At the statehouse: A big money week, plus a new criminal justice bill

The end is near. This week, state lawmakers completed the one task they are constitutionally bound do every year: the budget.

The total came to a whopping $52.8 billion, a nearly 24% increase over last year’s budget of $42.6 billion. They also took on other work too — from passing a bill that’s tough on crime, to really diving into the new education funding formula.   

Lawmakers green-light record $52.8 billion budget for 2022-2023 

The budget has been sent to Gov. Bill Lee, although it’s missing a few of the items on his wish list. That included a $200 million request to relocate 14 schools located in floodplains. Lee said the money was necessary to help the town of Waverly after last year’s storm flooded their elementary school with several feet of water, the third time that’s happened in 11 years.

Despite the omission, Rep. Jeremy Faison, R-Cosby, says lawmakers still included money to help them rebuild. 

“There were federal funding that came, so insurance funding that came for the majority of the money that was needed. Those schools were almost made whole,” said Faison. “We decided to backfill whatever was not made whole by the federal funding to the schools.” 

Sticking with schools, teachers across the state can expect a pay raise in the upcoming fiscal year. The budget sets aside $125 million for teachers across Tennessee. That breaks down to around $1,550 for every educator in the state. 

Time is ticking for TISA 

The new student-based funding proposal for K-12 schools, called the Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement, or TISA for short, received a lot of attention this week as lawmakers are still trying to understand how the formula works. The plan would get rid of the BEP — i.e. the Basic Education Program— the current funding formula that’s been in place for nearly 30 years.  

While all lawmakers agree BEP isn’t the right formula, not all of them think TISA is a superior option. In fact, Sen. Jeff Yarbro, D-Nashville, worries they’ll run into the same problems as before: namely, lack of funding. 

“The billion dollars that they are going to put in is needed desperately, especially in a time when every system is dealing with inflation like they are right now,” Yarbro told reporters Thursday. “But it’s not going to get us into a place where we’re actually getting out of the basement when it comes to education funding.” 

Even Republicans are voicing concerns about the impact the new formula could have on local property taxes. Although the state will kick in enough money to cover the first four years of the education overhaul, lawmakers worry local governments will eventually have to cover the difference. 

If you need some light reading for the weekend, here’s the entire bill, H.B. 2143/ S.B. 2396.

A law to keep people locked up longer awaits Gov. Lee’s signature 

People convicted of certain crimes — murder, carjacking, or aggravated robberies — will be required to serve 100% of the sentence given to them under a new bill headed to Gov. Lee’s desk. That’s a reversal of current laws that allow people to get out early for good behavior.  

Those in favor of the change call it “truth in sentencing.” House Speaker Cameron Sexton said it helps law enforcement keep the worst offenders off the street. 

“We also shouldn’t make law enforcement rearrest the same people five, six, seven, eight, nine, [or] 10 times. There has to be a line somewhere, if you cross that line, you may be held accountable differently,” he said Thursday.

But Rep. Vincent Dixie, D-Nashville, argues it’ll cost taxpayers more and undercuts programs that help prepare inmates for life after prison. 

“Over time, we have to build more jails because when someone is getting out [instead] of three or four years now, they’re going to be getting out in eight to 11 years. So that’s more money for the taxpayers to pay,” he said.

The fiscal note — that’s the price tag the bill comes with — predicts that incarceration costs will increase $25 million over 10 years with the changes. But critics say it could be more than double that amount.

Our daily show This Is Nashville explored this topic a few weeks ago.

ICYMI: 

• The ethics bill, H.B. 1201/ S.B. 1005, sponsored by both chambers’ speakers, passed with a near unanimous vote.
• Many anti-abortion laws were proposed this session, but so far the biggest change headed to law is a bill making it much harder to get abortion pills. 
• A bill, H.B. 1834/ S.B. 2103, that would hold a drunk driver who kills a parent financially responsible for the child was approved in both chambers. The child support would be in place until the child reaches 18.