Committee advances 9‑1‑1 measure after local directors warn several districts are 'in distress'

Chairlady Carringer urged the committee to consider an amendment to SJR 48 expanding the window for 9‑1‑1 funding assistance and to hear from local directors about operational strain. "9‑1‑1 is a life‑saving service and our local 9‑1‑1 folks are the first point of contact for our citizens who need emergency responses," she said, adding some districts are "in distress" and "hurting financially."

The committee heard from officials who described how the emergency‑communications surcharge is collected and distributed. Brad Andrews identified himself to the committee and his role: "I'm Brad Andrews. I'm the executive director of Knox County 9‑1‑1 and chairman of the Tennessee Emergency Communications Board." He told members the Department of Revenue collects the surcharge from telephone companies and remits it to the Tennessee Emergency Communications Board, which distributes funds to local districts every other month on a statutory formula. Andrews said collections showed only about a 1.5% increase in revenue from fiscal year 2024 to 2025, and that some districts had run multiple years "in the red," including one district the panel estimates is roughly $600,000 short this year.

Members pressed witnesses on details: how billing addresses determine which state receives fees, whether recent natural disasters affected service, and whether the task study on 9‑1‑1 would allow funds to be retracted if not needed. Witnesses said they do not control the raw collections data — Revenue does — and that many equipment contracts carry annual price escalators (4% cited), requiring forward planning.

After Q&A, the committee voted to move the measure forward. The clerk recorded 6 ayes, 1 no and 1 present not voting, and the chair announced the item will proceed to full committee.