SUMMARY: During the Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee’s review of Gov. Bill Lee’s $59.5 billion budget, members requested details on road projects funded by an additional $1 billion and $80 million redirected from tire sales. Commissioner Jim Bryson emphasized that much of the $30 billion earmarked for roads addresses maintenance of aging infrastructure. Concerns arose about transparency in the Department of Transportation’s budget, with Sen. Ken Yager noting the difficulty in tracking expenditures. Sen. Jeff Yarbro highlighted the ongoing struggles with highway funding, indicating that current measures may be inadequate for long-term solutions.

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SUMMARY: The Trump administration plans to significantly reduce National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants, risking over 9,000 jobs in Tennessee that rely on approximately $700 million annually. The cuts will particularly affect funding for indirect costs vital for lab operations, impacting major universities like Vanderbilt and smaller towns. NIH supports diverse projects, including cancer care improvements at St. Jude and Alzheimer’s pain management research at the University of Tennessee. After a coalition of 22 states filed a lawsuit, a federal judge temporarily halted cuts, stressing the need for adequate resources to conduct medical research. Compliance with the ruling remains uncertain.

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SUMMARY: The Tennessee Legislature has passed a universal education savings account program, the Education Freedom Scholarship Program (EFS), allowing parents to access state funding for educational choices. For success, a strong private school sector is essential. Current regulations burden private schools, discouraging entrepreneurs from opening new options. Recommendations include consolidating school types, removing testing requirements, extending school approval terms, and rescinding onerous transportation regulations. Additionally, safety guidelines, including annual armed intruder drills, should be reconsidered to reduce stress among students and parents. Streamlining regulations can enhance private school operations and support Tennessee’s overall educational landscape.

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