[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-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],{"_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",6603865,"mediaKeyId","2997647-5f0d7b4e2879b59121bad9503e9ee076","parentId",2997647,"title","Senate finance committee advances $59.8 billion budget after amendments; directs disaster relief, hospital and volunteer grants","audioSeconds",1726,"startMs",2070000,"endMs",3796000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2997647-5f0d7b4e2879b59121bad9503e9ee076&start=2070&end=3796","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2997647-5f0d7b4e2879b59121bad9503e9ee076/thumbnail_2070000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6603865/Tennessee/Senate-finance-committee-advances-598-billion-budget-after-amendments-directs-disaster-relief-hospital-and-volunteer-grants","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6603865-9ebb6f2fae22f6fc696d0596ce05e939/orig.mp4?Expires=1773695151&Signature=gn1h4ANxMJNvT4TrJr1Bik4-DCq4XxZClmPde6kq91xgNuJ5HCL7Czv-2e~cb45geMYsEqLA8Yz5k5p9-ZCyknjBXN5FK6X~R4s~GA~wGmglLO~55P25MSBdUOJZXyPZ5dEhQ9sE8VTQkq-tAw9Gm3V1~zTGkdCVF8xy5WZL-MeaxFLsPpA1geosyMnDpkSPIiMwHD3FIn8OQLwitrr0C7ahYb-F177WNecSvqfQttvQfjh98an24FHJUqC1Na2VZ7OrM1UI3maIWwDunZWKfvwStg7O-Y049InXpGhPb5gyvUBS2H7v4JXjj4wwBMV3cremcNwr1sthGfApLNixzg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","TN State Legislature","date","2025-04-15T00:00:00Z","article","The Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee approved the fiscal year budget bill, Senate Bill 14-31, on April 15, 2025, recommending the measure for passage to the committee on the calendar. Leader Johnson moved the bill and the committee adopted three finance amendments before approving the Appropriations Act as amended, with the clerk recording seven ayes, two noes and one present-not-voting.

Why it matters: The Appropriations Act sets the state's spending plan for the next fiscal year and contains line-item changes negotiated between the administration and the legislature. Committee members said the amended package keeps the bottom line consistent with the governor's numbers while redirecting some proposed expenditures to priorities identified by legislative negotiators.

Leader Johnson, who presented the package to the committee, said the amendment follows negotiations with the administration and the House and that the legislative amendment \"redirected $3,000,000 recurring and $141,400,000 nonrecurring\" and otherwise reallocated funding to fit the legislature's priorities. He told the committee the package does not recognize potential new revenue from two pending bills (vape and hemp) and that those revenues would be carried forward, not booked in this year's budget.

Top-line and notable allocations
- Budget scale: Committee discussion described the total appropriation as roughly $59.8 billion, with about $29.8 billion coming from state funds as reflected in the legislative amendment materials presented to members.
- Disaster relief and preparedness: The legislative amendment earmarked $20 million (nonrecurring) from local match funds for FEMA disaster relief, $25 million (nonrecurring) for disaster relief in northeast Tennessee, and $1.2 million (nonrecurring) for flood preparedness.
- Campus and public safety: The package included about $5.4 million (nonrecurring) for campus safety and security at the University of Memphis, $500,000 (nonrecurring) to establish and operate a UT law enforcement innovation center, and $400,000 (nonrecurring) for an East Tennessee regional forensic facility and training program.
- Health care and hospitals: The amendment used $78 million from TennCare shared savings to \"buy back\" services previously paid for by the annual hospital assessment, described by the sponsor as making the total investment there \"a little over a hundred million dollars.\" The bill also includes $4 million recurring to increase pediatric dental rates, $3 million nonrecurring for the adult health care safety net, and smaller nonrecurring grants including $500,000 for epilepsy services.
- Education and workforce: The legislative amendment provided $1.4 million recurring for scholarships tied to a public-private medical-school early acceptance partnership and reallocated some teacher residency funding to other programs (see questions and concerns below).
- Volunteer and local grants: The legislature created a $42.5 million competitive grant pool for local providers and volunteers: $20 million for volunteer fire department capital and equipment, $5 million for rescue squads, $5 million for emergency medical services, $5 million for senior centers, $5 million for local museums (capital), $2 million for courthouse restorations and improvements, and $500,000 for Second Harvest Food Bank.

Questions and concerns raised in committee
Several senators pressed the sponsor and chair about cuts and redirections in the package. Senator Hensley asked why some grants and programs were eliminated or reduced; the sponsor said funds had been redirected to other legislative priorities. Senator Lamar expressed concern about reductions to some Memphis community-based violence-prevention programs and asked whether partial funding could be restored; the sponsor said existing state funding streams still serve many organizations and that an amendment would be required to change the budget.

Senator Yarbrough and others asked about the state's fiscal assumptions and the budget's sensitivity to national economic volatility. Committee leaders said the package used the governor's growth assumptions (roughly 2% in the presented materials) and that the committee did not recognize any additional new revenue in order to avoid overstating receipts.

Attorney General funding
Members also questioned an increase of $4.5 million recurring for the attorney general's office. Senator Yarbrough asked about the rationale for the increase; the sponsor said it reflected the office's expanded role defending state actions, including constitutional litigation, and that the legislature had provided additional resources to support those efforts.

Procedure and next steps
The committee adopted finance amendment 1 (the \"stripper\" amendment), finance amendment 2 (the administration amendment), and finance amendment 3 (the legislative amendment schedule), along with several amendment-to-amendment changes that the sponsor described as last-minute reconciliations between the chambers. After debate and recorded voting, the committee recommended Senate Bill 14-31 as amended for passage to the committee on the calendar. The bill will next be scheduled for floor consideration.

Ending
Committee members said the calendar for the next days would focus on budget bills first and then the remainder of the finance calendar. The Appropriations Act and related budget measures were slated for floor consideration in the near term.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee\tApr 15, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee approved the Appropriations Act (Senate Bill 14-31) as amended on April 15, recommending the budget to the committee on the calendar by recorded vote.","taxTitle","Finance, Ways and Means, Senate, Committees, Legislative, Tennessee","taxId",29604,"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},6603861,"Votes at a glance: Senate Finance committee advances budget bills and 20 other measures to committee on the calendar",6641,1899000,8540000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2997647-5f0d7b4e2879b59121bad9503e9ee076&start=1899&end=8540","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2997647-5f0d7b4e2879b59121bad9503e9ee076/thumbnail_1899000.jpg","/articles/6603861/Tennessee/Votes-at-a-glance-Senate-Finance-committee-advances-budget-bills-and-20-other-measures-to-committee-on-the-calendar","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6603861-3972ced08a79c0045bce13a66e78de64/orig.mp4?Expires=1773695151&Signature=ifKNPsEgfrtwaq6XRB7s7wq~W8-nOT3XbZarADM4tzIlyfFIEC-mFs44562ISlLa3Vq5KivZcFn22jMa7GcadimEibVYagxAzoY-zhb~EHZjk1rk7Azs~GE4iAX0UX0l3r2d-YVjHZbUtZdH88t6VQO5-cMbAUP6GMfmrlNcdThGXDlSr~9Ziz6MXBOSfsce4CqMZ9WYl43jIXsqEOlKbpM0rs5-IIFGyPP5vtCI5bqsqbfECmWa5dujhWqggYOjuzXfSkiIFeECLT7f-J9LD5BHos0kFCxZMFTbaxMMiF0poqEOXADFC1k5P4ZfiyWDDuyJuIBppwqT-FP1jcE56A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee on April 15 recommended a package of budget and member bills for passage to the committee on the calendar and ultimately for floor consideration. Several bills were adopted after brief explanations and mostly routine votes; others drew questions from members and a few recorded dissenting votes.

What the committee advanced (selection of bills acted on April 15; committee action is \"recommended for passage to committee on the calendar\" unless noted):

- Senate Bill 14-29 (Budget Implementation, BIMP): Committee adopted two amendments removing a proposed redirection of tire sales tax revenue and enacting statutory changes to implement the budget; committee recorded 10 ayes on final passage to committee on the calendar.

- Senate Bill 14-30 (Bond Authorization / Capital Outlay): Committee approved a bond authorization bill as amended that authorizes up to roughly $1.034 billion in general obligation bonds for capital projects, including higher education, agency facilities and highway projects. Members questioned fiscal assumptions and debt-service budgeting; committee recommended the bill for passage to committee on the calendar.

- Senate Bill 3 00 (cognitive-behavioral training for certain misdemeanants): Committee approved an amended bill allowing judges discretion to require cognitive behavioral training for certain class A misdemeanor offenders; recorded outcome: recommended for passage (vote recorded: 6 ayes, 3 noes).

- House Joint Resolution 98 (PACT Act expansion request): Committee recommended urging Congress to expand the federal PACT Act to include certain COVID-19 treatments given under emergency use authorization and to add anthrax vaccinations as qualifying exposures; recommended for passage to committee on the calendar.

- Senate Bill 9 63 (treatment of charges for persons found incompetent to stand trial): The committee approved an amendment extending certain timing and court-notification requirements for cases involving defendants found incompetent; recommended for passage to committee on the calendar.

- Senate Bill 8 69 (allow baiting for deer hunting on private land with a bait privilege license): Committee approved the bill as amended; the sponsor said the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency would retain authority to suspend baiting privileges to prevent disease spread; committee recommendation to calendar noted 8 ayes, 1 no and 1 present on the vote.

- Senate Bill 4 09 (court clerks' fees and a continuing education fund): Committee approved an amendment that phases in modest fee increases over three years and establishes a $2 assessment to fund clerks' continuing education; recommended for passage to committee on the calendar (10 ayes recorded).

- Senate Bill 11 39 (developer plans, utility review timelines; third-party review option): Committee recommended the bill for passage; sponsor said the measure would allow a developer to procure a third-party review if a utility misses a 30-day review deadline and caps third-party inspection fees at 2% of development cost.

- Senate Bill 1 65 (increase ceiling on state matching funds for human services): Committee recommended the bill for passage; fiscal note and caps by local assessment tier were described to the committee.

- Senate Bill 8 43 (TWRA funding, wetlands base reserve): Committee approved an amendment requiring a $6 million base reserve in the TWRA wetlands fund; sponsor said the change preserves wetland acquisition money while allowing other TWRA activities when the reserve exceeds $6 million.

- Senate Bill 6 93 (enhanced penalty for intentional injury to a child): Committee recommended the bill for passage; sponsor said the bill raises the offense for knowingly inflicting injury on a child (9 or older) to a class E felony, while preserving higher penalties for the youngest victims.

- Senate Bill 12 96 (threats of mass violence and doxing): Committee advanced an amended bill that creates felony penalties for knowingly making threats of mass violence in some circumstances and criminalizes posting another person's home address or phone number online with intent to harm; sponsor and members emphasized the need for prosecutorial discretion to avoid overcriminalization.

- Senate Bill 13 06 (codifying Department of Tourist Development divisions): Committee recommended for passage; sponsor described no fiscal impact while formalizing the marketing and welcome-center structure.

- Senate Bill 1 33 (voter registration verification portal): Committee advanced an amended bill to require secure electronic verification of citizenship and felony conviction status in cooperation with the Department of Safety and the TBI; sponsor reported an $800,000 fiscal impact funded in the administration amendment.

- Senate Bill 9 01 (permanent school turnaround program): Committee recommended making the current turnaround pilot into a permanent program with a rolling cohort up to 15 priority schools; recorded recommendation to calendar.

- Senate Bill 12 45 (statewide bondsmen licensing board): Committee approved an amendment to create a centralized statewide licensing framework while preserving local judicial discretion; committee recommended the bill to committee on the calendar.

- House Joint Resolution 100 (opioid-abatement allocation encouragement): Committee recommended the resolution urging the Opioid Abatement Council to allocate at least 25% of settlement funds to overdose initiatives until overdose deaths fall by 25%; the measure is nonbinding.

- Senate Bill 8 61 (transfer of Tennessee Human Rights enforcement to the Attorney General's office): Committee advanced an amended bill that dissolves the Human Rights Commission and moves investigatory and enforcement duties to the attorney general's office; senators raised questions about conflicts and the handling of pending cases; committee recommended the bill for passage to committee on the calendar.

Notes on procedure and recorded votes: Several items were adopted unanimously or with clear tallies recorded in the transcript; where the transcript did not include a clear numerical tally for a particular item, the committee record states only that the bill was \"recommended for passage to committee on the calendar.\" For bills where the transcript recorded explicit tallies, those numbers are noted above.

Next steps: Most measures advanced by the committee will be scheduled on the Senate calendar for floor consideration. The committee chair said the budget bills will be prioritized on the floor schedule in the coming days.","At its April 15 meeting the Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee approved the main budget bills and advanced multiple member and committee bills, recommending them for passage to committee on the calendar. The committee also adopted targeted amendments on several items; vote tallies were recorded on several measures.","actionData","errors"]

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Senate finance committee advances $59.8 billion budget after amendments; directs disaster relief, hospital and volunteer grants

Votes at a glance: Senate Finance committee advances budget bills and 20 other measures to committee on the calendar