City staff lays out 2026 state legislative priorities, including design-build pilot and local-tax restoration

City staff presented Oak Ridge's draft state legislative priorities and asked council for feedback on items to carry forward to the delegation and statewide municipal groups.

Staff member (speaker 8) opened the presentation by listing priorities: support for the Edgemoor Road project; backing state funding for a National Security workforce/training center planned adjacent to local technology and training facilities; authorization of a municipal design-build pilot to streamline capital projects; pursuing long-term funding for services and infrastructure tied to new nuclear industries; and restoration of a local share of state sales tax that cities have advocated for in recent years.

The staff presentation noted the design-build approach can reduce delivery time and change orders by having an integrated firm do design and construction, and referenced recent state authorization for design-build under emergency TDOT rules as context. On funding for nuclear-related services, staff said the city had a needs assessment under procurement funded through Energy Communities Alliance grants and will continue to press the legislature for resources identified by that study.

Council asked about citizen engagement and the voucher program; staff suggested outreach to local delegations and organizations such as the League of Women Voters and asked council to advise on items citizens could support directly. A council member urged staff to coordinate with the superintendent on school-related priorities.

Next steps: staff will finalize the packet and share the legislative priorities with the city's delegation and municipal associations for the upcoming session.