On February 10th, 2025, Governor Bill Lee gave his annual State of the State Address in front of a joint session of the Tennessee General Assembly. This year’s theme, “Innovation”, argues that Tennessee should lead the way in the next frontier of the American story.

Ah, February, the most romantic month of them all, in which us drones down at Cordell Hull beg for bill slots, clash with legal and run bill jackets down to the (exhausted) clerk. The Special Session is over, and the real session hasn’t quite begun.

We’re off to a testy and controversial start at Cordell Hull this year, with the special session wrapping up this week.

As a fan and (sometimes) purveyor of fancy words, one sticks in my mind as emblematic of the last week: interregnum. Essentially, it’s a time between two periods – we had the gaveling in of the 114th General Assembly session, next week we have the special session, so this week? Nothing.

Happy January, TDC Family!

In early November, Governor Bill Lee called on heads of state departments and agencies to present to him their 2025-2026 budget requests and priorities. These hearings are held annually, and are influential in influencing the Governor’s budget proposal for the 2025 General Assembly Session. The Governor will likely introduce his budget proposal around the time of his State of the State Address, which is usually given in early January.