Sen. Adam Lowe

Maddy summarySB 111 allows liquor licensees who own at least 51% of both a winery and a manufacturer located on the same shared property to offer wine or spirit tastings and retail sales at a designated area on that overlapping property. It directly affects businesses operating under Tennessee's alcoholic beverage laws that own both a winery and a manufacturer on contiguous, deeded land. The key provision requires all products sold to be made on-site at that property, excludes bonded premises from the allowed area, and mandates shared ownership of both entities. This law amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 57, effective May 5, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 481 removes a requirement for individuals or entities claiming seized property to post a bond when filing a claim under Tennessee's asset forfeiture laws. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Sections 40-33-205(a) and 40-33-206(b) to eliminate the need for a "cost bond" in forfeiture proceedings. This change directly affects people challenging law enforcement seizures of property, making it easier to contest such seizures without upfront financial barriers. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, applying to all seizures occurring on or after that date.

Maddy summarySB 110 expands an existing residential pilot program for people with disabilities to include the eastern part of Tennessee, which previously only covered the western and middle regions. It requires one facility in each grand division (eastern, middle, western) and sets specific eligibility rules for eastern division participants, including a minimum 26-acre property in a county with 108,600-108,700 residents (per 2020 census), offering services for up to 60 additional adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities, and dedicating 25% of homes to inclusive housing. Applications for eastern division participation must be submitted by March 31, 2026, with facilities needing completion by June 30, 2028. The bill modifies licensing and reporting requirements for these facilities under Tennessee’s disability and aging department.

Maddy summarySB 7 prevents the Tennessee Historical Commission and other state agencies (except the state building commission) from regulating or fining owners of non-listed historic properties for renovations, alterations, or demolition. It applies to both public and private buildings not listed on the Tennessee Register of Historic Places. The Commission retains authority to regulate non-structural changes for properties that *are* listed on the Register. This law removes regulatory barriers for owners of non-listed historic properties while preserving oversight for listed historic sites.

Maddy summarySB 817 allows healthcare providers to prescribe and pharmacists to dispense asthma rescue inhalers to authorized entities (like schools, childcare centers, sports venues, and restaurants) under a pre-approved plan. Schools in Tennessee are encouraged to keep these inhalers in at least two accessible, secure locations (e.g., offices or nurse stations) for immediate use during asthma emergencies. The bill protects trained staff and schools from liability when administering the inhaler in good faith during emergencies, as long as they follow the healthcare provider’s standing protocol. It specifically amends Tennessee law to create these protocols for both general authorized entities and schools.

Maddy summarySB 8, the "Fairness in Benefits Act," requires Tennessee public employers participating in the state retirement system to allow private retirement plan providers to share information about their alternative retirement plans with employees during non-work hours. The bill ensures these private plans must be functional equivalents of IRS-qualified plans (like 401(k)s) to protect employee choices. It directly affects public employers and their employees by expanding access to private retirement options alongside the state system. The law aims to increase retirement planning flexibility without altering existing state retirement benefits.

Maddy summaryBased strictly on the provided bill text and context, SB 1059 amends Tennessee election law by extending the deadline for holding special elections. Specifically, it changes the requirement from "within ten (10) days" to "within fifteen (15) days" after receiving an order to hold a special election. This change directly affects local election officials and county election commissions responsible for scheduling these elections. The bill focuses on procedural timing adjustments rather than substantive policy changes to campaign finance or voting procedures. It became effective upon enactment as Public Chapter 350.

Maddy summarySB 816 makes it illegal in Tennessee to falsely claim a consumer is involved in a lawsuit or criminal case to trick them into paying for fake legal services, fees, or fines. The bill adds this specific deception to the Consumer Protection Act of 1977 as an unlawful practice. It directly protects consumers from scams where fraudsters use fabricated legal threats to extract money. The law amends Tennessee Code Sections 47-18-2108(b) and related titles to implement this prohibition. It became effective April 11, 2025, after Governor approval.

Maddy summarySB 729 allows Tennessee school districts (Local Education Agencies or LEAs) to create merit-based pay systems that reward high-performing educators with additional compensation, such as bonuses or salary increases. This applies to licensed educators and requires that any merit pay increase comes only from new state funds - districts may skip merit pay in a year if they don’t receive additional state funding compared to the prior year. School districts are not required to use local funds to maintain merit pay awarded in previous years. The law takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year and beyond.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits Tennessee local school boards and public charter school governing bodies from removing materials from school library collections solely because the materials are religious. It specifically prevents removal based only on religious content, while allowing removal for other valid reasons like age appropriateness or educational relevance. The law amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 49 to establish this clear standard for library collections in public schools. It applies immediately upon the Governor's signature, which occurred on April 24, 2025.