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HB 930

Housing - As enacted, authorizes any county having made loans in excess of the amount of funds in the initial capitalization of the loan fund pool for the county to terminate its participation in the homebuyers' revolving loan fund pool with notice to the Tennessee housing development agency and to retain all funds, including any funds used for initial capitalization or interest earnings on repayments. - Amends TCA Title 13, Chapter 23.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026)

Provides a $1,500 one-time bonus to eligible first responders and teachers in FY2026 and FY2027, funded by $295 million/year from the General Fund.

Comp. became Pub. Ch. 442
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Bill Summary · HB 930

Summary — HB 930: First Responder & Teachers Appreciation Bonus Program ($1,500)

Status: Passed 1st Reading (Introduced Nov 12, 2024). Effective date: July 1, 2025 (bill establishes payments in the 2025–2027 fiscal biennium).

Purpose

Creates a statewide one‑time appreciation bonus program to provide supplemental payments to eligible first responders and teachers in the 2025–2027 biennium. The intent is to deliver a $1,500 supplemental (non‑recurring) payment per eligible employee in each fiscal year of the biennium.

Key provisions

  • Appropriations
    • $130,000,000 per year (General Fund) to the Department of Public Safety for first responder bonuses.
    • $165,000,000 per year (General Fund) to the Department of Public Instruction for teacher bonuses.
    • Funds are appropriated for each year of the 2025–2027 biennium (i.e., payments in FY2026 and FY2027).
  • Bonus amount and nature
    • Each eligible first responder and each eligible teacher receives a one‑time supplemental payment of $1,500 in each fiscal year.
    • The payment is supplemental and does NOT become part of base salary.
  • Eligible recipients
    • First responders: public employees whose primary duties protect life/property/public safety in emergencies, explicitly including:
    • Law enforcement officers
    • Firefighters
    • Emergency medical services personnel
    • Public safety telecommunicators/dispatchers
    • Nurses employed by public hospitals, health departments, correctional facilities, or other government healthcare facilities
    • Teachers: classroom teachers, instructional support personnel, principals, assistant principals employed by local school administrative units, charter schools, regional schools, and certain state‑operated schools (as defined).
    • To be eligible, the employee must be employed by the relevant employing authority on October 1 of the fiscal year in which the bonus is paid.
    • Part‑time employees receive a prorated bonus based on FTE.
  • Administration & distribution
    • Office of State Budget and Management (OSBM) coordinates with the Department of Public Safety to distribute first responder funds to employing authorities by no later than November 1 each fiscal year; employing authorities must distribute to employees by December 31.
    • Department of Public Instruction distributes teacher funds to local units/charters/regional schools by November 1 each fiscal year.
    • Employing authorities must certify the number of eligible employees by October 15 and verify distribution by February 15 of the following year.
    • Funds distributed under the act must be used exclusively for the $1,500 bonuses and may not be used for administrative costs.
  • Tax/retirement treatment
    • Bonus payments are exempt from retirement deductions.
    • Payments are subject to applicable federal and state withholding taxes.
  • Unspent funds
    • Any funds not expended by the end of the fiscal year revert to the General Fund.
  • Compliance
    • Program administration is subject to the State Budget Act; if conflicts arise, the State Budget Act controls.

Who is affected

  • Primary beneficiaries: qualifying first responders and qualifying teachers employed by state, county, municipal, and other local government entities and public schools.
  • Administrative bodies: OSBM, Department of Public Safety, Department of Public Instruction, and employing authorities (state and local).
  • Fiscal impact: direct General Fund appropriations totaling $295 million per year (combined) for each year of the 2025–2027 biennium; funds revert if unused.

Timeline / procedural notes

  • Eligibility determination is tied to employment status on October 1 of each payment year.
  • Funding distribution to entities by Nov 1; employee payments by Dec 31 of each year.
  • Certification deadline: Oct 15; verification (that payments were made): Feb 15.
  • The act is effective July 1, 2025, and applies to payments during the 2025–2027 biennium. The bill states compliance with the State Budget Act.

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

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