund-to-cover-local-loan-interest-and-a-recovery-loan-program-for-Hurricane-Helene","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6365660-c50d716dcf096c3c8d7c3f047ba5a4b7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151777&Signature=h~gNQP-0V5pHzNEg7zKJp9Oy7QOLop0ndbGnTEP~sPvnDZH6aOc99ClXURLSmXC33RADy7gfWPu9AHy41k1Eo0VWOdDutVbXz0Lynn5HMdQSDjlwtOQ0Hki~FMJk4OYBGUH~d6X6-0JejQSUngRWq4vKb~S-jmJQJezHprucA7YrabGoqJKlLHbPbadUk1PoE4qR~cpU-XbB4CRESHOfbl3jXYbuxUW6iqym1cMZ2WsBc~oiIrhgy~wjQuXUbuhtlJEfkha6NSLVq-J1GzhoLyEk76ZGqs8qNk6V0qjGtjHzMkLrMGFBjd7jxhdVGFG-rfB8bLIGl9cgUhRI-q87pA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Finance, Ways and Means Committee approved House Bill 6003 on Jan. 28, a bill that establishes a Hurricane Helene Interest Payment Fund and re-creates a recovery loan fund intended to provide flexible financial resources for future emergencies.

Chairman Hicks described two main components: a fund to cover loan interest on recovery costs — “covering loans, interest at 5% annually for 3 years,” he said — and a separate, flexible loan fund to support future recovery needs including agricultural losses, unemployment assistance and business recovery. Hicks told the committee the interest-payment fund has an estimated fiscal note of $110,000,000 and the recovery loan fund was estimated at $100,000,000.

Representative Clemens pressed whether the bill includes money to help people who have lost employer-provided health coverage after disasters. Hicks said the text of the bill does not mention TennCare or direct health coverage, but suggested rules-stage work or future bills could address related needs.

Committee members expressed concern about whether the proposed appropriations would be sufficient given ongoing recovery needs. Hicks said he anticipated additional requests and described the bill as “a great start” that could be supplemented later in the process.

The committee took a roll-call vote; the clerk recorded 26 ayes and no recorded no votes. Chairman Hicks announced the motion carries and the bill moves to calendar and rules.

Next steps: the bill advances to calendar and rules for scheduling on the House floor. Committee members said administration witnesses were present for technical questions but not called to testify at length during the committee debate.","House Bill 6003 would create a Hurricane Helene interest-payment fund covering up to 5% interest for three years and re-create a governor's recovery loan fund; the committee approved the measure and sent it to calendar and rules by voice and roll-call (26 ayes).",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6365665,"Committee OKs bill to put disaster unemployment waivers into law",553,3239000,3792000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2159969-558666afd9e7d90fad0235a479efd624&start=3239&end=3792","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2159969-558666afd9e7d90fad0235a479efd624/thumbnail_3239000.jpg","/articles/6365665/Tennessee/Committee-OKs-bill-to-put-disaster-unemployment-waivers-into-law","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6365665-03c1e70e7564c05589ded411afd31409/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151777&Signature=JKDBm8K25Thw~1X9kxnmz7IrXA4rMw0tQz2HHX7BydGnbo~rhIz16VufQjUSg1QjLBVuHXcEnJgdlSE35-~Sqml45exUfmRURdUmpKw6wzaXjCQ4MYB4dgbQNXBZf~sh6QaKpAOEdAXO4fXw41dCDYrcgRMktuLcG-xH~QIveGuh5jJF5U76uuIkPh1m4a7y0LG6xBG6hOZ17D6HY3ofJfRvWHiLnwldp2lHWuW96LjIb7TBPe914OfdqJT~a6O8XQ2Gu~SNtgAB-6iN3XZVU0Tvk0oIMKXu~pHU5fgB3ogzd8rHRnOOEa7YFrMNAvfrkpeIDF4XdLzTrDBzWHfmLw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Finance, Ways and Means Committee on Jan. 28 approved House Bill 6002, a measure that would codify temporary unemployment-waiver authority for use in declared disaster areas so state officials can waive certain unemployment requirements without a separate executive order.

Sponsor Representative Cochran told the committee the bill is intended to “cut[] some, some bureaucratic red tape” and to let the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development “waive certain unemployment requirements during states of emergency.” Cochran said the change would let state agencies such as the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) “assist locals in a more expedited fashion.”

Committee members asked how the change would affect timing after a disaster. Representative Jeremy Clement asked whether any delay by the governor in issuing a disaster declaration would prevent relief; Cochran and committee members clarified the bill still requires that an area be declared a disaster area but would eliminate the need for a separate executive order to trigger the unemployment waivers. Cochran said the authority had been exercised in the past via executive order and the bill would move that authority into statute.

No witnesses contested the bill during committee debate. The committee took a roll-call vote; the clerk recorded 26 ayes and 0 nos. The committee chair announced, “This motion passes, and House Bill 6002 goes on to calendar and rules.”

What happens next: the bill advances to calendar and rules for scheduling on the full House floor. If passed by the Legislature and signed by the governor, the statutory change would give the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development discretion to waive specified unemployment rules in areas the state designates as disaster zones.

Context: Committee members and staff said the measure responds to delays that can occur when parties depend on an executive order to trigger waivers and that the bill is intended to streamline assistance to local governments and affected workers after natural disasters.","The Finance, Ways, and Means Committee passed House Bill 6002 to place disaster-era unemployment waivers into statute so state officials can act without an executive order; the measure passed the committee 26-0 and goes to calendar and rules.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Appropriations bill clears committee, includes disaster relief, teacher bonuses and one-time allocations

Committee advances education package with scholarships, teacher bonus and school facilities funding

Amendment to create tax-relief grants for Helene victims, clarify local resource-sharing rolls to Hill

Committee advances fund to cover local loan interest and a recovery loan program for Hurricane Helene

Committee OKs bill to put disaster unemployment waivers into law