Appropriations subcommittee hears wide-ranging $1.2 billion in requests at informational hearing

The Financial Ways and Means Appropriation Subcommittee met March 24, 2025, to hear member presentations for appropriation amendments; the meeting was informational and no votes were taken. The chair opened the hearing by noting, “I think there is 1,200,000,000 in request and we have allotted $1,100.50,” adding that some members had already claimed portions of the available allocation.

Committee members outlined dozens of requests from local governments, nonprofits, colleges and state agencies. The largest individual sums presented included a $6,200,000 nonrecurring request for repairs and preservation at Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage; a $11,000,000 line item in the governor’s budget for the Boys & Girls Club referenced by Representative Stinnett; and multiple multi‑million-dollar items for infrastructure and disaster recovery, including requests to help utilities with FEMA matching requirements.

Why it matters: the hearing gathers member priorities for consideration during appropriations deliberations. Because the session was designated informational, committee members presented requests and answered brief clarifying remarks but did not take formal action.

Among health and social-service requests, Leader Lambert asked for $325,000 split into three installments for the Jason Foundation’s teen suicide-prevention work, $200,000 for Physicians Choices and Options programming for teens, and $3,000,000 nonrecurring for an adult health-care safety net. Representative Stinnett noted an $11,000,000 governor-budgeted item for the Boys & Girls Club and highlighted a $3,500,000 request to Helen Ross McNabb for a 64‑bed behavioral-health unit intended to divert people from jail to care.

Higher-education and workforce proposals included a $3,000,000 nonrecurring request carried by Chairman Terry for the University of Tennessee system to replace specialized clinical training equipment, and a $900,000 nonrecurring request for the Tennessee Science Alliance (roughly $300,000 per center) presented by Speaker Pro Tim Morris. Representative Burkhart requested funds to renovate space at Austin Peay State University for culinary arts, ROTC and national security studies; other members sought TCAT and workforce-expansion funding.

Several members emphasized disaster recovery and local infrastructure: Representative Renee Jones requested funds to acquire a facility used for disaster logistics and $20,000,000 to assist a utilities authority with FEMA match issues; Representative Hirt sought $450,000 to repair a breached levee in Obion County; and Representative Rudd asked for $6,000,000 to widen a school-zone road in his rapidly growing district.

Cultural and preservation requests included a $1,000,000 grant for a Circle of Life Indian Cultural Center presented by Chairman Terry, a $200,000 refurbishment request for the Cotton Museum in Memphis from Chairman White, and a $137,000 request to restore a historic African American school noted by Representative Sparks.

Other recurring themes included requests for veteran services, courthouse HVAC replacements in rural counties, zoo and aquarium capital grants, expansions of behavioral-health programs for military families, and small capital or program grants to local nonprofits that provide food, senior nutrition, and housing supports. Representative Fritz offered several budget amendments that would reduce or reallocate existing proposals, including reductions to planned trooper staffing increases and arts funding and additions for community-based recovery services.

The chair closed the meeting after members concluded their presentations and thanked the committee for a long day. Next steps were not announced at the hearing; the items presented will be considered during subsequent appropriations deliberations.