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The money for roads is one of the big-ticket items in Lee69制片厂制作传媒檚 $59.5 billion budget proposal for the year that begins in July. Tennessee69制片厂制作传媒檚 budget has become tighter because tax revenues have slowed compared with the COVID-19 pandemic boom years.

69制片厂制作传媒淪afe, reliable roads are a primary responsibility of the state, yet there are limited funds to fulfill an unlimited need,69制片厂制作传媒� Lee said in prepared remarks during his annual State of the State speech Monday evening.

Some budget lines were already filled in after a quick special session last month. Lee convinced lawmakers to pass more than $900 million worth of initiatives from different pots of money. They include a huge expansion of vouchers to help students attend private school, coupled with public school teacher bonuses; relief for areas devastated by Hurricane Helene; and changes to help President Donald Trump69制片厂制作传媒檚 administration with its immigration deportation crackdown plans.

Lee elevated roadwork as a priority in 2023, when his legislation included $3 billion for projects and a hike in electric vehicle and hybrid fees. It also opened the door for allowing express toll lanes on highways through public-private partnerships, which haven69制片厂制作传媒檛 been implemented yet as officials initially consider it for a stretch of Interstate 24 from Nashville to the southeastern suburbs.

Tennessee isn69制片厂制作传媒檛 alone. Many states have likewise taken a variety of steps to supplement their gas taxes, which aren69制片厂制作传媒檛 keeping up with their needed roadwork as more people drive electric vehicles and hybrids.

Democrats criticized Lee69制片厂制作传媒檚 priorities, including a nearly $2 billion tax cut and refund for businesses passed last year. Republicans argued the tax could spur a costlier lawsuit.

69制片厂制作传媒淏illion dollar handouts to folks with private planes is their priority 69制片厂制作传媒� not you. Not middle class families,69制片厂制作传媒� Democratic Rep. John Ray Clemmons of Nashville said ahead of the speech.

Meanwhile, Lee proposed directing $11 million to the Boys and Girls Club to help boost their childcare programs, as well as expand eligibility to a state program that supplements childcare worker salaries.

69制片厂制作传媒淭oday, infant care in Tennessee carries virtually the same price tag as in-state tuition at a four-year public college,69制片厂制作传媒� Lee said. 69制片厂制作传媒淭hat is an insurmountable cost for the vast majority of moms and dads who want to be in the workforce.69制片厂制作传媒�

Lee boasted that his proposals would result in 69制片厂制作传媒渢ens of thousands of new daycare spots across rural and urban Tennessee69制片厂制作传媒� but did not provide additional details on how or when that goal would be achieved. Nor did he specify who exactly it would serve. For example, many of the Boys and Girls Club locations in Tennessee only offer daycare services to children 5 years old and up.

Also in Monday69制片厂制作传媒檚 speech, Lee proposed a $60 million fund that would create 0% construction loans to build single-family homes. And while the governor69制片厂制作传媒檚 budget does not contain any new tax breaks for Tennesseans, Lee said he plans on funding a tax credit enacted last year that would give incentives to developers building affordable housing.

69制片厂制作传媒淭hese are important steps, and together, we should continue looking for more solutions that are fiscally responsible to finally address the issue of housing 69制片厂制作传媒�- through innovation, not through regulation,69制片厂制作传媒� Lee said.

Lee is proposing tens of millions of dollars more to invest in nuclear energy, as well. In his plan, the state would contribute $50 million to help the Tennessee Valley Authority develop a small modular reactor. The federal utility has applied for an $800 million U.S. Department of Energy grant for the initiative.