Preparation subcommittee approves dozens of earmarks and major one-time allocations including $40M charter fund and $72.7M horse celebration

The Preparation Subcommittee of the Tennessee Senate adopted dozens of budget amendments and gave positive recommendations on hundreds of bills during a lengthy session that focused largely on earmarks and one-time appropriations.

Chairman Stevens led the meeting through a long amendment sheet, moving and recording voice votes for a broad set of local projects, grant pools and targeted investments. Notable approvals included a $40,000,000 nonrecurring Charter's Facility Fund to be distributed on a per-pupil basis, a $72,700,000 nonrecurring appropriation to the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration Association, and a $5,500,000 nonrecurring allocation for construction of a new Memphis Art Museum. Stevens announced motions, called for seconds and recorded adoption by voice vote on multiple items.

Why it matters: The subcommittee’s actions forward a substantial package of targeted funding into the legislative process, moving multiple local projects and statewide initiatives one step closer to final budgetary consideration. Several of the approved items are large, one-time appropriations that could affect tourism, K–12 facilities funding and cultural infrastructure across Tennessee.

Among other high-value appropriations the subcommittee approved were: a $79,800,000 nonrecurring buyback of TennCare services (funded by the annual hospital assessment) plus an earmark of $43,000,200; $7,000,000 to UT Health System (UT Medical Center) to pursue National Cancer Institute designation; $10,000,000 to Vanderbilt University Medical Center for ALS research; $3,000,000 for the Oak Ridge Corridor nuclear innovation campus construction; and recurring and nonrecurring grants to multiple universities, museums and local governments.

The panel also adopted grant pools for emergency responders — $5,000,000 for EMS equipment and $20,000,000 for volunteer fire departments — as well as capital project pools for the State Museum and courthouse renovation funds. A number of smaller community and nonprofit grants were approved, including funding for summer food, recovery courts, mental health outpatient services and community cultural organizations. One notable motion for an inclusive youth soccer facility was moved but failed on the floor.

Votes at a glance (selected major items adopted by the subcommittee):
• Charter's Facility Fund — $40,000,000 nonrecurring (per-pupil distribution) — adopted.
• Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration Association — $72,700,000 nonrecurring — adopted.
• TennCare services buyback — $79,800,000 nonrecurring plus $43,000,200 earmark — adopted.
• UT Medical Center — $7,000,000 nonrecurring for NCI pursuit — adopted.
• Vanderbilt University Medical Center — $10,000,000 nonrecurring for ALS research — adopted.
• Oak Ridge Corridor nuclear innovation campus — $3,000,000 nonrecurring — adopted.
• Memphis Art Museum — $5,500,000 nonrecurring for construction — adopted.
• EMS equipment grant pool — $5,000,000 nonrecurring — adopted.
• Volunteer fire departments grant pool — $20,000,000 nonrecurring — adopted.

Chairman Stevens told members the committee had "a quorum and we're ready to conduct business" at the start of the meeting and then proceeded through the amendment sheet, calling for motions and recording voice votes for each item. The clerk performed roll call at the outset.

The subcommittee also moved through a large bill calendar and gave positive recommendations on hundreds of Senate bills; members recorded positive recommendations by motion and voice vote across a broad range of bill numbers. The meeting concluded after the committee entertained and adopted a motion to adjourn.