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SB 1393

Appropriations - As introduced, makes appropriations for the purpose of defraying the expenses of certain legislative enactments passed during the 2025 session of the 114th General Assembly; earmarks sufficient state funds for the purpose of funding any bill naming a highway or bridge in honor of a service member killed in action. -

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Bo Watson

The bill earmarks DOT funds to cover any 2025 memorial highway or bridge designation bills for service members killed in action.

Action deferred in Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee to next calendar
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Bill Summary · SB 1393

Summary of Tennessee SB 1393 (Session 114)

Date: Updated based on available bill text and action history

Purpose and Intent

  • The bill is an appropriations measure for fiscal years starting July 1, 2024, and July 1, 2025.
  • Its broad aim is to provide funding for the operations of the state government (legislative, executive, judicial) and related state obligations, as well as capital outlay, debt service, and emergency/contingency needs.
  • A notable specific provision earmarks funds to support a general bill or resolution enacted in the 2025 session that designates an interstate, United States highway, or state highway as a memorial highway or designates a bridge on such routes as a memorial bridge for service members killed in the line of duty (for those named in accordance with TN law, §54-1-133).

Key Provisions and Changes

  • Section 1 — Earmarked Funding for Memorial Highway/Bridge Legislation

    • From the Department of Transportation (DOT) funds, there shall be an earmark of a sum sufficient to fund any general bill or resolution enacted in the 2025 session that designates:
    • an interstate, U.S. highway, or state highway as a memorial highway, or
    • a bridge on such routes as a memorial bridge,
    • These memorial designation bills must pertain to certain individuals killed in the line of duty, as described in Tennessee Code Annotated § 54-1-133.
    • The earmark is conditional upon such memorial designation legislation being duly enacted.

  • Section 2 — Revenue/Revenue-Loss Clarification

    • The act expresses legislative intent regarding revenue loss: it recognizes that bills enacted in the 2025 session may result in no net expenditure increase but may forgo revenue that has not yet been collected. This frames the bill as accounting for potential revenue impact when memorial designation laws are enacted.

  • Section 3 — Effective Date

    • The act becomes law upon becoming law, with a provision that public welfare requires its immediate effect.

Affected Parties and Entities

  • Department of Transportation (DOT): Primary source of the earmarked funds for memorial designation bills.
  • State Government Entities (Executive, Legislative, Judicial): The broad appropriations cover defraying expenses of government for fiscal years 2024–2025.
  • Legislators: If a memorial designation bill is enacted in 2025, it would trigger the earmarked funding flow.
  • General Public/Service Members’ Families: Indirectly affected via the memorial highway/bridge designations recognizing service members killed in action.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • The bill addresses appropriations for two fiscal years: beginning July 1, 2024, and July 1, 2025.
  • Section 1’s earmark is contingent on the passage of memorial designation legislation in the 2025 session (One Hundred Fourteenth General Assembly).
  • The action history shows the bill has progressed through various stages in the Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee and related subcommittees, with activity extending into 2026. The latest noted action is a deferred decision to the next calendar year.
  • The bill is co-sponsored by Bo Watson (Senate) and has a House companion (HB 1404) by Hicks G.

Practical Impact

  • Creates a dedicated funding mechanism in DOT budgets to support memorial designation bills without requiring separate appropriations structure.
  • Signals legislative intent to accommodate revenue-loss implications arising from such memorial designation bills, even if they do not increase net expenditures.
  • Potentially accelerates or simplifies funding for memorial highway/bridge projects if and when memorial designation bills pass in 2025.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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