The Tennessee State Senate on Thursday passed legislation that would streamline Tennessee’s disaster response using lessons learned after Hurricane Helene struck part of the state during the Biden administration.
Senate Bill (SB) 2232 by State Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R-Franklin) would transfer authority over the Governor’s Response and Recovery Fund from the Commissioner of Finance and Administration to the Director of the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA), while also specifying which types of government entities, schools, and individuals can receive support, and under what conditions.
If Tennessee’s governor were to declare an emergency, the legislation would also authorize funding to be issued for emergency debris removal, as well as the repair or replacement of roads, bridges, buildings, equipment, or utilities. It would also be able to provide the funding as grants or loans.
The legislation saw bipartisan support in the State Senate, passing with 29 votes. Only State Senator London Lamar (D-Memphis) voted against the bill. Lawmakers in the Tennessee House have yet to consider the companion version of the legislation, HB 2543 by House Majority Leader William Lamberth (R-Portland), which is currently assigned to the Cities and Counties subcommittee.
It cleared the Senate amid a budget request by Governor Bill Lee for a one-time investment of $100 million to replenish the Response and Recovery Fund.
Before the vote, State Senator Rusty Crow (R-Johnson City) said the legislation was introduced after the Tennessee General Assembly, “learned this past year, that when disaster strikes, we can no longer rely on some of the bureaucratic processes we’ve put in place to handle grants and try to acquire dollars when we need them.”
President Donald Trump floated the idea of abolishing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) after the agency received criticism under the Biden administration due to its response to the 2024 hurricane, suggesting early last year that emergency funding could instead be sent directly to states.
“FEMA has been a disaster,” said Trump during a January 2025 round table event attended by Lee. “If it were up to me, I’d end FEMA right now and let the states handle their problems directly—it would be faster, cheaper, and more effective.”
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Tom Pappert is a 2025 recipient of the Dao Prize and the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star. He also reports for the Star News Network. Follow Tom on X. Email tips to [email protected].
