Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget Appropriations topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Appropriations bill clears House after debate; includes disaster relief and funding tied to scholarship program
Summary
The House approved the session’s appropriations measure (Senate Bill 5) that funds disaster relief, teacher payments and the expenditures connected to the scholarship program debated during the special session. Members debated whether disaster relief and unrelated funding should be joined with the scholarship package.
The Tennessee House approved Senate Bill 5, the special‑session appropriations measure that funds disaster relief and implements several of the session’s bills, including allocations tied to the Education Freedom Act and teacher payments. Representative Hicks of Hawkins moved passage; the bill passed on the floor with a recorded vote of 81 in favor and 14 opposed.
What the bill covers: Sponsors described the measure as funding the bills under consideration in the special session: appropriations to support the scholarship program, disaster relief for communities affected by recent flooding (including targeted allocations to Carter and Sevier counties), and nonrecurring and recurring elements for teacher bonuses and facility grants. Representative Hicks told the House the text bundles the special‑session policy bills with the funding required to implement them.
Debate highlights: Republicans and Democrats sparred over procedural questions and whether the funding package should be split so disaster relief could move without contentious policy riders. Representative Clemons asked whether the appropriations contained previously‑set aside funds; committee leaders clarified that monies set aside in earlier budgets and reversions would be combined to fund components of the package, and the bill uses a mix of recurring and nonrecurring dollars to cover the special‑session items.
Key funding elements discussed on the floor included a large allocation for disaster grants (committee discussion cited roughly $240 million in disaster relief and county allocations listed on the floor), a nonrecurring one‑time teacher payment (discussed in the House as approximately $198.4 million for a $2,000 payment), and facility funds tied to sports‑wagering revenue. Committee language and speakers on the floor also referenced $148 million previously set aside for the scholarship program; leaders said that amount would be applied to implement the Education Freedom Act.
Vote and outcome: The House vote on Senate Bill 5 was recorded as 81 ayes, 14 nays. With the House vote the appropriations measure advances in the enactment process which funds the bills debated during the special session.
Ending: Lawmakers signaled that, although disaster relief funds were in the package, continuing fiscal oversight and follow‑up during the regular session is likely to be necessary as implementation details are worked out.
