Gov. Bill Lee will call a special session of the General Assembly Oct. 18, he announced in a tweet Thursday, Sept. 30.

As part of the deal to attract Ford Motor Co. and SK Innovation to the Memphis Regional Megasite in Haywood County, Lee announced the state would provide $500 million in incentives, which have to be approved by the state legislature.

“Ford & SK Innovation’s investment will be transformational for West TN,” Lee stated.

Lee said those incentives would take the form of grants — not tax breaks — during a virtual press conference Monday.

It’s not clear if the session will begin on the same day it’s called or how long the session will last. A spokeswoman for Lee did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The General Assembly’s regular session is just around the corner. Lawmakers meet for about three months each year, beginning in January. Special sessions can be called at any time, including in the middle of a regular session.

The leaders of both chambers celebrated the announcement.

“This is a huge victory for our state and the West Tennessee region,” Lt. Gov. Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge) said in a statement Monday. “And it has been a long time coming. It is no secret that the megasite’s failure to attract a tenant has been a long-term disappointment for our state. Today’s announcement wipes that all away.”

House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) echoed that sentiment.

“Gov. Lee has been steadfast in his support and determination to identify and secure a tenant for the Memphis Regional Megasite,” Sexton said. “The thousands of high-quality jobs created will reshape the entire region’s economy and transform the lives of families – both now and for future generations.”

It’s possible the special session won’t be limited to the Ford incentives.

State Rep. Vincent Dixie (D-Nashville) told the Tennessee Lookout he suspects COVID-related legislation might be on the table.

“If the governor truly wants to get this deal done, and that’s truly his focus, he needs to have a narrow scope on what we’re gonna deal with and not let politics, as it has been in the past, always dominate the conversation,” Dixie said, according to the Lookout.

In Lee’s second tweet in the thread announcing the special session, he said he would extend his executive order allowing students to opt out of mask mandates. Judges in West, Middle and East Tennessee have blocked the opt-out order for some school districts, including Shelby County Schools.

Gov. Lee will renew mask opt-out executive order

“While we have business to do in the legislature, we will continue to stand up for parents in court,” Lee said. “I am renewing my mask opt out order & will work with (state Attorney General Herbert Slatery) to challenge the federal rulings that inappropriately legislated from the bench.”

Lee continued, in a third tweet, “The special session on October 18 will stay focused on next steps for the Memphis Regional Megasite, and we’ll stand up for parents in court.”