TN Governor Newsroom

Governor Bill Lee Closes 2026 Legislative Session, $58.3B Budget

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced the close of the 2026 legislative session, his final, with a $58.3 billion FY26-27 budget. Key allocations include $400 million to TDOT for infrastructure, $339 million for public K-12 education with starting teacher pay raised to $50,000, $155 million to expand Education Freedom Scholarships to 35,000 total, $350 million for a new UT Health Science Center College of Medicine building, $230 million to TennCare for medical inflation, $40 million for Korea Zinc's bridge project tied to a $6.6 billion manufacturing investment, and $20 million added to the Rainy Day Fund bringing reserves to $2.2 billion. The session also advanced scope of practice reforms and Certificate of Need modernization for rural healthcare.

William E. Phillips II Appointed to Tennessee Court of Appeals, Eastern Section

Governor Bill Lee appointed William E. Phillips II to the Tennessee Court of Appeals, Eastern Section. Phillips currently serves as Circuit Court Judge for the Third Judicial District of Tennessee. This appointment fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Chief Judge D. Michael Swiney and is subject to confirmation by the Tennessee General Assembly.

President Trump Approves Governor Lee's Major Disaster Declaration for Winter Storm Fern

President Trump approved Governor Bill Lee's request for a Major Disaster Declaration following Winter Storm Fern, enabling FEMA Public Assistance for 15 counties in West and Middle Tennessee. The storm caused 29 deaths, significant infrastructure damage, and left over 365,000 customers without power at its peak. Eligible government entities and certain private nonprofit organizations in designated counties can now apply for reimbursement of qualifying disaster-related costs through FEMA's Public Assistance program.

Governor Bill Lee Appoints Judge Stacy Street to Court of Criminal Appeals

Governor Bill Lee of Tennessee announced the appointment of Judge Stacy Street to the Court of Criminal Appeals, Eastern Section, effective July 7, 2026, pending legislative confirmation. Judge Street currently serves as a Criminal Court Judge in the First Judicial District and holds degrees from East Tennessee State University and the University of Tennessee College of Law. He will fill the vacancy created by Judge Kyle Hixson's elevation to the Tennessee Supreme Court. This appointment affects the composition of Tennessee's intermediate appellate court for criminal matters.

Tennessee Joins A Home for Every Child Initiative to Expand Foster Care Capacity

Governor Bill Lee announced on February 25, 2026 that the Tennessee Department of Children's Services will join the Trump Administration's 'A Home for Every Child' initiative led by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families (ACF). Tennessee becomes among the first states to sign a joint proclamation committing to expand the number of foster families, support kinship caregivers, strengthen prevention services, and improve child welfare data reporting. The partnership supports Tennessee's ongoing Every Child TN efforts and ties to the federal Child and Family Services Review process.

Tennessee Submits Oak Ridge Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus Proposal to DOE

Tennessee has submitted a comprehensive proposal to the U.S. Department of Energy positioning Oak Ridge as the premier site for a Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus. The proposal highlights Tennessee's comprehensive nuclear ecosystem spanning nearly the full nuclear lifecycle including fuel fabrication, enrichment, reprocessing, advanced separations, and recycling of used nuclear fuel. The project would leverage existing infrastructure anchored by Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Y-12 National Security Complex to support DOE's vision for full-cycle nuclear energy ecosystems.