The Finish Line is in Sight
All signs are now pointing to the conclusion of the 112th General Assembly in the coming weeks. Many standing committees in the House and Senate have now completed their business and now closed subject to the call of the Chair. This, coupled with the Governor’s release of his supplemental budget amendment signals that the legislature is preparing to adjourn in the next four weeks or so.
2022 Legislation
AIA Tennessee has been tracking 100+ bills through the legislative session. Over the past three months, the Government Relations committee has reviewed and monitored legislation that could have impacted building codes, zoning, diversity or licensure. These bills have been either amended to address concerns or taken off notice for the year. We appreciate our Government Relations Committee, staff and lobbyists for their work analyzing legislation, providing feedback, and assisting with outreach. AIA Tennessee’s Tracking List is listed below for your review.
Administration’s Robust Capital Spending Plan
| In February following Governor Lee’s State of the State, lawmakers were presented a $2.7 billion capital projects program for fiscal year 2022-23. This is the largest capital spending proposal to date, large parts of which are made possible by the influx of federal COVID relief funds. Deputy Governor and Finance and Administration Commissioner Butch Eley explained that many of the proposed 123 projects represent “strategic investment dollars” designed to last 30 years or more. The projects will be brought to the State Funding Board in a “staggered” fashion. The amendment presented earlier this week adds another $846M dedicated to higher education capital projects. Also of interest, the Legislative Plaza, which was to be relegated to parking, is now slated instead for $183 million worth of work. War Memorial Building and Plaza will go through an internal and external renovation. The two projects will reduce deferred maintenance by $300 million, officials said. In addition, the state is prepared to attack $2.5 billion in deferred maintenance backlog, including $406 million in downtown office buildings. The plan also involves selling the James K. Polk and Citizens Plaza buildings, as well as moving out of leased property into state-owned buildings. The sale of the two buildings will eliminate $300 million in deferred maintenance. |
Supplemental Budget Amendment Breakdown
Commissioner Eley’s Presentation to Finance Committees
All other budget documents to date may be found here.
TN Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) Act
Governor Bill Lee’s long-awaited, student-based education funding formula, known as the Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) Act, is his cornerstone legislative initiative for the 2022 session. This issue will likely create the most friction as legislators work to adjourn and return to their districts. At a press conference at the Capitol, the Governor described the plan as “student centered and student focused,” and one that works for families, teachers and the state.
The bill was slow to gain traction, but has now passed through two of seven different committees that will vet the proposal before it reaches the respective floors. Some lawmakers have expressed reluctance to pass such significant legislation in a compressed time frame, especially with the widespread desire to hit the campaign trail and familiarize themselves with what in many cases are decidedly different districts due to redistricting earlier in the year.
Legislators Not Seeking Re-election
With the filing deadline for this year’s election a week away, we will have a more complete picture of the landscape on April 8, but there have already been several announcements from legislators that they will not be seeking re-election.
House
- District 24: Mark Hall (R-Cleveland) Running for the State Senate
- District 26: Robin Smith (R-Hixson). Resigned after pleading guilty to federal charge.
- District 32: Kent Calfee (R-Kingston)
- District 35. Jerry Sexton (R-Bean Station)
- District 52: Mike Stewart (D-Nashville)
- District 59: Jason Potts (D-Nashville)
- District 61: Brandon Ogles (R-Franklin)
- District 63: Glen Casada (R-Franklin) Running for Williamson County Clerk and under federal investigation.
- District 67: Jason Hodges (D-Clarksville)
- District 69: Michael Curcio (R-Dickson)
- District 71: David Byrd (R-Waynesboro)
- District 75: Bruce Griffey (R-Paris) Running for circuit judge.
- District 79: Curtis Halford (R-Dyer)
- District 91: London Lamar (D-Memphis) Appointed to Senate vacancy and running for the upper chamber.
*With redistricting, there will also be two districts without a sitting incumbent: District 13 currently represented By Gloria Johnson in Knoxville and District 90 currently represented by Torrey Harris in Memphis.
Senate
- District 9: Mike Bell (R-Riceville).
- District 31: Brian Kelsey (R-Germantown). Under federal indictment.
- District 33: Katrina Robinson (D-Memphis). Expelled following federal fraud conviction.