Rep. Ryan Williams leads supermajority’s efforts to keep taxes low, remain fiscally conservative
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – State Rep. Ryan Williams, R-Cookeville, who serves as chair of the House Finance, Ways and Means Subcommittee, today marked the fulfillment of the General Assembly’s constitutional duty with the passage of a $58.3 billion budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year.
This year’s budget highlights lawmakers’ continuous efforts to keep taxes low and remain fiscally responsible while prioritizing the needs of all Tennesseans. It advances Republican efforts to strengthen public schools, streamline transportation projects, improve public health and safety, and make the Volunteer State a beacon for families.
“Tennessee continues to set the standard on how to steward public funds responsibly,” Williams said. “These fiscally conservative investments will empower families, strengthen our economy and position our state for long-term stability and success. I appreciate the collaboration among my colleagues in helping deliver a disciplined budget that upholds our tradition of sound financial management while improving the quality of life for all residents.”
Total legislative initiatives make up $276 million in recurring and non-recurring expenditures while maintaining a strong bottom line for potential uncertainties. Even as revenues have slowed, Tennessee remains one of the most fiscally stable states in the nation with no state income tax and a low overall tax burden.
This year’s budget renews Tennessee Republicans’ commitment to boosting academic outcomes by investing $518 million new dollars for education-related initiatives, including $145.5 million for Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) growth, increasing per student funding to $7,530, and bringing the total TISA investment to more than $7 billion. It also includes $30.6 million for school construction and maintenance grants, $10 million for additional school safety grants and $4.5 million for tnAchieves to help Tennessee students earn higher education credentials.
To continue Republicans’ efforts to make communities across Tennessee safer, the spending plan allocates $320 million for public safety initiatives, including $21 million for 50 additional state troopers and statutory step increases. Lawmakers provided $14 million to create 42 positions at the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, $1.25 million for houses of worship security grants, $5 million for evidence-based programming funds for the Office of Criminal Justice Programs, and $44 million for the Governor’s Response and Recovery Fund, bringing the total to $100 million.
The budget seeks to build on Tennessee’s status as a top state for businesses, investing $890 million in new state appropriations for business infrastructure and economic development. Priorities include $20 million nonrecurring for the community workforce housing innovation pilot program, $15 million nonrecurring for the Rural Development Fund, $8 million for the Youth Employment Program, and $25 million nonrecurring for nuclear industry initiative grants.
Lawmakers made significant investments in health and social services, committing more than $1.4 billion in new state, federal, and other funding. This includes $125 million in shared savings to support improvements in rural hospitals, alongside $1 billion in federal funding through the Rural Health Transformation Program over the next five years.
In addition, lawmakers allocated $137 million from the general fund to help hospitals, particularly in rural areas, to cover uncompensated care. Unlike federal funds, these state dollars can be used for critical capital improvements, giving hospitals greater flexibility. This approach helps stabilize rural health care providers while strengthening their ability to expand services and meet long-term community needs. Other investments includemore than $250 million in new state funding for TennCare, $28 million to address unmet dental services and $11 million for ALS research.
As part of continued efforts to improve the Volunteer State’s infrastructure, the budget adds $400 million nonrecurring in general fund subsidies for transportation projects, $8.2 million for general aviation, $48 million nonrecurring and $25 million recurring for commercial aviation, and $165 million nonrecurring to replace and renovate welcome centers and rest areas.
Other significant investments include $42 million for community grant pools to benefit volunteer fire departments, volunteer rescue squads, emergency medical services, senior centers, museum capital improvements, fairs and courthouse renovations. The budget allocates more than $125 million for two additional state parks and the reconstruction of the David Crockett Birthplace State Park in Greene County. Lawmakers also set aside $20 million for Tennessee’s Rainy-Day fund, bringing the total to $2.2 billion.
Williams is serving his first term as chairman of the House Finance, Ways and Means Subcommittee. He previously served two terms as chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee, where he helped guide passage of several multi-billion-dollar state budgets that strengthened Tennessee’s economy.
Tennessee Republicans remain committed to keeping taxes low. Tennessee holds the highest bond rating from all three of the nation’s credit rating agencies, reflecting extreme confidence in the Volunteer State’s preparedness to meet financial commitments in tough economic times.
State Rep. Ryan Williams lives in Cookeville and represents District 42 in the Tennessee House of Representatives, which includes part of Putnam County.