Rep. Todd Warner

Maddy summaryHJR 823 is a ceremonial resolution honoring Megan Smith, a teacher at Cornersville Elementary School, for being selected as the 2025-2026 Teacher of the Year. The resolution, passed by the Tennessee General Assembly and signed by the Governor, commends her dedication to education, her impact on students, and her professional excellence. It does not create new laws or policies but formally recognizes her contributions through a public statement of appreciation.

Maddy summaryHJR 826 is a symbolic resolution honoring Josh Harmon, a teacher at Delk-Henson Intermediate School, for being selected as the 2025-2026 Teacher of the Year. It formally recognizes his dedication to education and service to students in Tennessee. As a commemorative resolution (not a law), it has no policy impact and simply expresses the General Assembly's praise for his professional achievements. The resolution was signed by the Governor on February 12, 2026.

Maddy summaryHJR 829 is a ceremonial resolution honoring Elaine Jarvis, a teacher at Longview Elementary School, for being selected as the 2025-2026 Teacher of the Year. The resolution, passed by the Tennessee General Assembly and signed by the Governor, formally recognizes her dedication to education and positive impact on students. It does not create new laws or policies but serves as a symbolic tribute to her professional achievements.

Maddy summaryHJR 819 is a ceremonial resolution honoring Amy Harwell, the 2025-2026 Lewisburg Middle School Teacher of the Year. It formally recognizes her dedication, professional excellence, and impact on students in Tennessee. The resolution has no binding effect or policy changes - it simply expresses legislative commendation through a formal vote of appreciation. This type of resolution is standard practice for acknowledging public service achievements without altering laws or regulations.

Maddy summaryHJR 824 is a ceremonial resolution honoring Tracy Hall, a teacher selected as the 2025-2026 Forrest School District Teacher of the Year. The resolution formally commends her service and "professional expertise" in recognizing her dedication to students and education. As a symbolic gesture with no policy impact, it does not create new laws or affect any rights or obligations. This resolution was signed by the Governor on February 12, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (HJR 820), not a law. It formally honors Lindsey Bledsoe, a Cornersville High School teacher, for being named the 2025-2026 Cornersville High School Teacher of the Year. The resolution commends her dedication to education and her positive influence on students, as recognized by her school. It does not create new policies, allocate funds, or affect any legal rights or obligations. The resolution was signed by the House Speaker and Governor in February 2026.

Maddy summaryHJR 817 is a ceremonial resolution honoring Kate Oliver, a teacher at Westhill Elementary School in Marshall County, for being named the 2025-2026 Marshall County School System and Westhill Elementary Teacher of the Year. The resolution formally recognizes her dedication, teaching excellence, and positive impact on students through the Tennessee General Assembly’s official commendation. It does not create new laws, allocate funding, or affect any policies - its sole purpose is to publicly celebrate her professional achievement. The resolution was signed by the Governor on February 12, 2026, making it official.

Maddy summaryHB 1507, the "Tennessee School Safety Act of 2026," requires students expelled twice for threatening mass violence on school property or at school activities to undergo a psychiatric evaluation by a medical professional before returning to school. The bill mandates that school administrators cannot allow such students to return until they receive documentation confirming the student is no longer a threat and can safely rejoin school. It amends Tennessee Code Annotated sections 39-13-813 and 49-6-3401 to enforce this requirement, directly affecting students with repeated expulsions for violent threats. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and focuses on safety assessments rather than punitive measures.

Maddy summaryHB 2099 would change Tennessee law to automatically allow children under 13 to testify via two-way video link (instead of in person) in certain criminal cases involving child victims. This creates a rebuttable presumption that such children would suffer significant trauma from facing the defendant, meaning courts must assume the criteria for video testimony are met unless the defendant proves otherwise. The bill also requires judges to confirm that using video testimony won’t unfairly harm the defendant’s right to a fair trial. This applies specifically to cases involving certain offenses against child victims under 13.

Maddy summaryHB 2142, the "Tennessee Foreign Law Non-Recognition Act," prohibits Tennessee courts, arbitrators, and administrative agencies from applying foreign law if it would violate constitutional rights under the U.S. or Tennessee Constitutions. It specifically blocks rulings based on foreign legal systems that conflict with these rights, while allowing enforcement of valid foreign judgments or contracts that comply with constitutional protections. The bill also invalidates arbitration agreements requiring foreign law that would violate constitutional rights, but does not affect tribal law, federal law, or the Uniform Commercial Code. This applies directly to legal disputes involving foreign law in Tennessee courts and arbitration proceedings.