►
Description
Joint Convention- Governor's State of the State Address- January 31, 2022
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Whereas
tennessee
code
annotated,
section
3-1,
that's
108
provides
for
a
joint
convention
of
the
senate
and
house
of
representatives
to
be
called
annually
for
the
purpose
of
hearing
a
state
of
the
state
address
by
the
governor.
Now,
therefore,
being
resolved
by
the
senate
of
the
112th
general
assembly
of
the
state
of
tennessee,
the
house
of
representatives
concurring
that
the
senate
and
house
of
representatives
meet
and
joint
convention
on
monday
january
31st
2022
at
5
p.m.
A
Central
standard
time
in
the
chamber
of
the
house
of
representatives
for
the
purpose
of
hearing
the
state
of
the
state
address
by
the
honorable
billy
governor
of
tennessee
bid
for
the
result.
The
governor
lee
be
invited
to
address
the
joint
convention
on
monday
january
31st,
28
22
at
6
00
pm
central
standard
time
in
the
chamber
of
the
house
of
representatives
bid
for
the
resolve.
Let's
pursue
the
tennessee
code,
annotated,
section
9-4-5-105.
A
The
general
assembly
authorizes
the
trans
middle
of
the
state
budget
document,
our
documents
for
fiscal
year
2022-23
prior
to
the
close
of
business
of
both
houses
on
monday
january
31st,
2022
further
resolved
the
pursuant
to
tennessee
code,
annotated,
section
9-4,
that's
5105..
The
general
assembly
authorizes
the
transmittal
and
filing
of
legislation
necessary
to
give
legalization
to
the
budget
for
fiscal
years,
2822
2823
prior
to
the
close
of
business
of
both
houses
on
monday
february
7,
2022
leader
johnson
you're
recognized.
A
Thank
you,
mr
president.
Mcnally.
I
move
that
you
appoint
a
committee
composed
of
five
members
from
the
senate
and
five
members
from
the
house
of
representatives
to
notify
the
governor
that
the
joint
convention
is
in
session
and
awaiting
his
arrival
I'll,
appoint
the
following
committee
to
notify
the
governor
that
the
joint
convention
is
in
session
and
awaiting
his
re
arrival
from
the
senate.
A
From
the
house
of
representatives
representative
alexander
representative,
kemper,
representative,
washington,
representative
love,
representative
russell
representative
russell,
you
will
serve
as
chairman
of
this
committee.
Without
objection,
the
joint
convention
will
stand
in
recess
pending
the
arrival
of
the
joint
con
of
the
committee.
A
A
A
A
B
A
A
B
B
And
to
my
family,
thank
you
for
being
here
today
means
a
lot
I
first
and
especially
want
to
acknowledge
someone
who
has,
for
the
last
three
years
been
a
steadfast
partner
to
me
in
this
journey.
She's
also
been
a
faithful
friend
to
tennesseans,
especially
underserved
tennesseans,
through
her
tennessee
serves
initiative,
I'm
so
proud
of
the
work
that
she
has
done
for
tennesseans,
hundreds
of
thousands
of
meals
and
backpacks
and
shoes
for
children
and
gold,
star
families
and
those
with
disabilities
and
homeless.
B
A
spirit
of
humble
service
matters
in
times
of
trial,
it
matters
in
times
of
prosperity,
and
so
I
also
want
to
thank
members
of
my
staff
and
members
of
the
cabinet
who
are
here
tonight
who
have
served
tennesseans
tirelessly
through
the
last
year.
I'm
grateful
for
every
one
of
you
and
I
thank
every
one
of
you.
Thank
you.
B
We
stand
here
today
in
a
different
place
than
we
were
last
year,
but
our
gratitude
to
tennesseans
hasn't
changed
tennesseans.
You
have
kept
the
state
open
and
moving
forward
and
tennesseans
like
members
of
the
national
guard.
Who've
met
the
worst
of
circumstances
with
grit
and
yet
also
provided
comfort,
nurses
and
health
care
workers,
who've
cared
for
the
sick
and
teachers
and
administrators
who've
taught
our
children,
troopers
and
police
officers
and
sheriff's
deputies
who
patrol
our
roads
and
keep
our
neighborhoods
safe.
Small
businesses
that
have
kept
their
doors
open
and
workers.
B
B
Last
june,
we
commenced
untold
tennessee
a
celebration
of
how
the
ordinary
makes
us
extraordinary
to
commemorate
225
years
of
tennessee
statehood.
Folks,
along
the
way
this
year
have
shared
with
me
the
deep
connection
that
they
feel
to
tennessee
folks,
like
my
friend
wally
childers,
whose
family
owns
a
century
farm
children's
farms
in
west
tennessee,
where
they've
been
farming
crops,
thousands
of
acres
of
crops
since
1906.,
wally
and
tracy
are
with
us
here
tonight,
and
we
thank
you
for
representing
generations
of
tennesseans
who
have
helped
to
make
tennessee
what
it
is
today.
Wally
and
tracy.
B
B
There
were
moments
of
great
optimism
with
the
passage
of
the
voting
rights
act.
There
were
moments
of
tremendous
innovation,
as
americans
stepped
into
space,
and
yet
there
were
also
great
challenges
in
1965
american
combat
troops
landed
in
vietnam
and
the
civil
rights
movement
continued,
but
with
painfully
slow
progress,
tennessee
america
at
its
best
embraces
both
sides
of
the
coin.
We
acknowledge
our
shortcomings,
but
we
build
on
our
best,
and
it
reminds
me
of
the
truth
in
scripture.
Great
faith
is
required
to
keep
pushing
for
the
things
not
yet
seen.
B
Today.
Our
country
faces
challenges
of
a
different
kind,
but
I
think
now
more
than
ever,
tennessee
embodies
america
at
its
best
and
in
order
to
ensure
that
I'm
proposing
a
budget
tonight
and
america
at
its
best
policies
that
reinforce
freedom
and
innovation,
exceptionalism
and
optimism,
if
we're
to
embody
america
at
its
best.
B
And
I
believe
that
now
more
than
ever,
we
must
show
great
discipline
and
regard
for
our
freedoms
and
one
way
we
do,
that
is
through
small
government
that
contributes
to
a
safe
and
well-ordered
society
in
recent
history.
Big
government
has
attempted
to
take
over
society
instead
of
contributing
to
it
and
that's
no
way
to
live.
B
B
B
In
fact,
law
enforcement
officials
from
across
the
country
have
seen
tennessee
as
a
destination
for
more
freedom.
Just
last
year
we
put
out
a
call
to
officers
from
new
york
to
l.a
who
were
facing
restrictive
mandates
and
they
responded
and
we
welcome
these
new
tennesseans
are
committed
to
keeping
our
neighborhood
safe,
but
we
are
also
in
my
budget,
adding
100
additional
highway
patrol
troopers
and
50
new
personnel
to
support
the
mission
of
the
tbi.
B
We'll
also
commit
more
than
150
million
dollars
directly
into
law
enforcement
agencies
across
the
state
to
create
safer
neighborhoods
through
the
violent
crime
intervention
grant
fund
and
we're
proposing
more
than
350
million
new
dollars.
That'll
support
a
law
enforcement
training
academy
to
ensure
that
we
have
the
most
professional
force
in
the
country.
B
B
B
I
also
believe
that
communities
of
faith
are
critical
to
the
preservation
of
american
freedom.
Last
year
I
met
with
a
group
of
jewish
leaders
who
expressed
concern
about
being
able
to
safely
worship,
while
anti-semitism
is
on
the
rise.
In
fact,
recently
a
shock
world
watched
as
a
texas
synagogue
was
held
hostage,
but
the
rabbi
there
credited
the
outcome
to
extensive
safety
training
through
partnership
with
local
law
enforcement.
B
A
strong
commitment
to
public
safety
includes
a
wise
approach
to
criminal
justice,
and
I
want
to
thank
the
members
of
the
general
assembly
for
the
criminal
justice
justice
legislation
that
you
passed
last
year.
In
fact,
in
the
last
three
years
we've
expanded
educational
pathways,
we've
ensured
every
inmate
has
a
photo
id
we've
increased
job
opportunities
for
inmates.
B
I
recently
had
the
remarkable
privilege
of
placing
a
life-changing
phone
call
with
a
man
who
had
served
us
in
his
time
in
prison
and
was
back
in
society.
In
fact,
he
serves
as
a
pastor
here
in
tennessee
now,
but
he
was
living
with
many
of
the
burdens
that
currently
exist
for
those
previously
incarcerated.
B
B
B
B
B
We
pay
a
staggering
900
million
dollars
per
day
in
national
debt
interest
payments,
and
this
is
a
bipartisan
problem.
Working
within
a
broken
system,
but
states
with
balanced
budgets
offer
a
guide
to
what
could
be
if
washington
would
just
act.
Washington
saddles
our
kids
with
trillions
of
dollars
of
debt.
Tennessee's
strong
fiscal
position
allows
us
to
instead
invest
on
their
behalf,
education,
infrastructure,
health
care,
economic
development,
all
areas
where
we
can
make
smart
and
strategic
investments
that
most
states
cannot.
B
In
tennessee,
we've
also
prioritized
efficiency,
unlike
many
other
states.
Since
I've
taken
office,
our
employee
head
count
at
our
departments
has
decreased
by
5
percent
without
making
layoffs,
and
I
want
to
thank
the
members
of
the
general
assembly
for
what
I
believe
is
a
prudent
management
approach
and
while
some
are
forecasting
a
recession,
tennessee
remains
prepared
with
a
healthy
savings
account
and
minimal
liabilities.
B
I
am
proposing
an
innovative
approach
that
sets
aside
dollars
for
each
student
based
on
their
individual
needs,
and
these
dollars
will
be
used
in
whatever
public
school
they
attend
and
we
have
spent
months
engaging
parents
and
teachers
and
students
and
stakeholders
in
a
fully
transparent
process.
All
across
this
entire
state,
the
department
of
education,
members
of
the
general
assembly
have
received
thousands
of
public
comments.
B
B
A
formula
that
prioritizes
the
needs
of
students
above
all
else
and
that
pays
particular
attention
to
students
with
disabilities
and
to
low-income
students
and
to
rural
students
and
students
with
other
priority
needs.
If
we
do
this
correctly,
we
can
create
a
funding
formula
that
demands
accountability,
that
rewards
districts
for
performance,
but,
most
importantly,
it
funds,
students
and
not
bureaucracies.
B
The
proposal
will
be
finalized
in
the
coming
days
and
I
look
forward
to
working
with
you.
The
members
of
the
general
assembly
to
get
this
done.
Now
is
the
time
this
budget
also
includes
one-time
funding
to
expand
high
school
and
middle
school
career
and
technical
opportunities,
so
every
student
can
graduate
with
the
injury
industry
certification
that
they
need
to
join
the
workforce
of
tomorrow.
B
Let
me
tell
you
what
else
this
one-time
funding
will
be
used
for.
I
went
to
waverly
tennessee
after
the
devastating
floods.
Last
year,
the
tragedy
and
the
heartache
the
loss
was
hard
to
take
in.
I
walked
into
the
elementary
school
where
water
rose
to
a
level
of
almost
four
feet.
Within
10
minutes
of
that
flood,
I
saw
decks
desks
and
backpacks
and
books
piled
up
against
the
door
where
the
water
rushed
out.
B
While
we
are
improving
our
funding
strategy,
we
also
need
to
empower
parents
with
a
candid
look
into
not
only
how
their
children
are
learning,
but
what
their
children
are.
Learning.
The
vast
majority
of
parents
believe
that
they
should
be
allowed
to
see
books
and
curriculum
and
other
items
used
in
the
classroom.
That's
how
I
felt
about
my
kids
and
I
stand
with
those
parents
today,
so
we're
proposing
a
new
law
that
will
ensure
that
parents
know
what
materials
are
available
to
their
students
in
libraries.
B
As
we
again
work
to
make
gains
in
elementary
reading
and
mathematics,
we're
also
going
to
work
to
make
sure
that
students
have
options
in
science
and
technology
and
engineering
and
technical
training
will
grow.
Our
investment
in
the
future
workforce
initiative
by
two
and
a
half
million
dollars
make
sure
and
propose
legislation
so
that
every
high
school
student
has
access
to
computer
science
and
coding
classes
we're
seeing
steady
enrollment
in
our
colleges
of
applied
technology
when
other
academic
disciplines
are
actually
declining.
B
Now,
historically,
historically,
funds
put
into
the
salary
pool:
don't
always
make
it
to
deserving
teachers.
When
we
say
teachers
are
getting
a
raise,
there
should
be
no
bureaucratic
workaround
to
prevent
that.
So,
in
our
updated
funding
formula,
we
will
ensure
that
a
teacher
raise
is
a
teacher
raise.
B
B
That
increasing
wages
isn't
enough
to
address
the
teacher
shortage
and
the
record
number
of
retirements
we've
had
in
2020,
we
launched
a
program
to
get
more
high
school
seniors
to
pursue
teaching
and
to
even
stay
in
the
communities
that
raised
them.
Our
program
is
called
grow
your
own,
and
it's
now
nationally
recognized
as
a
model
for
building
a
pipeline
of
qualified
educators.
It's
the
first
time
that
teaching
has
been
recognized
by
the
federal
government
as
an
apprenticeship
pathway,
and
that
path
starts
right
here
in
tennessee.
B
You
know
the
grow.
Your
own
model
is
proof
that
giving
kids
real
skills
in
a
road
map
will
help
solve
the
greatest
challenges
of
our
day,
and
so
much
of
innovation,
which
we
talked
about,
is
doing
research
and
committing
to
reaching
full
potential
at
the
higher
education
level.
We're
investing
90
million
dollars
in
our
nationally
highlighted
outcomes-based
funding
formula.
B
B
Back
in
november
2020,
the
speakers
appointed
a
joint
land
grant
committee
chaired
by
representative
harold
love
to
explore
how
the
state
can
better
understand
the
new
needs
of
tennessee
state
university.
Today,
I'm
recommending
a
250
million
dollar
investment
to
improve
the
physical
infrastructure
at
tsu.
B
B
B
Recently
I
visited
the
wattsbar
nuclear
facility,
the
last
nuclear
facility,
to
be
built
in
america
to
see
just
firsthand
how
nuclear
power
keeps
our
grid
dependable.
Even
when
the
weather
and
other
states
grids
are
not.
Nuclear
power
is
clean
energy
that
actually
works
for
the
private
sector.
It's
enabled
us
to
land
major
economic
projects,
because
it's
not
only
clean,
but
it's
also
cheap
to
produce.
B
Our
state,
thankfully,
is
one
of
the
fastest
growing
states
in
the
country,
and
we
have
an
obligation
to
future
generations
to
invest
in
our
roads
and
our
bridges
to
accommodate
that
growth.
My
budget
proposes
accelerating
the
improve
act
by
allocating
100
million
dollars
to
ensure
progress
on
critical
projects.
B
I'm
also
proposing
more
than
170
million
dollars
toward
interchange
improvements
in
12
counties
across
the
state,
that'll
propel
economic
growth
in
rural
areas.
If
you
want
to
know
what's
right
about
america,
you
got
to
look
at
rural
tennessee,
I'm
also
proposing
more
than
250
million
dollars
toward
road
infrastructure
projects
and
the
fastest
growing
counties
in
our
state
all
told
these
will
amount
to
more
than
600
million
additional
dollars
invested
in
roads
and
bridges
over
and
above
what
was
already
in
place
and
that's
what
meeting
our
obligation
to
the
future
looks
like.
B
I
recently
watched
president
reagan's
farewell
address
that
he
made
just
before
he
left
office
in
january
1989
and,
as
most
presidents
have
done,
his
farewell
address
includes
a
warning
to
the
american
people.
He
reminds
us
that
what
we
want
to
have
in
this
country
is
informed
patriotism
and
then
speaking
about
american
history,
he
said
he
says.
If
we
forget
what
we
did,
we
won't
know
who
we
are.
B
He
said
I'm
warning
of
an
eradication
of
the
american
memory
that
could
result
ultimately
in
an
erosion
of
the
american
spirit,
but
he
offered
a
solution
by
saying,
let's
start
with
some
basics:
more
attention
to
american
history
and
a
greater
emphasis
on
civic
ritual
some
30
years
later.
These
words
are
still
true,
and
now
more
than
ever,
it's
important
that
we
teach
true
american
history,
unbiased
and
non-political.
B
Two
years
ago
we
launched
the
governor's
civic
seal
program,
which
included
grants
to
support
schools
that
were
implementing
high
quality,
civics
education
programs.
Since
then,
we've
nearly
tripled
the
size
of
that
program
and
thousands
of
tennessee
students
have
received
this
education.
We
expect
the
opportunity
to
grow
the
fordham
institute
recently
ranked
us
as
one
of
the
top
five
states
for
civics
education,
I'm
proud
of
the
informed
patriots
that
are
graduating
from
our
tennessee
schools,
but
there's
still
more
to
be
done,
especially
if
we
want
to
provide
tennessee
parents
with
more
educational
choices.
B
For
decades,
hillsdale
college
has
been
a
standard-bearer
in
quality
curriculum
and
in
the
responsibility
of
preserving
american
liberty.
I
believe
their
efforts
are
a
good
fit
for
tennessee
and
we
are
formalizing
a
partnership
with
hillsdale
to
expand
their
approach
to
civics
education
and
k-12
education
in
tennessee.
B
Informed
patriotism
should
stretch
beyond
k-12
and
into
higher
education.
In
many
states,
colleges
and
universities
have
become
centers
of
anti-american
thought,
leaving
students
not
only
ill-equipped
but
confused,
but
in
tennessee.
There
is
no
reason
why
our
institutions
of
higher
learning
can't
be
an
exceptional
part
of
america
at
its
best.
B
B
The
federal
government
estimates
more
than
225
billion
dollars
worth
of
intellectual
property
is
stolen
every
year
from
china
and
much
of
it
at
institutions
of
higher
learning.
Last
year
we
shut
down
confucius
institutes
in
our
public
tennessee
universities
to
cut
ties
with
an
organization.
That's
working
for
the
chinese
party.
B
The
state
of
tennessee
has
to
remain
vigilant
with
regard
to
countries
and
foreign
entities
who
do
not
have
our
best
interests
in
mind.
So
our
administration
is
strengthening
our
vetting
approach
to
ensure
that
we
do
not
spend
state
dollars
or
incentivize
any
company
doing
the
work
of
foreign
adversaries.
B
And
we're
doing
this
we're
doing
this
to
protect
our
tennessee
economy,
our
taxpayer
dollars
and
our
american
security.
Now
our
state
will
be
and
continue
to
be,
a
destination
for
other
global
companies,
who
are
honest
brokers,
and
we
welcome
them
to
the
table.
Good
faith.
Partnership
is
core
to
the
american
spirit,
and
while
we
welcome
foreign
investment,
we
also
welcome
individuals
from
other
countries,
who've
legally
made
america
home
and
that's
something
we
should
always
value.
B
B
B
If
the
federal
courts
return
full
authority
to
the
states,
tennessee's
laws
will
automatically
provide
the
maximum
possible
protection
and
offer
a
glimmer
of
redemption.
As
america
reconciles
our
troubled
past
and
I
believe
tennessee
can
be
a
major
part
of
that
reconciliation
by
offering
both
hope
and
resources
to
families
in
crisis,
and
this
begins
with
mothers.
B
B
These
600
recipients
will
receive
this
care
through
a
25
million
dollar
investment
and
we're
also
working
on
a
multi-year
commitment
to
broaden
dental
services
all
across
the
state
regarding
health
care.
It's
no
secret
that
the
opioid
opioid
epidemic
has
ravaged
many
of
our
communities
all
across
tennessee
and
continues
to
do
so.
B
Therefore,
we
are
increasing
our
investment
to
support
addiction,
recovery
through
mobile
units
and
improved
walk-in
care
from
one
end
of
the
state
to
the
other,
in
spite
of
the
tremendous
work
that
is
being
done
and
the
challenge
that
this
opioid
epidemic
is
to
us
today,
we're
actually
at
a
hopeful
moment
thanks
to
a
tireless
fighter
who
serves
our
state.
Our
attorney
general
herbert
slatery
has
worked
to
ensure
that
every
county
in
tennessee
is
entitled
to
its
part
of
the
26
billion
dollar
suit
against
pharmaceutical
companies
who
fueled
the
opioid
tragedy
in
this
state.