NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee will deliver his third annual State of the State address to lawmakers on Monday.
Early Monday morning, Lee released excerpts from his speech which will detail his legislative priorities, his vision for education in the state and how the state plans to invest in rural communities.
Budget and Legislative Priorities
“We have conservative proposals for your consideration that will reduce crime, support strong
families and get our economy back up to speed, especially in rural Tennessee. Our proposals
honor the individual yet benefit the state as a whole, and they will leave us well-positioned for
the recovery that has already begun across our state.”
Celebrating 225 Years of Statehood
“We will celebrate that since 1796 the ordinary has made us extraordinary and remember that
generations before us have not just weathered but excelled in the cycle of perseverance,
character and hope. I will once again travel to all 95 counties to reach the unsung people and
places that make our state who she is.”
Vision for K-12 Education
“The reason we place so much focus on education is because students should be prepared for
productive lives, not just the latest standardized test. I recently had a conversation with
Commissioner Schwinn that the mission of the Department of Education should be simple:
Students should be prepared for life beyond the classroom.”
Rural Investment
“Whether it’s running a small business, accessing virtual learning or accessing health care via
telemedicine, slow internet speeds have many in rural Tennessee left at a disadvantage. A
significant, one-time investment, combined with significant private investment, will get
broadband to just about every community in Tennessee, and tonight, that’s exactly what I’m
proposing.”
Pro-Life & Pro-Family
“But being pro-life isn’t just about defending the unborn and we must also think about how to
use our passion for this issue to improve the lives of struggling families. My administration is
preparing a number of new initiatives that we’ll announce throughout the year that will make
Tennessee a national leader in foster care and adoption.”
He also released the video below.
The Republican had previously called for a special legislative session earlier this year, which focused on education proposals that addressed challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fallout from the outbreak is likely to continue to dominate the state’s regular session.
Also during this upcoming session, Republican lawmakers are expected to push again to allow most adults 21 and older to carry firearms without a license that now requires a background check and training.