All eyes will be on Nashville this week as Tennessee Governor Bill Lee delivers his second State of the State address to the General Assembly.
Despite no elected experience before being sworn in on January 19, 2019, Lee had a strong first year in office, with most – if not all – of his agenda being adopted by a collaborative legislature.
A few highlights from Governor Lee’s first year in office:
Signed the Governor’s Investment in Vocational Education (GIVE) Act into law, which expanded access to vocational and technical training
Made the largest single investment in the Rainy-Day Fund in state history
Helped attract $3.25 billion in investment and 16,500 new job commitments
Increased pay for prison correctional officers, teachers and state employees
Established an Office of Faith Based Initiatives
Submitted an innovative block grant proposal to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (more here)
With that long list of accomplishments, it is no surprise that Lee succeeded in maintaining support within his own party and remains popular among voters, with a 62 percent approval rating according to Vanderbilt University’s Fall 2019 Poll. The poll also found that 69 percent of registered voters trust the governor when it comes to making decisions about the important issues facing our state.
And knowing Governor Lee, we know he has no plans to slow down any time soon.
The governor will deliver his second State of the State address on Monday, February 3 at 7:00 p.m. ET (6:00 p.m. CT) before a joint session, which will be aired statewide and take place in the House Chamber in the Tennessee State Capitol.
“I’m looking forward to sharing my vision for the future of Tennessee, including my legislative and budget priorities for this year. We have made remarkable progress during my first year in office, and thanks to the support of the General Assembly, I believe we will continue to make our state a leader in the nation and create a brighter future for those who call Tennessee home.” -Governor Bill Lee
Continuing his approach from the campaign trail to reach Tennesseans in all corners of the state, Lee is again taking the show on the road. He will deliver State of the State addresses in all three Grand Divisions for the second time, traveling to Johnson City on Thursday, February 5 and Jackson on Thursday, February 13 to share his vision with East and West Tennesseans.
Below are details for the governor’s State of the State addresses and a few key legislative dates to keep an eye on as we enter this legislative session.
Lace ‘em up. It’s go time, Tennessee.
State of the State
Monday, February 3, 2020
Governor’s remarks to begin at 6:00 p.m. CST
Tennessee State Capitol
House Chamber
Nashville, TN 37243
State of East Tennessee
Thursday, February 6, 2020
Doors open at 5 p.m. EST
Governor’s remarks to begin at 6:00 p.m. EST
ETSU Millennium Center
2001 Millennium Pl
Johnson City, TN 37604
State of West Tennessee
Thursday, February 13, 2020
Doors open at 5 p.m. CST
Governor’s remarks to begin at 6:00 p.m. CST
Lane College, Chambers-McClure Academic Center
545 Lane Ave
Jackson, TN 38301
Key Legislative Dates
February 3 | Governor’s State of the State Address
February 3 | Governor’s Budget Release
February 5 | House Bill Filing Deadline
February 6 | Senate Bill Filing Deadline
Mid-April | Target Adjournment