Bill Lee State of the State Address 2026

Governor Bill Lee delivers a "State of the State" address to the 115th General Assembly of Tennessee. He reflects on the achievements of his administration over the past seven years while laying out a bold agenda for 2025 and beyond, framed around the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States.

Key Themes and Highlights

1. Education Reform and "Education Freedom"

Governor Lee emphasized a vision for "Education Freedom," celebrating the state's rise in national rankings for math and reading.

Funding: Proposed an additional $340 million for public schools, bringing the total increase during his tenure to over 50%.

Teacher Pay: Highlighted a trajectory to raise starting teacher salaries to $50,000 by 2027.

School Choice: Advocated for doubling the number of "Education Freedom Scholarships" to meet the high demand from families seeking alternative schooling options.

2. Law Enforcement and Memphis Safety

A significant portion of the speech focused on public safety, particularly in Memphis.

Crime Reduction: Reported a 55% drop in crime in Shelby County through collaborative task forces.

Human Trafficking/Missing Children: Recognized the "Missing Child Unit" for recovering 146 missing children in Memphis.

Trooper Expansion: Announced the goal of reaching 1,300 state troopers statewide, including a permanent presence of 100 troopers in Shelby County.

3. Rural Health Transformation

Lee addressed the challenges of healthcare access in rural areas by proposing a shift toward deregulation.

Transformation Fund: Noted a $1 billion federal investment over five years for rural hospitals and EMS.

Scope of Practice: Advocated for letting nurse practitioners and physician assistants practice to the full extent of their training to alleviate doctor shortages.

Certificate of Need (CON) Laws: Called for the repeal or reform of "outdated" laws that he claims have blocked $1.5 billion in healthcare investment.

4. Economic Development and "The Future Frontier"

The Governor touted Tennessee's status as a top destination for businesses and families.

Fiscal Stewardship: Noted that while revenue increased by 50% over eight years, the number of non-law enforcement government employees was reduced by 1,100.

Nuclear Energy: Declared Tennessee the "global epicenter of nuclear energy," citing an $8 billion investment and proposing an additional $25 million for the state's nuclear fund.

Tech Innovation: Announced the Tennessee Quantum Initiative to lead in research, AI, and workforce development.

Summary of Budget Proposals

CategoryProposed Investment/GoalPublic Schools$340 Million additional fundingMemphis Safety$80 Million in grants + 100 permanent troopersState TroopersReach a total of 1,300 officersNuclear Fund$25 Million additional fundingRural Health$1 Billion over 5 years (Federal/State partnership)