(The Center Square) – Bill Lee will address Tennessee lawmakers one final time as governor on Feb. 2.
The State of the State speech is likely to include the governor’s budget proposals.
The governor and other state leaders have indicated they want to expand Education Freedom Scholarships beyond the 5,000 allowed by state law this year.
Lee has also said he will include money for summer food assistance programs. He is facing criticism for not applying for $84 million in federal funds for a summer feeding program.
The budget will be tight compared to others. The State Funding Board is predicting modest growth of just over 2.3%. During Lee’s budget hearings last month, departments submitted $1.3 billion in funding requests.
Lee is term-limited and cannot run for governor again.
“Since the earliest days of our country, Tennesseans have always been people who press on to the next frontier to lead America,” Lee said. “As we begin our final year together, I’m grateful for what we’ve accomplished and confident that the decisions we make today will help define Tennessee’s next chapter and our role in America’s future.”
Lee’s final State of the State begins at 6 p.m. CST.
