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Description
Joint Convention- State of the State Address- February 6, 2023
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D
E
Senate
joined
resolution
119
by
Senator
Johnson,
a
resolution
to
call
a
joint
Convention
of
the
Senate
House
of
Representatives
for
the
purpose
of
hearing
the
State
of
the
State
addressed
by
Governor
Bill
Lee,
and
to
authorized
transmittal
of
the
budget
document
and
legislation
implementing
the
budget
for
fiscal
year
2023
and
2024.
Where
is
Tennessee
code
annotated,
section
3-1-108
provides
for
the
joint
Convention
of
the
Senate
and
the
House
of
Representatives
to
be
called
annually
for
the
purpose
of
hearing.
E
The
State
of
the
State
addressed
by
the
governor
thou,
therefore
be
it
resolved
by
the
Senate
of
the
113th
general
assembly
of
the
state
of
Tennessee,
the
House
of
Representatives,
concurring
that
the
Senate
and
House
of
Representative
meet
and
Joint
convention
on
Monday
February
6
2023
at
5,
45
PM
in
the
chamber
of
the
House
of
Representatives.
For
the
purpose
of
hearing
the
state
of
State
address
by
the
honorability
governor
of
Tennessee.
E
Be
it
further
resolve
to
the
governor
Lee,
be
invited
to
address
the
joint
convention
on
Monday
February
6
28
23
at
6
PM
in
the
chamber
of
the
House
of
Representatives.
Be
it
further
resolve
the
pursuit
to
TCA
section
9-4-5105,
the
general
assembly
authorizes
the
transmitter
of
the
state
budget
document
or
documents
for
fiscal
year,
2023
2024
prior
to
the
close
of
dentists,
at
both
houses
on
Monday
February,
6
2023
and
be
it
for
the
resolve.
B
D
I
appoint
the
following
house
members
to
notify.
The
governor
of
the
joint
convention
is
in
session
and
awaiting
his
arrival.
Representatives
Gillespie
representative
Rudd
representative
Rudder
representative
Littleton
representative
camper
representative
Gillespie,
will
serve
as
chairman
of
this
committee
with
objection.
The
Joint
convention
will
stand
in
recess
pending
the
arrival
of
the
governor.
D
D
D
D
D
F
G
D
D
D
H
Foreign,
thank
you
all
very,
very
much
lieutenant
governor
McNally,
speaker,
Sexton,
speaker,
Pro,
tem,
Hale,
speaker,
Pro,
Tim,
Marsh,
members
of
the
113th
General
Assembly
constitutional
officers,
justices
cabinet
members
and
staff
and
my
family.
Thank
you
for
being
here.
Friends.
I
am
proud
to
serve
Tennessee
alongside
you
as
we
serve
the
people
that
we
love
so
much
and
to
those
of
you
who
are
new
to
this
General
Assembly
I
want
to
welcome
you
and
thank
you.
H
You
have
accepted
a
call
to
serve
and
I've
come
to
realize
just
how
valuable
and
how
important
that
is,
and
you
may
or
may
not
agree
with
everything
that
everyone
does
in
this
Hall.
You
certainly
won't,
but
I
can
tell
you
that
I
genuinely
look
forward
to
working
with
each
one
of
you
as
we
serve
the
people
of
this
state.
To
those
of
you
who
are
new
to
this
assembly,
you
have
accepted
a
high
calling
and
I
want
to
say.
Thank
you.
H
Being
governor
of
this
state
is
the
honor
of
my
life
and
it's
infinitely
more
rewarding
to
serve
with
a
wonderful
first
lady
by
my
side,
but
she
cannot
be
here
tonight.
She
wishes
that
she
could.
She
is
starting
on
the
next
stage
of
her
journey,
and
we
want
to
thank
all
of
you
in
this
chamber
and
all
across
the
state
who
have
reached
out
to
us
who
have
prayed
for
us
and
who
have
supported
us
along
with
many
tennesseans
who
go
through
trial.
H
H
H
She
thanks
you
for
that.
Two
weeks
ago,
I
took
an
oath
to
uphold
and
defend
the
Constitutions
of
Tennessee
and
the
United
States
of
America
and,
as
I
said
on
inauguration
day.
This
halfway
point
is
a
good
time
to
reflect,
but
it's
an
even
better
time
to
plan,
because
our
state
is
leading
the
nation.
The
nation
has
great
expectations
for
us.
H
In
fact,
there
were
only
seven
men
left
with
him
and
they
were
outnumbered
by
hundreds
of
Germans,
but
Sergeant
York
took
command
of
the
seven
American
soldiers
and
won
the
battle
that
day
a
rural
Tennessean
or
in
the
Congressional
Medal
of
Honor,
and
he
returned
home
to
Fentress
County,
an
American
Hero,
Sergeant
York
stepped
up
to
lead
when
our
country
was
counting
on
him.
And
tonight
we
are
fortunate
to
be
joined
by
his
grandchildren,
retired
Colonel,
Gerald,
York,
Deborah,
York
and
Angie
York.
Please
stand
and
be
recognized.
H
H
H
H
Ford
Motor
Company
could
have
picked
any
state
in
the
country,
but
why
did
they
choose
to
plant
their
roots
in
West,
Tennessee,
In
and
Out
Burger
iconic
family-run
company
of
all
the
states
they
could
have
picked
their
new
Hub
and
first
footprint
east
of
Texas,
is
coming
to
the
volunteer
state.
Why
Tennessee?
H
Our
investments
in
public
education
and
Workforce,
Development
and
safe
schools
and
our
commitment
to
Freedom
and
to
families
have
all
earned
National
recognition,
and
our
commitment
to
this
high
quality
of
life
doesn't
stop
at
the
borders
of
our
big
cities.
In
fact,
it
begins
in
the
most
rural
areas
of
our
state
and
thanks
to
that
commitment,
the
number
of
distressed
counties
in
Tennessee
has
dropped
from
15
to
10
and
we
are
not
done.
H
So
to
continue
leading
the
nation
I'm,
proposing
a
legislative
agenda
and
a
budget
that
will
focus
on
the
fundamentals
that
put
our
state
in
this
enviable
position.
In
the
first
place,
Tennessee
has
a
legacy
of
fiscal
responsibility
that
has
allowed
our
state's
economy
to
flourish.
The
same
cannot
be
said
for
every
state
in
this
country.
Economic
pressure
is
building
it's
hitting
the
pocket
of
every
American
family
and
at
times
like
this,
many
states
are
forced
to
choose
between
raising
taxes
or
creating
debt,
but
not
Tennessee.
H
H
H
Before
I
move
on
regarding
fiscal
responsibility
for
decades,
it's
the
general
assembly
in
this
state
that
has
been
committed
to
a
balanced
budget
that
also
recognizes
the
priorities
that
tennesseans
you
should
be
commended
for
that
you
should
get
credit
for
that,
and
I
want
to.
Thank
you
for
that.
Thank
you.
H
H
In
recent
months,
we
have
taken
a
closer
look
at
Transportation
needs
in
this
state
and
I
appreciate
those
of
you
who
have
engaged
in
the
conversation
thus
far.
It
is
time
to
invest
in
a
transportation
strategy
for
one
of
the
fastest
growing
states
in
the
country.
We
cannot
solve
this
problem
with
debt
or
higher
taxes,
but
we
have
to
do
something
right
now.
There
is
a
26
billion
dollar
backlog
of
projects
across
the
state
simply
put
we
are
way
behind
and
we
have
to
change
the
way
we
fund
and
build
our
roads
and
our
bridges.
H
And
hear
me
when
I
say
this
toll
roads
are
not
on
the
table:
we're
talking
about
Choice
Lanes,
public-private
Partnerships,
new
delivery
models,
solutions
that
have
worked
for
States
all
across
the
country,
including
our
friends
in
Florida
and
Texas.
In
combination
with
this
new
strategy,
we
have
to
jump
start
the
process
because
we
are
so
far
behind.
We
need
to
make
a
major
initial
investment
just
to
begin
to
catch
up
so
to
alleviate
Urban
congestion
in
our
major
cities
and
widen
rural
interstates
across
the
state.
H
H
We
have
an
obligation
to
prepare
our
state
for
the
future
and
then
time
to
do
so
is
now
our
state's
economic
success
can
also
be
measured
by
a
number
of
jobs
created,
170,
000,
new
jobs
in
just
four
years,
and
now
our
Workforce
pipeline
must
keep
up
Pathways
to
success,
don't
look
the
same
for
every
Tennessean
and
they
shouldn't
for
many.
A
certification
from
one
of
our
Tennessee
colleges
of
Applied
technology
will
open
just
the
right
doors
since
2019.
H
H
H
H
H
Brad
was
first
introduced
to
tcat
Marshtown
in
2015,
through
an
apprenticeship
opportunity
and
in
2021
he
decided
to
enroll
full-time
and
earned
his
diploma
now
at
a
young
54
years
old,
Brad's
enjoying
a
second
career
at
a
programmer
with
as
a
programmer
with
McNeilus
Steele
Incorporated,
a
company
that
we
recruited
to
Tennessee
in
2019..
This
is
why
we
invest
in
tcats,
and
this
is
why
we
recruit
great
companies
to
Tennessee.
Please
join
me
in
congratulating
Brad
Bernard
on
his
success.
H
Thank
you.
Access
to
Career
and
Technical
education
can
change
the
trajectory
of
someone's
life
and
we
should
expand
those
opportunities
in
our
K-12
schools,
starting
with
the
give
act.
Four
years
ago,
we've
worked
to
create
more
vocational
and
stem
programs
in
classrooms
across
the
state
and,
as
a
result,
dual
enrollment
for
high
school
students
has
nearly
doubled.
H
You've
heard
me
say
we
should
change
the
way
high
school
looks
in
Tennessee
and
we're
well
on
our
way
to
making
that
a
reality.
Last
year
we
reformed
the
public
school
funding
formula
for
the
first
time
in
30
years
and
invested
in
historic
amount
to
fund
Tennessee
students
based
on
their
individual
needs,
and
this
year
I'm
proposing
an
additional
investment
of
350
million
dollars
into
the
Tisa
formula,
and
that
includes
125
million
dollars
for
teacher
pay,
races.
H
H
In
just
the
last
six
months,
there's
hundreds
of
families
that
are
living
in
underserved
ZIP
codes
in
our
state
that
have
had
the
opportunity
to
pick
what
they
think
is
the
best
school
for
their
child.
Through
our
education
savings
account
program,
our
ESA
program
is
changing
lives
and
States
across
the
country
are
following
Tennessee's
lead
I've,
always
believed
that
we
should
strive
to
have
the
best
public
school
system
in
the
country
and
provide
choices
for
parents.
There
are
some
who
claim
they
have
to
choose
either
or,
but
these
two
ideas
are
not
in
conflict.
H
H
H
H
Her
goals
for
this
year
are
to
read
30
minutes
every
day
and
to
study
hard
for
her
weekly
spelling
test.
She
also
joined
the
choir
and
a
Bible
study.
Natalia
found
her
voice
and
every
child
in
this
state
deserves
to
have
access
to
a
high
quality
education.
Please
join
me
in
welcoming
Natalia,
Serrano
and
her
family.
We
are
so
proud
of
you.
H
Tennessee
is
blessed
with
Incredible
Public,
School
teachers
and
administrators.
Just
last
month,
Oak
Haven
High
School
in
Memphis,
was
in
the
National
Spotlight
for
their
Innovative
use
of
phonics
learning
and
English
and
math
and
science
classes,
and
a
few
miles
down
the
road
Dr
Vincent
Hunter
principal
at
Whitehaven,
High
School
in
South
Memphis,
is
leading
a
school
that
continues
to
exceed
expectations.
H
Dr
Hunter,
who
is
a
Whitehaven
graduate
himself,
serves
a
student
body
that
is
99
African-American.
Under
his
leadership,
the
school
has
expanded
dual
enrollment
AP
classes,
foreign
language
courses.
Whitehaven,
is
just
one
of
three
high
schools
in
the
whole
District,
with
a
graduation
rate
of
90
or
higher.
H
I
I
had
the
honor
of
attending
last
year's
spring
graduation
at
Whitehaven,
and
let
me
tell
you
I'm,
really
encouraged
about
the
Future
Leaders
of
Memphis
and
our
state.
When
I
go
to
a
school
like
Whitehaven.
You
know
we
have
been
in
prayer,
constant
prayer
for
the
Nichols
family
since
they
tragically
lost
their
son
Tyree
last
month.
Their
courage,
their
compassion
and
the
compassion
shown
by
the
people
of
Memphis
is
a
picture
of
Hope.
H
H
H
H
As
a
parent
and
hearing
from
Educators
across
the
state,
I
know
that
this
can
be
one
of
the
largest
challenges
during
Elementary
School
years,
and
that's
why
our
budget
this
year
will
prioritize
new
literacy
programs
from
tutoring
to
summer
camps
and
give
students
multiple
Pathways
to
become
a
strong
reader.
The
ability
to
read
at
grade
level
can
determine
a
child's
future
and
our
approach
has
to
be
about
providing
additional
support
so
that
every
student
is
set
up
for
success
in
the
classroom
and
Beyond
foreign.
H
Funding
and
choices
and
literacy
are
all
important,
but
none
of
that
matters
more
than
your
child
coming
home
from
school
safe
every
day
since
2019
Tennessee
has
done
a
lot
of
work
to
strengthen
school
safety.
We
increased
funding.
We
boosted
mental
health
programs.
We
established
a
grant
to
place
more
than
200
school
resource
officers
all
across
the
state.
Last
year,
I
signed
an
executive
order
to
engage
parents
and
strengthen
the
relationship
between
schools
and
the
local
Tennessee
Highway
Patrol
Troopers,
who
helped
watch
over
their
communities.
H
H
H
H
H
We
know
that
Public
Safety
doesn't
stop
there,
whether
we
are
protecting
against
the
influence
of
the
Chinese
Communist
party
or
the
dangers
of
a
drug
crisis
stemming
from
an
open
border.
We
must
continue
to
have
a
voice
in
the
National
Security
when
the
safety
of
tennesseans
is
at
stake
and
we
will
never
stop
investing
in
the
safety
of
tennesseans.
H
H
H
Just
a
minute
ago,
I
said
we
have
an
opportunity
to
support
families
and
have
some
very
important
news
for
all
of
us
to
share
tonight.
Two
years
ago,
at
the
request
of
the
general
assembly,
we
secured
an
historic
TennCare,
Medicaid
waiver
agreement,
the
only
federally
approved
waiver
of
its
kind
in
the
nation.
H
Our
waiver
actually
rewards
a
state
for
efficient,
responsible
management
of
taxpayer
resources
by
awarding
additional
federal
dollars,
known
as
shared
savings,
to
serve
the
most
vulnerable.
I
want
to
thank
our
TennCare
director,
Stephen
Smith
for
his
remarkable
leadership
and
working
with
the
federal
government.
H
At
your
request
to
secure
this
waiver
and
I've
said
all
along,
we
would
only
move
forward
with
this
waiver
if
it
was
a
good
deal
for
tennesseans
and
tonight.
I
can
share
that.
We
have
claimed
the
first
returns
from
this
program,
and
not
only
did
we
get
a
good
deal,
we
got
a
great
deal
for
the
first
year
alone.
Tennessee
will
receive
more
than
300
million
dollars
of
shared
savings,
at
no
additional
burden
to
Tennessee
taxpayers.
H
H
We've
offered
Comprehensive
Dental
benefits
for
TennCare
recipients
for
the
first
time
in
the
state's
history
and
now
with
a
pro-family
landscape.
In
the
background,
using
just
the
savings
from
this
first
year,
we
will
further
strengthen
postpartum
coverage,
providing
services
to
over
five
thousand
more
mothers,
close
the
coverage
gap
for
parents
and
reach
an
additional
10
000
children
in
total,
offering
services
to
nearly
25
000,
more
women,
children
and
parents
in
need.
H
H
H
H
In
Tennessee,
we
also
value
the
Dignity
of
a
foster
child
who
Longs
for
a
loving
home,
the
Dignity
of
a
mother
who
can't
simply
can't
raise
a
child
alone
or
a
couple
whose
prayers
for
a
child
have
not
yet
been
answered.
Last
fall.
We
began
working
Anew
with
our
partners
in
the
general
assembly
to
address
the
growing
challenges
in
serving
at-risk
children
in
Tennessee
and,
quite
frankly,
across
the
country.
H
H
Our
new
commissioner,
Margie
Quinn
brings
Decades
of
expertise
working
with
the
most
vulnerable
populations
in
our
state
in
our
service,
with
the
TBI
and
with
anti-human
trafficking
non-profits
with
commissioner
Quinn
at
the
helm,
we've
already
hired
dozens
of
new
qualified,
caseworkers
and
DCS
caseworkers
have
an
incredibly
difficult
job
and
they
deserve
our
support.
Last
year
we
provided
two
pay
raises
for
caseworkers
and
I
intend
to
boost
their
pay
again
in
this
budget.
H
H
There
is,
there
is
a
lot
more
work
to
be
done,
but
I
believe
we
have
the
right
plan
and
the
right
team
in
place
to
get
it
done,
and
this
is
all
a
part
of
our
broader
strategy
to
support
Strong
Tennessee
families
and
we
have
big
goals.
In
2021
we
launched
Tennessee
Fosters
hope
this
year,
I'm
proposing
a
new
10
10
million
dollar
grant
program
to
support
the
mission
of
Foster
and
adoption
nonprofits
all
across
our
state.
Last
year,
Tennessee's
budget
funded
ultrasound
machines
at
Crisis,
Pregnancy
clinics,
all
across
the
state.
H
H
H
With
that,
our
office
of
faith-based
initiatives
has
a
unique
ability
and
an
important
opportunity
to
engage
non-profits
and
Community
organizations
and
I
believe
it's
time
to
equip
them
with
the
resources
they
need
to
play
a
bigger
role,
as
we
Endeavor
to
better
serve
Children
and
Families,
from
strengthening
DCS
to
expanding
care
for
families.
These
challenges
are
not
easy,
but
if
we
start
from
our
commitment
to
human
dignity,
we
will
get
it
done.
H
Strong
families,
in
fact,
are
the
building
block
of
society
in
our
communities
and
our
state,
our
country,
the
love
and
support
that
fills
a
tight-knit
home,
spreads
outward
building
up
neighborhoods
and
churches
and
volunteer
organizations
and
all
of
the
other
institutions
that
help
bind
us
together.
One
way
that
we
can
support
and
strengthen
families
is
by
making
it
possible
for
parents
to
be.
There
worry
free
for
every
second
of
the
first
few
months
of
life.
H
H
This
is
not
a
mandate
on
businesses,
I
believe
every
business
owner
should
make
decisions
that
are
in
the
best
interest
of
their
employees,
but
our
state
workers
are
critical
to
Tennessee's
success.
That's
why
we
increase
the
base
pay
for
state
employees
last
fall,
and
we
intend
to
issue
more
raises
this
year.
A
reasonable.
H
Our
state
parks
are
a
jewel
and
they'll
only
be
around
for
the
future.
If
we
invest
in
them
today,
Through
The,
Years
Tennessee,
has
maintained
responsible
stewardship
of
our
natural
resources,
but
it's
time
to
develop
a
conservation
strategy
that
balances
our
state's
economic
growth,
with
a
plan
to
protect
our
environment.
H
I
believe
that
Tennessee's
vision
for
conservation
can
start
like
this.
The
most
accessible
Park
system
in
the
nation,
regardless
of
your
ZIP
code
or
your
physical
ability,
your
demographics,
you
and
your
family
should
be
able
to
enjoy
outdoor
experiences
close
to
home.
So
to
achieve
that,
my
budget
proposal
will
improve
and
expand
three
additional
State
natural
areas
build
two
new
park:
lodges,
complete
four
more
outdoor
trails
and
create
four
new
state
parks.
H
But
if
we
really
want
to
contribute
to
the
future
of
America's
environment,
we
should
contribute
to
the
advancement
of
clean
energy
as
Washington
debates,
an
agenda
that
over
regulates
or
pushes
the
burden
on
Everyday
People
Tennessee
is
looking
for
real
solutions
through
innovation
and
we
have
a
solution.
That's
cheap
and
clean
and
reliable.
No
other
state
in
the
country
comes
close
to
Tennessee's,
Legacy
resources
and
potential
to
be
a
leader
in
nuclear
energy,
and
there
is.
H
And
there
is
no
long-term
National
strategy
that
doesn't
include
nuclear
energy.
That's
why
tonight
I'm
proposing
50
million
dollars
and
a
nuclear
Fast
Track
fund
to
recruit
companies
to
our
state
that
will
specifically
establish
a
nuclear
development
and
Manufacturing
ecosystem
built
for
the
future
of
Tennessee.
We
cannot
pass
up
this
opportunity.
Tennessee
can
and
should
be
the
leader
in
nuclear
energy
for
America.
H
B
H
H
Tennesseans
have
accomplished
remarkable
things
in
our
226
year
history
and
once
again
we
are
being
called
to
be
a
Guiding
Light
and
to
carry
the
spirit
that
took
our
state
from
Frontier
to
front
runner,
and
so
as
I
look
ahead
to
the
next
four
years,
with
four
very
challenging
yet
fruitful
years.
In
the
rear
view,
I
can
see
that
we
have
arrived
at
a
pivotal
point.
H
Perhaps
the
greatest
lesson
in
Sergeant
York's
story
is
not
found
in
the
heroic
actions
from
a
battlefield,
but
in
his
incredible
humility
and
in
the
way
that
he
served
after
that
when
he
returned
home
to
rural
Tennessee
and
relentlessly
used
his
own
success
to
make
life
better
for
future
Generations
As
Leaders
may
we
all
be
inspired
to
serve
in
that
way,
and
my
very
first
state
of
the
state
I
said
if
we
lead
Tennessee.
Well,
Tennessee
May
well
lead
the
nation
Tennessee
is
leading.
H
The
question
is:
will
we
lead
in
a
way
that
lasts
in
a
way
that
our
grandchildren
are
equipped
and
inspired
to
pick
up
where
we
left
off
I
believe
that
we
can
and
I
look
forward
to
pursuing
that
with
all
of
you
this
year
and
three
more
years
after
that,
may
the
Lord
continue
to
pour
out
his
favor
and
Bless
the
people
of
the
great
state
of
Tennessee?
Thank
you.