Governor Delivers State of the State Address
This week in Nashville, Governor Bill Lee delivered his second State of the State Address. The
governor’s comments focused on recent Republican accomplishments and shared legislative and
budget priorities for the 2020 legislative session. Key focus areas this year include public
education, economic and workforce development, public safety, and an emphasis on our rural
Tennessee communities.
Education highlights include:
-$600 million new dollars for public education.
-$117 million for teacher salaries — a four percent raise.
-Recommendations to move minimum teacher salaries from $36,000 to $40,000 over the next two years.
-Creating a K-12 Mental Health Trust Fund through a one-time $250 million investment to support services for students through an evidence-based, holistic approach.
-Enhancing the school-based behavioral health liaison program from 36 counties to include every Tennessee County.
-New standards for public elementary literacy training and instruction, as well as improved literacy supports and interventions for K-2 students.
-The creation of the Governor’s Teaching Fellowship to support the academic journeys of 1,000 future teachers each year.
-A $4 million investment in professional development and career advancement for educators and academic leaders.
-Initiating the Tennessee Teacher & Leader Institute to gather ideas in efforts to build the best educator preparation program in the entire nation.
Additional highlights include:
-Reinvesting more than $100 million in cities and counties.
-Focusing on job creation in distressed and at-risk counties through incentive packages in efforts to attract new businesses to these communities.
-$25 million to further increase broadband accessibility.
-Launching ApprenticeshipTN, a new effort that will realign our approach to getting individuals back into the workforce
-A $20 million investment in the Rural Opportunity Fund to support community development and address critical infrastructure needs.
-Increasing the criminal penalties associated with theft of a firearm and those associated with reckless endangerment of law enforcement and first responders.
– Revising the occupational licensing process to encourage employment for those who desire to re-enter society and become productive citizens.
– Expanding recovery courts and community supervision programs.
-Investing $6.5 million additional recurring funds in the Health Care Safety Network.
– Creating a Children’s Behavioral Health Safety Network through a $7.5 million investment.
– Financing year three of the Rural Hospital Transformation Program.
-The full text of the Governor’s address along with video from the speech can be found by clicking here.
Republican Leaders Partner with Governor to Address DMV Issues Related to Real ID Process
Republican leaders continue efforts to address ongoing issues at Tennessee’s Driver Service
Centers across Tennessee caused by the increased traffic related to Real ID.
Many of the state’s 44 service centers are experiencing issues providing timely and efficient
services to citizens because of staffing shortages and high demand for the new identification.
As part of the solution, the governor proposed adding 80 additional positions and funding across
the state to help decrease wait times for customers attempting to obtain a REAL ID.
All Tennesseans will be required to have a REAL ID by Oct. 1, 2020 for access to all federal
buildings, entrance to nuclear facilities, and travel onboard domestic U.S. flights.
According to the Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security, this form of
documentation was created through the REAL ID Act of 2005, which establishes minimum
security standards for license issuance and production while prohibiting federal agencies from
accepting driver licenses and identification cards from states not meeting the Act’s minimum
standards. The federal measure was designed to increase security following the Sept. 11, 2001
terrorist attacks on our nation.
Citizens aren’t required to obtain a REAL ID compliant license, but those who want the
credential need the following:
-Proof to establish citizenship or legal presence.
-Proof of Social Security.
-Two proofs of Tennessee residency.
Additional information about REAL ID can be found here.
Measure Authorizing Deadly Force for Sexual Assault
Victims Moves Forward
Legislation authorizing the use of deadly force for sexual assault victims continues to gain
momentum in the Tennessee General Assembly.
House Bill 1575 — also known as the 2020 Defense Doctrine — passed out of the House
Criminal Justice Subcommittee this week. The measure has 53 co-sponsors, and it allows victims
that have reasonable belief they are imminent danger of sexual abuse, sexual assault or rape to
utilize deadly force as a method of self-defense to avoid serious bodily injury and escape
dangerous threats to their personal safety.
Recent data from the Tennessee Department of Health reveals that sexual violence is a major
public health crisis resulting in long-term societal and economic costs. Approximately 6,177
people were assaulted in Tennessee in 2017, according to the department.
House Bill 1575 is expected to be heard by members of the House Judiciary Committee on Feb.
12, 2020. For information, click here.
Republican Lawmakers Introduce Legislation Aimed at Enhancing Awareness of Missing Persons
Republican lawmakers this week introduced the Holly Bobo Act (HB2308) which would expand
Tennessee’s endangered alert system to include missing or endangered young adults under 21-
years-old.
The legislation honors the memory of 20-year-old nursing student Holly Bobo who was abducted
from her home in Henderson County in 2011. The young woman’s remains were found three
years later.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s current program issues alerts for missing or endangered
children under 18 and also features a senior citizen alert program. The bill would make the TBI’s
endangered alert system part of Tennessee Code.
The Holly Bobo Act would not change the activation criteria for AMBER Alerts, which is a
federally funded program. Law enforcement reserves AMBER Alerts for the most serious of
missing child cases when authorities believe a child is in imminent danger. AMBER Alerts may only
be applied to children under 18-years-old.
Key Tax Cut Legislation Begins Movement in House
As part of our continued commitment that has resulted in more than $645 million in tax cuts
under Republican leadership over the last nine years, House Republicans introduced legislation
this week that begins the process of lowering the corporate tax on businesses from 6.5 percent to
6 percent. House Bill 2301 also includes built-in safety mechanisms based upon state revenue
collections in the event of an economic downturn.
Our current corporate tax assessment is one of the highest in the entire southeastern region. It is
levied on net income or earnings of a registered business or corporation for that specific tax year.
By reducing this tax, we’ll provide additional revenue so these businesses may reinvest by
expanding operations and creating new jobs.
The bill will now be assigned to the appropriate standing committee where it will be debated and
discussed.
Spencer Bristol Act Clears Criminal Justice Subcommittee
Legislation honoring the life and legacy of Hendersonville Master Patrol Officer Spencer Bristol
has cleared its first committee in the House.
Members of the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee this week approved the Spencer Bristol
Act, which holds criminals accountable by significantly increasing penalties for evading arrest
when a law enforcement officer is injured or dies during a pursuit involving a fleeing suspect.
Currently, evading arrest is a Class D felony punishable by not less than two years and not more
than 12 years in prison. This initiative enhances that penalty to a Class A offense, punishable by
15-60 years in prison.
Additionally, the Spencer Bristol Act increases penalties for causing serious bodily injury to a
law enforcement officer during a pursuit from a Class D felony to a Class C felony.
Officer Bristol was killed in the line of duty on Dec. 30, 2019 pursuing a fleeing suspect
following a crash and high-speed car chase that began in Hendersonville and ended on Interstate
65 in Goodlettsville.
Republican lawmakers are proud to support this initiative honoring this fallen hero. We proudly
stand with the brave men and women who protect and serve our communities, and we will
continue to fight for them throughout the 2020 legislative session.
The measure now heads to the House Judiciary Committee.
John Holsclaw serves as Chairman of the House Employee Affairs Subcommittee. He is
also a member of the House Consumer and Human Resource Committee, Commerce
Committee, Business Subcommittee, and Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.
Holsclaw lives in Elizabethton and represents House District 4, which includes Unicoi and
part of Carter Counties. He can be reached by email at [email protected] or by calling (615) 741-7450.