Governor Bill Lee delivered his State of the State speech in Nashville Monday, saying he is proud of what Tennessee accomplished in 2019 and that the state of the state is "healthy and strong."
In a transcript of the speech provided to 10News Monday, the Governor lauded Tennessee's economy, saying the state was named the best fiscally managed state in the country for the first time in 2019.
"We’re #1 in the U.S. for advanced industry job growth and the best state for small business growth," he said. "In the past year, this state has garnered 108 project commitments to create 16,500 jobs and $3.6 billion of capital investment in Tennessee. And while we still have more work to do on rural economic development, I’m also proud that more than half of these projects have been announced in rural counties.”
Lee said Tennessee is the "envy of many states."
"We’re not just being noticed by our fellow southern states – we’re gaining recognition from all across the country," he said. "Tonight, we gather to celebrate the state of our state and discuss ways to continue our momentum, but you and I know the successes we enjoy belong to the 6.8 million hard-working Tennesseans who sent us here."
Gov. Lee made the call to increase pay and incentives for teachers, saying his proposed budget will set aside $117 million for the "largest investment in K-12 teacher salaries in Tennessee's history."
As he proposed teacher raises, the legislature gave the governor a standing ovation.
"I thought you might be excited about that one," Gov. Lee said.
"Make no mistake: we will do whatever it takes to make Tennessee the best state in America to be a student, and that means making Tennessee the best state in America to be a teacher," he said. "That means better pay, as we’ve said, but it also means better training and professional support, so that our teachers can perform at the top of their trade."
The Governor said he is going to recommend moving the minimum salary for teachers from $36,000 to $40,000 to ensure no teacher makes less than $40,000 a year.
The Governor also touched on the educational savings account program that would pay for private and secondary school tuition, which is set to take effect in 2021 -- saying 'disruption is hard and sometimes controversial.'
►2019 State of the State: Gov. Bill Lee to push $25M education savings account plan
However, he said the majority of the state's efforts should remain focused on traditional public schools. The governor also announced a first-of-its-kind competition to develop Tennessee's teacher preparation program -- which will ask for proposals from across the country to launch such a program.
The Governor announced the state will be expanding mental health outreach to schools by growing the state's behavioral health liaison program to reach all 95 counties. He also said he is proposing the creation of a $250 million K-12 mental health trust fund to support the growth and placement of mental health support services in the most at-risk schools.
"It is our expectation that Tennessee will lead the nation in bringing mental health support to our teachers and to our students, and we’re very proud of that," he said.
Gov. Lee called on the state to support literacy initiatives, proposing a $70 million investment to make sure teachers are equipped to 'move the needle' on early childhood literacy.
"Our total new dollars invested in the future of public education in the coming fiscal year will equal more than $600 million," he said.
On the topic of taxes, Gov. Lee said he is proposing cutting the professional privilege tax -- a $400 annual tax on certain licensed professions such as attorneys and lobbyists -- in half to return $40 million to those who pay 'this arbitrary and unfair tax.' More than a dozen professions, such as engineers, veterinarians and accountants -- will be removed from having to pay the tax on June 1, 2020.
The governor proposed making a record $50 million contribution to the state's Rainy-Day fund in 2020, bringing the total to $1.1 billion. The governor said rural broadband, rural health and agriculture initiatives will also be highlighted in his budget.
The Governor also touted criminal justice reform in the state -- which he said he will continue making a top priority as Tennessee "must be tough on crime."
“We’re making these investments because, as our state’s elected leaders, we must remain aware of serving every part and every person of our state," he said. "That’s why I’ve made criminal justice reform such a large priority, because every person in Tennessee wants and deserves to live in a safe neighborhood. When properly implemented, criminal justice reforms save taxpayer dollars, shrink the size of government, properly punish wrongdoers, and make our communities safer.”
The governor highlighted the state's efforts to curb fentanyl traffickers in 2019. This year, he said he is going to recommend increasing penalties for firearm theft and reckless endangerment of first responders.
Gov. Lee said he will also propose legislation to improve the state's probation and parole system by expanding recovery courts for those struggling with addiction, saying Tennessee need's ensure "these individuals are prepared to re-enter society and not re-enter prison."
If you've noticed wait times are up at driver licensing centers across the state, Governor Lee has, too. He said state offices are anticipating a rush from people looking to obtain a REAL ID in 2020, so he is proposing adding 80 more positions and increasing funding to reduce wait times.
On the topic of healthcare, the Governor said he is proposing additional funding to provide safety nets for uninsured individuals in the state. He also touched on personal experiences that he said led to his recently-announced proposal for legislation that would ban abortions if a fetal heartbeat is detected.
"Every life is precious, and we will support pro-life policy in this state because everything precious is worth protecting," he said.
RELATED: East Tennessee reacts to Governor Lee's proposal banning abortions if heartbeat is detected
The governor ended his second State of the State speech with a note to Tennesseans:
"If I could say one thing to my fellow Tennesseans as I enter my second year as governor, it would be this: I see you," he said. "May we pursue the challenges before us with grace, humility, and courage."
Lt. Gov. Randy McNally and Senate Republicans praised Gov. Lee for laying our a 'bold vision' in 2020. Education advocacy organizations in the state similarly praised the Governor for his push to raise teacher salaries and expand mental health services in schools across the entirety of Tennessee.
"Tennessee’s kids have a bright future ahead thanks to the governor’s vision and focus on early literacy, improving teacher pay, training, and professional support, and ensuring students are prepared for college and career," Tennesseans for Student Success President and CEO Adam Lister said. "Governor Lee reaffirmed his commitment to public education by setting a goal to make ‘Tennessee the best state in America to be a student.’”
University of Tennessee Interim President Randy Boyd said UT "stands ready" to work with the legislature on education.
"My sincere appreciation to Governor Bill Lee and his administration for putting forth a thoughtful budget proposal that places student success at the core and keeps Tennessee moving forward," he said. "We stand ready to work with the legislature as they consider this budget, while squarely focusing our efforts to make this the greatest decade in the history of the University of Tennessee.”
Tennessee Democrats gave their response to Gov. Lee's State of the State, supporting the Governor's push for teacher raises, but calling it 'modest.'
"We heard the governor put forward some initiatives that could do good. We are excited the Governor is showing some leadership in those areas," Senate Democratic leader Jeff Yarbro said.
However, Yarbro said the Governor needs to acknowledge the challenges the state is facing. He also criticized the Governor for not making use of 'use it or lose it' federal funding.
"It's not wise money management to fail to invest in your people," he said.