Gov. Bill Lee proposes $5 million for survivor services, calls for public‑private push to end trafficking

Gov. Bill Lee announced a proposed $5,000,000 investment in nonprofit survivor services and a new public‑private partnership to combat human trafficking in Tennessee.

At a press event, Gov. Lee said the state has seen trafficking in all 95 counties and described the initiative as a chance to "impact the people in our state, the most vulnerable" by working with churches, nonprofits and law enforcement. "So today, we are announcing a historic investment in a public private partnership to end human trafficking in the state of Tennessee," he said.

The announcement brought nonprofit leaders and survivors to the podium. Margie Quinn, identified as CEO of End Slavery Tennessee, said her organization and two partner agencies operate as single points of contact for aftercare across the state's regions and respond to referrals 24/7. "Safe and stable housing is the most crucial need for survivors to exit exploitation and work towards an independent, healthy life," Quinn said, describing a five‑phase plan to build a campus with transitional housing and intensive, trauma‑responsive programming that would aim to move residents to independent housing after roughly a two‑year stay.

Sheila McLean, introduced as a survivor and director of Thistle Farms Residential Services, described Thistle Farms' victim‑centered model and personal recovery story. "Our motto is that love heals," McLean said, and credited that model with helping her rebuild her life and a career while supporting other women.

Tim Tebow, whose foundation is partnering with local groups, urged urgency and broad collaboration. He recounted overseas rescue work and said the effort requires churches, businesses and individuals as well as nonprofits. "This demands a response," Tebow said. In the event he also made a numerical claim about the frequency of sexual assaults against girls that he framed as part of the urgency the partners were responding to.

Gov. Lee said he had included the $5 million in his budget proposal; he framed the administration's role as convening and supporting partners rather than replacing community‑level efforts. "What matters most to me are the women and the children and bringing together the right people who have the right experience," the governor said. He also noted ongoing coordination among state and federal agencies on other issues raised by the press during the event.

Quinn described the state's assessment history, citing Public Chapter 1023 (2010) and a baseline study done with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Vanderbilt Center for Community Studies; she said that the 2010 assessment found that 78% of counties were reporting juvenile trafficking and 85% were reporting adult trafficking, and she said referrals dropped during the pandemic (307 referrals in 2019 versus about 170 in 2020) while online exploitation reports rose.

The administration described the funding as a proposed allocation in the governor's budget; event participants and organizers said the funds would be used to expand housing and wraparound services and to fill geographic and service delivery gaps in partnership with local and national organizations. Officials present did not announce a final spending schedule or specific contracts. The governor opened the floor to questions and closed the event after a brief press exchange.

Next steps: the item is presented as part of the governor's budget; any formal appropriation will require legislative action and further program details were referred to the nonprofit partners for implementation planning.