Tennessee Bureau of Investigation seeks $6.7 million, new staff and $3 million wastewater pilot; committee refers request to finance

David Rausch, director of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, told the Senate Judiciary Committee the agency is seeking a $6,677,000 cost increase for fiscal 2025–26 that would fund 22 full‑time positions and a one‑time $3,000,000 pilot to test wastewater for drug trends. The committee voted to refer the request to the Finance Committee.

Rausch said the TBI’s request groups seven categories: four victim‑services positions; seven intelligence analysts; four aviation crew positions; two police officer positions to staff Memphis and Chattanooga facilities; two Medicaid‑fraud data‑analytics positions; three administrative support positions; and the wastewater testing pilot. He told the committee the total includes a one‑time $3,000,000 allocation for the pilot project and 22 personnel positions for recurring costs.

"These analysts are able to get them the background information that they need in order to be more effective in their work," Rausch said of the proposed intelligence analysts,…