Tennessee Lawmakers Weigh In on Gov. Lee's Final State of the State Address

Legislators discuss key priorities like healthcare, education, and transportation infrastructure

Published on Feb. 4, 2026

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Tennessee lawmakers have shared their reactions to Gov. Bill Lee's final State of the State address, highlighting his proposals on healthcare, education, and transportation. Representatives Renae Jones and David Hawk discussed the potential impacts of ending certificates of need, raising teacher salaries, and reallocating funds for infrastructure improvements. Secretary of State Tre Hargett also praised the administration's economic and public safety achievements over the past eight years.

Why it matters

The State of the State address outlines the governor's key priorities and policy agenda for the legislative session. Lawmakers' responses provide insight into how these proposals may be received and implemented, particularly in areas that directly impact their constituents such as healthcare access, education funding, and transportation infrastructure.

The details

In his final State of the State address, Gov. Bill Lee touched on several key issues, including expanding the Education Freedom Scholarship Act, improving transportation infrastructure, and ending certificates of need for healthcare services. Rep. Renae Jones believes ending certificates of need will increase competition among healthcare providers, while Rep. David Hawk, who chairs the House Transportation Subcommittee, is working on legislation to reallocate $1 billion for infrastructure without raising taxes. Both lawmakers expressed support for the governor's proposal to raise starting teacher salaries to $50,000.

  • Gov. Lee gave his final State of the State address on Monday, February 5, 2026.
  • The legislature is expected to continue discussing the governor's budget recommendations, with appropriations set to be signed into law by the time the legislative session wraps up in April 2026.

The players

Bill Lee

The current Governor of Tennessee, who delivered his final State of the State address on February 5, 2026.

Renae Jones

A Representative from Unicoi and Carter counties in Tennessee, who believes ending certificates of need will increase healthcare competition in rural areas.

David Hawk

A Representative from Greene County in Tennessee and the Chair of the House Transportation Subcommittee, who is working on legislation to reallocate $1 billion for infrastructure without raising taxes.

Tre Hargett

The Secretary of State of Tennessee, who praised the administration's economic and public safety achievements over the past eight years.

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What they’re saying

“We need accessible and affordable health care. That's important in rural areas. And so I think, you know, if you're looking at what was most impactful, I think that's going to be the most impactful thing for our area.”

— Renae Jones, Representative from Unicoi and Carter counties (WJHL)

“With health care right now, we need all hands on deck. We need to have greater competition. We need to have someone come in and say, yes, we want to provide another option for health care, specifically hospital services in our region.”

— David Hawk, Representative from Greene County and Chair of the House Transportation Subcommittee (WJHL)

“My heart's in education, and to hear that we're going to be raising our state salary for teachers to $50,000 as a starting salary, you know, it meant so much to me. That was a public education win for me, for our teachers to be able to be recognized in that way.”

— Renae Jones, Representative from Unicoi and Carter counties (WJHL)

“I've got a bill that will take the sales tax off tires and cars and just reallocate that from the current general fund into the transportation fund. No tax increase, just current funds we've got moving from one place to the transportation fund. That's a nine-year idea that we're working on now, and it's finally gaining favor with many of my colleagues.”

— David Hawk, Representative from Greene County and Chair of the House Transportation Subcommittee (WJHL)

“Thinking about the incredible record economic development that we've experienced, the positive momentum that we were showing in education, the things that the administration and the legislature are doing to make the state a safer place. We don't need to take our foot off the gas. And, you know, we need to be looking forward, and then everybody in our rearview mirror needs to be getting smaller and smaller.”

— Tre Hargett, Secretary of State of Tennessee (WJHL)

What’s next

The legislature is expected to continue discussing the governor's budget recommendations, with appropriations set to be signed into law by the time the legislative session wraps up in April 2026.

The takeaway

Tennessee lawmakers have expressed support for key priorities outlined in Gov. Lee's final State of the State address, including healthcare reform, education funding, and transportation infrastructure improvements. These proposals will likely face further debate and negotiation in the legislature, but the lawmakers' reactions suggest a willingness to work towards bipartisan solutions that address the needs of their constituents.