February 4, 2018 Weekly Newsletter

The Tennessee General Assembly

Susan M. Lynn

House of Representatives

CAPITOL HILL REVIEW

A weekly wrap-up of legislative news

Governor Haslam’s State of the State Address Before a Joint Session of the House and Senate

Governor Haslam unveiled his budget priorities for the 2018-2019 fiscal year – the budget is essentially flat – which means the 109^th and 110^th General Assemblies budgets have only grown 2% on average from year to year.

The Governor addressed multiple issues during the speech and challenged all Tennesseans to lead the nation in creating high-quality jobs, improving the education of students, and working to provide the most efficient and effective state government services possible.

Throughout the address, the Governor focused on the momentum created since Republicans took control of the legislature and Governor’s office in 2011. He spent time reflecting on the past seven years, working with the General Assembly to create a strong commitment to jobs, education, and conservative fiscal policies that have resulted in multiple significant accomplishments for the state, including:

• The lowest unemployment rates in Tennessee’s 222 year history and a job growth rate greater than 17 percent, with nearly 400,000 net new private sector jobs created;
• The fastest-improving students in the nation, across math, reading and science, and the highest high school graduation rates the state has ever seen;
• Nearly $1.5 billion invested into K-12 education, with $500 million going to teacher salaries;
• Nearly $800 million in tax cuts to Tennesseans, including a 30 percent cut on groceries;
• Being named ‘State of the Year’ in back-to-back years, becoming the only state to ever do so;
• Ranking #1 for new jobs from foreign direct investment and being named the #1 state for retirement;
• A cut in year-to-year spending by more than a half billion dollars;
• And a tripling of the state’s Rainy Day Fund, bringing it to its highest amount in state history.

In addition to these major accomplishments, Haslam applauded the General Assembly for passing legislation to give all Tennesseans access to college free of tuition and fees through the Tennessee Promise and Tennessee Reconnect programs. To assist in ensuring those incoming students complete college and enter the workforce with degrees or certificates in a timely manner, Haslam also announced the Complete to Compete initiative during the speech. Once passed by the legislature, this new plan will restructure financial aid requirements for Promise and HOPE scholarships to keep students on track for on-time completion, and requires community colleges to implement structured, ready-made schedules for all incoming full-time students based on their academic program.

The Governor also announced plans for the Juvenile Justice Reform Act of 2018 — an initiative created based upon recommendations made by members of House Speaker Beth Harwell’s Joint Ad-Hoc Blue Ribbon Task Force on Juvenile Justice. Research suggests that taking youths out of their homes and schools for minor offenses increases the risk of recidivism, diverts resources from youth who pose a risk to the community, and uses taxpayer dollars unnecessarily because community-based services are often more effective and cost efficient. The Juvenile Justice Reform Act will tackle these problems and help strengthen families and communities while promoting public safety and ensuring a responsible and conservative use of resources.

In addition to the Complete to Compete initiative and Juvenile Justice Reform Act, Governor Haslam also unveiled additional details of the Tennessee Together program, a multi-faceted plan comprised of legislation, $30 million in funds through Governor Haslam’s proposed budget, and other executive actions to battle opioids through the three major components of prevention, treatment, and law enforcement. Similar to the Juvenile Justice Act, the Tennessee Together plan incorporates recommendations made by Speaker Beth Harwell’s Ad Hoc Task Force on Opioid Abuse.

Other notable budget highlights investments for the year include:

• More than $200 million in new state funding for K-12 education, including additional funds for teacher compensation;
• Nearly $100 million for higher education initiatives;
• $128 million for job growth investments, including programs that target rural communities;
• And investments to bring the state’s Rainy Day Fund to $850 million.

House Republicans Introduce Legislation Outlawing TennCare Reimbursements To Abortion Providers

This week, House Republicans introduced legislation to outlaw TennCare reimbursements to the state’s abortion providers that use federal dollars. l In 2009, we were able to pass legislation that stopped state dollars from going to abortion providers.  Through this biIl, Tennessee will ask for a waiver from the federal government to restrict these dollars. 

House Bill 2251 aims at protecting the sanctity of life by eliminating federal funding to facilities that perform elective abortions. It does not impact the availability of other critical health care services offered to women.

State taxpayer dollars were banned from funding abortions in Tennessee since 2009.  However, documents from the Tennessee Department of Finance & Administration show providers across our state have received almost $1 million in federal funding from 2012-2017. Supporters of House Bill 2251 hope to change this by ending all taxpayer assistance to these facilities once and for all.

During the 2017 legislative session, Republican lawmakers passed the Tennessee Infants Protection Act; it prohibits abortions after 24 weeks — except in medical emergency — and requires testing to determine viability of an unborn child if a woman is at least 20 weeks pregnant. The Tennessee Infants Protection Act also holds physicians who perform late-term abortions accountable for their actions.

State Representative Susan Lynn Introduces The National Motto In The Classroom Act

Initiative displays “In God We Trust” in prominent locations within schools

(NASHVILLE) — State Representative Susan Lynn (R-Mt. Juliet) today introduced an initiative that calls for our national motto — “In God We Trust”— to be displayed in schools across Tennessee.

House Bill 2368 enacts the National Motto in the Classroom Act. It requires each local education agency to display “In God We Trust” in a prominent location within Tennessee’s schools.

“In God We Trust” has served as the official motto of the United States since 1956. It first appeared on the two-cent penny in 1864 and on paper currency in 1957.

During his recent State of the Union Address in front of Congress, President Donald Trump reminded the nation’s lawmakers and all citizens that the foundation of American life is faith and family, not government and bureaucracy. President Trump also emphasized to the congressional and national audience that our country’s motto has been and still remains “In God We Trust.”

“I applaud the president’s decision to remind all of us about the importance of faith and God in our everyday lives,” said Representative Lynn. “The National Motto in the Classroom Act is an opportunity for me to help future generations of our students better understand the importance of faith in the narrative of our great state and nation.”

For additional information about House Bill 2368, please click here.

Susan Lynn serves as the Chairman of the House Consumer & Human Resources Subcommittee. Lynn is also a member of the House Consumer & Human Resources, House Finance Ways & Means and House Ethics Committee, as well as the Joint Fiscal Review Committee. She lives in Mount Juliet and represents House District 57, which includes Wilson County. Lynn can be reached by email at Rep.Susan.Lynn@capitol.tn.gov or by calling (615) 741-7462.

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It is a privilege to serve you in the TN General Assembly. Please let me know if you have any questions or if I can be of any assistance to you.

State Representative Susan Lynn

425 5th Avenue North
Suite 648 Cordell Hull Bldg.
Nashville, TN 37243
Phone: (615) 741-7462
Fax: (615) 741-0353