114th Tennessee General Assembly Reconvenes For Second Regular Session

On Tuesday, January 13, the state's legislative branch reconvened for the second session of the 114^th General Assembly. With most legislators returning and several major policy debates unresolved from last year, lawmakers are expected to proceed at a brisk pace as the 2026 election cycle approaches.

The membership of the General Assembly remains largely unchanged, with the exception of the late Rep. Jeff Burkhart of Clarksville, who unexpectedly passed away in November 2025. Rep. Michael Lankford has since been appointed by the Montgomery County Commission to fill the vacancy.

2026-2027 Fiscal Year Budget Outlook

As required by the Tennessee Constitution, budget deliberations will take center stage early in the session. For FY 2025-26, lawmakers enacted a $59.8 billion budget, representing a modest 1.6% increase from the previous year's budget. However, the state's most recent spending plan reflected minimal growth, and current revenue projections suggest