This week, Cordell Hull was busy as legislators worked to file legislation by the bill filing deadline. We will publish a list of bills we are monitoring in future updates and on our website at tseaonline.org.
Here are a few notable items from the week:
Governor Lee’s State of the State address
Gov. Lee will deliver his sixth State of the State address to the General Assembly and fellow Tennesseans on Monday, Feb. 5 at 6 p.m. CST. During the address, Gov. Lee will outline his proposed budget and legislative priorities for 2024.
The Governor’s address can be viewed on Lee’s Facebook and YouTube channels and will be aired statewide.
Governor Lee’s proposed state budget
The Senate Finance, Ways & Means Committee will meet Tuesday, Feb. 6 at 8:30 a.m. to take up the Governor’s 2024-2025 budget recommendation.
In addition, Senate Budget Hearings will kick off Tuesday, Feb. 13 and run through Wednesday, Mar. 13.
TSEA will monitor the state of the state, the proposed budget, and budget hearings and report back on any information relevant to state employees.
DCS Annual Report
The Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (DCS) released their annual report for Fiscal Year 2023.
The report emphasizes efforts to improve case management, reduce vacancies and turnover rates among case managers, and enhance the care system for children. It also highlights a reduction in caseloads, the closure of numerous cases due to the special response team, the approval of new foster homes, and the modernization of the department’s mission, vision, and values.
You can review that report here: FY22-23 DCS Annual Report (tn.gov)
DHS Hearing
We invite you to dedicate 30 minutes to view the Senate’s recent update on the Department of Human Services (DHS). The hearing includes valuable updates and demonstrates how DHS has implemented several changes we’ve advocated for over the past months.
To view the hearing, visit the link below:
Northeast Legislative Event
TSEA is excited to announce we are holding the Northeast Legislative Event in Elizabethton on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024, at 9:00 a.m.
Our regional legislative events allow TSEA members to hear directly from their state legislators in person and in their own communities. These events allow our members priority access to their state elected officials outside their hectic state legislature schedules.
Details about the Northeast Legislative Event are included below. If you want to attend, please RSVP by the date below.
We look forward to seeing you soon!
TSEA’s Northeast TN Legislative Event
Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024
9:00 a.m.
Elizabethton TCAT
426 Highway 91 North
Elizabethton, TN 37643
Please RSVP by Wednesday, Feb. 21 at the link below:
