[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6325447,"mediaKeyId","2333420-9819de552d0022f9340a9ea39af11588","parentId",2333420,"title","Tennessee trauma doctors urge stable funding as patient load rises and cigarette revenue falls","audioSeconds",1335,"startMs",914750,"endMs",2250710,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2333420-9819de552d0022f9340a9ea39af11588&start=914&end=2250","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2333420-9819de552d0022f9340a9ea39af11588/thumbnail_914750.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6325447/Tennessee/Tennessee-trauma-doctors-urge-stable-funding-as-patient-load-rises-and-cigarette-revenue-falls","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6325447-dd95903099a3289a13044daf7985e616/orig.mp4?Expires=1770986455&Signature=mmAl5jjOdlVuFDXxEFHDwihJSWLyl8KtVgjGh8OJwAyHyA8HByQ8JLjyX2~ya-UKZD8zn4nehlyaecM5ScvE9xEdd4grDThEITcqfxvi4upgm92z6C2VXJt5dAZx~b3ymY~jGznQSnFUvag4E3blzeAfCGrNDnIAJYoWq1URTznRqbiIMnvpMZ9NrFhuH7FVC8mrXhYH8I3PkyhR2Nire9~uq7QS6c-1XDmWx4zfR2gk7fntaPXK3ZZfTFV5FUozxFPEykwflE5nVhDBMx6DrwVkI~FyeQ-Ui5lYXY8D4wZ1qWyMl2EXZAO6F0IBda6VvnMfAZ3u~6fZ~WrxFoDk~Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","TN State Legislature","date","2025-02-18T00:00:00Z","article","Representatives of the Trauma Care Advisory Council told the Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee on Feb. 18 that Tennessee’s trauma system is treating many more patients while revenues that historically supported the system have fallen, leaving readiness and uncompensated-care costs underfunded.

The council’s presentation outlined three budget categories supported by the state trauma fund — statewide system management and registry work, readiness costs for trauma centers (the nonpatient costs of maintaining 24/7 trauma capability) and uncompensated care payments — and asked the committee to consider replacing lost cigarette‑tax revenue to stabilize the fund.

“We seek to replace the revenue lost with that continued decreased use of cigarettes, to stabilize that fund and ensure sustainable funding for the statewide system,” said Reagan Bullock, who identified himself as representing the University of Tennessee Medical Center and the Trauma Care Advisory Council’s member hospitals.

Bullock and colleagues described the system’s configuration and the council’s recent statewide audit. They said Tennessee now has 17 level‑1 trauma centers, no level‑2 centers listed in the presentation, 10 level‑3 centers and one level‑4 center, plus four comprehensive regional pediatric centers (CRPCs) that treat pediatric trauma. They attributed the rise in trauma registry cases to population growth and to stronger routing of injured patients to designated trauma centers.

Brad Dennis, trauma medical director at Vanderbilt and TCAC member, answered questions about center designations and the American College of Surgeons standards used for level designations. “Level 1 is … the all‑encompassing services,” Dennis said, describing level‑1 centers as those with full subspecialty services, research activity and the capacity to treat patients from admission through post‑discharge.

Council presenters emphasized that readiness requires paying for personnel and services that must be in place before a patient arrives. According to the presentation, readiness‑cost estimates developed from the council’s recent survey found very large readiness costs statewide. The presenters said the statewide total readiness cost was determined by their survey to be approximately $171,000,000, and that readiness contributes a small percentage of overall readiness-cost funding presently covered by the trauma fund.

The council traced the funding problem to a long decline in tobacco sales. They said the trauma fund portion that came from the cigarette tax has dropped substantially over the past decade even as trauma cases increased; a $5 million recurring general‑fund allocation was added by the legislature in 2022 but the council said that alone does not offset the revenue decline and expanded caseload.

Committee members asked for specifics on the drivers of case growth; presenters said the increase is likely a mix of population growth, greater recognition and routing of trauma patients to designated centers, and improved data collection that brings more cases into the state trauma registry.

Senators also asked about common injury types and geographic variation; presenters said falls are the most common cause of trauma admissions statewide, followed by motor vehicle crashes and then penetrating injuries (gunshots and stabbings), with penetrating injuries concentrated in urban centers.

The council’s formal request to the committee was to consider measures that would stabilize the trauma fund by replacing or supplementing revenue lost from declining cigarette sales so the statewide trauma system can meet readiness and uncompensated‑care needs.

The council provided a statewide map and audit slides to the committee; members asked staff to follow up with details about the 2022 $5 million allocation and how it was classified (recurring vs. one‑time). The presenters said the 2022 allocation was recurring but that a separate allocation referenced from the previous year had been one‑time and that staff would confirm those details.

The committee did not take formal action on trauma funding during the hearing; presenters left the committee with a request that lawmakers consider stabilizing the fund in upcoming budget deliberations.

The council recommended lawmakers review funding sources and consider aligning trauma funding with statewide needs as trauma volume continues to rise.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee\tFeb 18, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Representatives of the Trauma Care Advisory Council told the Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee on Feb. 18 that Tennessee’s trauma system is treating many more patients while revenues that historically supported the system have fallen, leaving readiness and uncompensated‑care costs underfunded and prompting a request for a stable replacement for declining cigarette‑tax revenue.","taxTitle","Finance, Ways and Means, Senate, Committees, Legislative, Tennessee","taxId",29604,"location","Tennessee","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6325429,"State Museum moves collection to new East Nashville storage, awards capital grants and prepares for America250 duties",534,6819615,7354150,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2333420-9819de552d0022f9340a9ea39af11588&start=6819&end=7354","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2333420-9819de552d0022f9340a9ea39af11588/thumbnail_6819615.jpg","/articles/6325429/Tennessee/State-Museum-moves-collection-to-new-East-Nashville-storage-awards-capital-grants-and-prepares-for-America250-duties","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6325429-a8e8d59b353e6f656e83a0f1c6d1f09b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770986455&Signature=FxLTAEEtCFuvUC3Mtyg68B8QQP3fDMLMmwUyMXNWR1XedMgBj89LbYorSKeV6ZpVwP6in3Jpwh7WkMd9kX6RVuO1dlo~GCiqqoRKTORTAslM4xZnIkxuN4EVU6oilISaTbJ0ZzyhrsRixGjMnB46noSC46tcUPzVecGPQqwp1HQdmrcnrx9u2i8~m~-Rol4b2NCwOQFLobdMLrua44EDM3J5mK5zWSWMBXL3tNNqkEQoJ~WFHHiP9WX8PiROqlRO1ARuW-D7eMwO-hLBOH7SKrE1ACsIDqYkWGvRwabuVPl8k6nqem3lV0LtwSfkOg2N5-JANZfa-GCo~hwWKh0VQQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Tennessee State Museum told the Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee on Feb. 18 that it will begin moving its collection into a new state collection storage facility in East Nashville in April and that the agency is administering capital grants to smaller museums statewide and preparing to host the state’s America250 commission activities.

Executive Director Ashley Howell said the new collection storage building — located on state property in East Nashville near state laboratory facilities — is essentially complete and that the museum will begin moving artifacts in April. Howell described the new storage as climate‑controlled, secured and designed to improve conservation and access for loans and exhibitions.

“How we are storing our current artifacts and their susceptibility to water damage and other kind of damage” has been cited in past audit findings, said State Museum Commission Chairman Beau Watson, and the new facility will address those concerns by moving items out of the Legislative Plaza basement and into purpose‑built storage.

Howell also reviewed the museum’s Capital Grants program, funded by a $5 million annual appropriation, and said the museum has awarded grants to 52 museums in 68 counties for critical capital needs such as HVAC, roof replacement and water mitigation, with 75% of awards going to museums with operating budgets under $500,000. Howell said the museum received about $12 million in requests against the current $5 million pool during the first round.

The museum reported visitor and education numbers: more than 220,000 visitors served annually through on‑site attendance and capital programs, with K–12 engagement reaching all 95 counties in the prior year and 76 counties in the first six months of the current year. Howell said the museum is planning exhibitions, a military museum and a Capitol Visitor Center exhibit scheduled to open in 2027 in the former Legislative Plaza space.

Howell said the museum’s FY26 budget asks include modest increases for increased rent on the new storage facility, funding adjustments to support the National Civil Rights Museum (the Lorraine Motel property under state care), and the second year of America250 operational funding to be regranted across the state for local programming tied to the 2026 national commemoration.

The committee approved the museum’s budget by roll call vote during the hearing. Museum leaders asked members to visit the new storage facility once moves begin, and Howell said artifact relocation and collection moves will take approximately a year to complete.","The Tennessee State Museum told the Senate finance committee it will begin moving its collection into a new state collection storage facility in East Nashville in April, continues to administer capital grants to small museums across the state, and will manage the state’s America250 coordinating commission beginning July 1, 2025.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6325432,"Revenue commissioner reports $1.3 billion refunded under franchise‑tax law change; remaining refund pool and FY26 requests explained",740,5666370,6406510,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2333420-9819de552d0022f9340a9ea39af11588&start=5666&end=6406","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2333420-9819de552d0022f9340a9ea39af11588/thumbnail_5666370.jpg","/articles/6325432/Tennessee/Revenue-commissioner-reports-13-billion-refunded-under-franchisetax-law-change-remaining-refund-pool-and-FY26-requests-explained","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6325432-75884d18af1a22951b28abfe05d19edd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770986455&Signature=nPveOJCyddVfhtONlSO1dGo8GNwF2U0C~XRXFya8U2~iZb4JHmmoiAC1X-M7ZTP6LFDmFTGq7UosuyzfmF6XI4IBse1arIQLdLlxuleETKOvU3Kf~rViEQaXH7~V5sl~Y1PEGVPqwWh6kHqnKyOYH7039yS8TDH-UTzaKYNEICAwtACBiRHmdDXj35c~uVnMvKbf3cfxnK2PCuCfJK6Dkj7g95MpvDa~tBuar6y4slqAA3YNCzcLta6nfU2TvLbjo9WHJWXDAi3pc9qLSVn3vFQwKPkPC43CRPdug~2FVrB65CdGevtY8yPlvVzTi8SJ-QCL-g29VAJFWj7Q8Qmktw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Department of Revenue officials told the Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee on Feb. 18 that they have refunded just under $1.3 billion under last year’s franchise‑tax change and described the remaining money the department is holding as it completes claims processing. Commissioner David Gergano also summarized the department’s FY26 cost requests, including maintenance for core tax systems and higher license‑plate production costs.

Gergano said the original estimated refund universe was about $1.55 billion and about 120,000 taxpayers were identified as potentially eligible. “As of today, we've refunded just under $1,300,000,000,” he told the committee, and then described three buckets for the remainder: (1) roughly $11 million reserved for businesses in the Hurricane Helene disaster area that received an extension to file claims; (2) about $150 million of pending claims the department is still processing, of which the commissioner said roughly $75 million would be credited back to the General Fund (because the timing and payments for tax year 2023 interact with the refund process); and (3) $113 million the department has notified can be released to the General Fund.

Commissioner Gergano emphasized accuracy and customer service in administering the refunds: the department mailed notices to potentially eligible taxpayers, created a detailed web page and Q&A materials, and kept phone lines broadly available to assist filers.

On FY26 requests, the department asked the committee to approve an $18.7 million total increase in spending authority: about $10 million in general‑fund requests and $8.6 million from dedicated or current revenues. Key items included a renewed maintenance contract for the TR3 tax system (vendor Fast Enterprises) and a $3 million recurring increase to cover higher license‑plate production costs from the department’s vendor (Tricore), citing higher raw‑material and shipping costs and growth in vehicle registrations. The department also requested authority to recognize and spend certain fees collected for motor‑vehicle transactions and to accept and spend new hemp‑derived cannabinoid (Delta‑8) tax administration revenues that the legislature designated for enforcement and administration.

Gergano told members the TR3 maintenance contract is a sole‑source renewal because Fast Enterprises owns the system in use and the department is negotiating a new maintenance agreement that will come before fiscal review. The department said most of the FY26 requests are recurring; the Delta‑8 administration item includes recurring and nonrecurring components.

Committee members asked follow‑up questions about the residency of refunded corporations, the department’s estimate that many affected entities had out‑of‑state addresses, and about the timing and classification of funds that must be credited to the General Fund. The department said it will continue working through pending claims and provide more detailed analyses on the questions legislators asked.

The committee approved the department’s budget request by roll call.","Department of Revenue Commissioner David Gergano told the Senate committee the department has refunded just under $1.3 billion of an estimated $1.55 billion franchise‑tax change, described remaining buckets of funds, and outlined FY26 cost and contract increases the department requests to support operations.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6325437,"Comptroller warns property‑tax relief reserve will be exhausted within two years without action",386,3896180,4282910,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2333420-9819de552d0022f9340a9ea39af11588&start=3896&end=4282","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2333420-9819de552d0022f9340a9ea39af11588/thumbnail_3896180.jpg","/articles/6325437/Tennessee/Comptroller-warns-propertytax-relief-reserve-will-be-exhausted-within-two-years-without-action","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6325437-1938f1e092e2579c168f54c8a266e70b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770986455&Signature=G8GaxAx7OHV6a~KfujMktKlsebgIP2TpgiKTXl~eOEdjHaiNjh6ipBjnfvp1znDazawgSFeYihKTSckCLZZzbkQrMO14G~xLCBEXlBd-1Pxv1YnJsNIUqYF9cMZ3poygPHFCiBIoSIHSgchQjioupOeT3oAcvhbp-hlWwT-~47JgQCqzQYLrn316dLrxz-V17Zh7-dV9xeEDNrJ9cdWGhPcUk-v1dtCiGbDp2WR2nLCM1scNRs4G684G6z5qkcnB6DHHQq31WXNlATF0rOl71Ujb4hu2QMPGqUqDnQCPXizeBCG~b7XMdzza6BuhiaOrBoRL9HJx4cxnmQTzXkwGCw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Comptroller of the Treasury told the Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee on Feb. 18 that Tennessee’s property‑tax relief program for low‑income elderly, disabled residents and 100% service‑connected disabled veterans is being funded in part from reserves and will require additional recurring appropriations or program changes within a two‑to‑three year window to avoid proration.

Jason Mumpower, comptroller of the treasury, said the program’s current FY26 appropriation is $41.2 million but that the program will pay an estimated $47.3 million in benefits this fiscal year. “By FY2027 … we will need an additional $10.3 million in order to fund the program,” Mumpower said, describing current enrollment growth and trends pointing to continued increases in claims, particularly in the disabled‑veteran category.

Ken Morel, division of property assessments, presented multi‑year projections at the committee’s request. Morel said current trends imply materially larger funding needs over the next several years; committee discussion referenced a scenario where cumulative additional funding needs could total roughly $60 million over a multi‑year horizon if current growth continues.

Comptroller staff identified three options for addressing the funding gap: (1) make no changes and allow the program to be prorated (the statute allows prorated payments if funds are insufficient); (2) change eligibility or benefit levels now (for example by changing value limits or income thresholds); or (3) appropriate additional recurring general‑fund dollars to fully fund the program. Staff cautioned that proration would change the timing and amount of relief for recipients because the program historically pays relief in advance and sometimes directly to county trustees.

Committee members and staff asked specific questions about drivers of growth. Staff attributed most of the near‑term growth to an increase in the number of 100% service‑connected disabled veterans and surviving spouses, citing roughly 14.5% growth in that recipient group in the past year. The Comptroller noted that the low‑income elderly and disabled recipients make up about two‑thirds of program recipients but receive roughly one‑third of benefits; the 100% service‑connected disabled‑veteran cohort is smaller by count but receives a larger share of total benefit dollars.

Members asked about policy options being considered in this legislative session. Staff reported several bills had been filed that would expand or alter eligibility and noted that those changes would increase program costs; conversely, reducing benefit levels or tightening eligibility would reduce cost but change benefit amounts for recipients.

Comptroller staff said the program did not require additional appropriations for FY26 but that the office will continue to use reserves this year and that the committee and administration should plan for a recurring funding action or program redesign to avoid proration in FY27.

The Comptroller’s office provided committee members a handout with multi‑year projections and said staff would provide additional reserve breakdowns and the statutory citations that establish committed or assigned reserves upon request.","The Comptroller’s office told the Senate Finance committee that the state’s property tax relief program for low‑income elderly, disabled residents and 100% service‑connected disabled veterans is drawing on reserves and will require additional recurring appropriation or policy changes to avoid proration by FY2027.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6325442,"State accountants tell finance committee Tennessee’s 2024 ACFR shows positive net position but smaller gain than prior year",1436,2199350,3635940,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2333420-9819de552d0022f9340a9ea39af11588&start=2199&end=3635","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2333420-9819de552d0022f9340a9ea39af11588/thumbnail_2199350.jpg","/articles/6325442/Tennessee/State-accountants-tell-finance-committee-Tennessees-2024-ACFR-shows-positive-net-position-but-smaller-gain-than-prior-year","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6325442-08fc21e40f722e5394ece9f811189835/orig.mp4?Expires=1770986455&Signature=JdyV9aWBTsaHJTksANbYhTpqENDppLhy2gaqFmrh4X1AGjL1GJRAKEID3TuiCcZeVkAD4LoqsccfU2dQ9kCAu-~5QkQ4m3OvVNgq8pv6ILSd8dNA1YsunJN5UUEFBClcbIiT2aZfb79DZpJ1-d5AusMof-~OxkDuee8OKH6LU1H7NpqPS8kleDjWiG0qyTwTIqefYUQM6vbYHykc~8knD2EWNqEQMMmdkalzxBbODeLN3BlOE1Xoyt37zSeKkr-ZL5P-0jX2SUytkc2EOV-TA63G0t2jTsjAmwe~hVBBavVdGjXi0KuTQEVI6b2IF6ZWxNbX5dXg8eExvIpCoMah1Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","State financial officers briefed the Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee on Feb. 18 about Tennessee’s 2024 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR), saying the state ended fiscal 2024 with a positive net position but with a smaller increase than the prior year, in part because large one‑time federal inflows during the pandemic period have largely run off.

“Last year’s net position increased by approximately $6 billion. This year’s increase was only about $2 billion,” Michelle Hernandez, deputy chief of accounts, told the committee, explaining the change in the context of federal dollars that boosted prior years’ totals.

The ACFR, prepared by the Division of Accounts, covers government‑wide statements and fund financial statements across 65 funds and 11 component units and received an unmodified audit opinion, the highest level of assurance from external auditors. Hernandez said the ACFR is a primary source for bond rating agencies and creditors and shows the state’s resources and restrictions, noting Tennessee ended FY24 with net position of approximately $62.4 billion.

Staff highlighted several elements of the report for members: the statement of activities (which shows operating versus program revenues), the fund statements (which present major fund activity such as the highway fund), extensive footnotes, and a high pension‑funded ratio (presenters said the state’s pension funding was about 95% funded at fiscal year end). Tuan Lee, director of financial reporting, walked members through schedules that compare total pension liabilities, assets in trust and resulting funded percentages.

Committee members used the presentation to ask for context about the meaning of net position and the drivers of year‑over‑year change. Comptroller staff affirmed that a large portion of last year’s stronger increase reflected federal pandemic‑era receipts that have waned and reminded members that ACFR totals mix state, federal and other public dollars.

Presenters also reviewed debt metrics, saying Tennessee’s debt to personal income remains low (presenters cited a 0.48% ratio for 2024) and noted recent GASB accounting changes (leases and subscription‑based IT arrangements) that added liabilities to the schedules and therefore slightly raised presented debt loads for recent years.

Committee members asked for source details used in schedules (presenters said personal‑income figures came from the Haslam Center’s economic report) and for follow‑up materials on committed and assigned portions of unrestricted net position (presenters said those amounts reflect statutory or appropriation directives such as highway modernization funds, TennCare reserves and education trust funds and that staff would provide a detailed list of reserves and their statutory authority).

Comptroller staff closed by noting the ACFR’s management’s discussion and analysis, notes and schedules offer detailed information relevant to upcoming budget deliberations and pledged to send committee members the reserves listing upon request.","Comptroller staff presented the 2024 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report to the Senate Finance Ways and Means Committee, saying Tennessee ended FY24 with a positive net position but a smaller year‑over‑year increase than FY23, and noting much of the prior year’s larger increase reflected one‑time federal receipts that have now diminished.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Tennessee trauma doctors urge stable funding as patient load rises and cigarette revenue falls

State Museum moves collection to new East Nashville storage, awards capital grants and prepares for America250 duties

Revenue commissioner reports $1.3 billion refunded under franchise‑tax law change; remaining refund pool and FY26 requests explained

Comptroller warns property‑tax relief reserve will be exhausted within two years without action

State accountants tell finance committee Tennessee’s 2024 ACFR shows positive net position but smaller gain than prior year