(The Center Square) – Legislation creating a “state disaster relief program” will go before Tennessee lawmakers when they convene next week.
The program would allocate grants of no more than $250,000 to counties affected by natural disasters, according to the bill filed by Sen. Page Walley, R-Savannah this week. The money could be used for debris removal, emergency life-saving measures and infrastructure repair.
The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency would oversee the program, according to the bill.
East Tennessee was extensively damaged when the remnants of Hurricane Helene swept through the area.
Gov. Bill Lee tapped into TennCare’s shared savings account to fund $100 million in emergency loans for counties.
House members have filed 79 bills and the senators have filed 47.
One of the topics already garnering attention – Democrats and Republicans have filed proposals – is to eliminate the sales tax on groceries. Democrats were the first out of the gate with a bill filed in November. Tennessee Rep. Elaine Davis, R-Knoxville, filed a bill in November. The bills only remove the sales tax on food and food ingredients. Alcohol and candy are excluded.
A bill expanding the state’s school choice program was the first one prefiled. The proposal that allows all 95 counties to participate in the program is expected to take centerstage when lawmakers return.
Lee is touting the program across the state and in a commercial from the American Federation for Children.
A similar bill failed during the 2024 session of the General Assembly.
