Sen. Adam Lowe

Maddy summarySB 340 exempts privately owned properties built after 1899 in Tennessee tourism development zones from historic zoning rules for specific improvements like lighting, signs, weatherization (e.g., canopies, heaters), and electronic devices. Property owners in these zones no longer need to apply to historic commissions for such projects, and commissions cannot block them if owners provide a good-faith affidavit and a licensed architect’s opinion confirming the project qualifies for the exemption. This opinion is presumed correct unless overturned by clear evidence. Fire safety regulations (e.g., doors, windows) remain under fire marshal authority, unaffected by this exemption.

Maddy summarySB 910 modifies a Tennessee law requiring school districts and public charter schools to report compliance with foster youth athletic participation rules. Instead of submitting these reports annually, schools will now only need to provide them when specifically requested by the Senate or House education committees. The bill streamlines reporting requirements without changing the underlying rule about notifying athletic associations when foster youth seek to join sports teams. This change affects school districts and charter schools by reducing their administrative burden for this specific compliance check.

Maddy summarySB 725 would remove a two-mile buffer requirement that currently prohibits new or expanded landfills from being built within two miles of class II scenic rivers in Tennessee. This change would directly affect landfill operators and developers seeking to site facilities near these protected river areas. The bill deletes specific sections of state law (TCA Sections 11-13-111(b) and 68-211-118, 68-212-120, 68-212-223) that enforced the buffer. Consequently, landfills could be located closer to scenic rivers without the current setback.

Maddy summarySB 122, as introduced, would have reduced state oversight for Tennessee home school parents by eliminating most regulatory requirements. It would have required parents to submit basic student information (names, ages, grades) and use a "normed curriculum" they approved, but prohibited the state, school districts, or local governments from mandating standardized tests, documentation of teaching materials, or other oversight - unless parents voluntarily joined a state program or received state funds. The bill aimed to limit state involvement to cases where families opted into state-administered programs. However, the bill was withdrawn on February 12, 2025, and did not become law.

Maddy summarySB 197 removes outdated language from Tennessee law regarding the transition of physician assistant board members. It deletes provisions that previously limited former committee members (transferred to the new board in 2021) to two consecutive four-year terms, including their time on the old committee. The bill also removes transitional language about appointment terms, with the longest remaining term set to expire in 2024. This is an administrative cleanup of obsolete rules, not a substantive policy change. The bill affects only former committee members who served on the prior board structure.

Maddy summarySB 1251, introduced by Senator Bailey in 2025, would have required public schools in Tennessee to report student drug overdoses (in grades K-12) to school officials within seven business days of diagnosis or treatment. The bill aimed to amend multiple Tennessee Code sections (including education and health laws) to establish this reporting timeline. However, the bill was filed on February 6, 2025, and withdrawn the next day (February 7) without further action. It never became law and did not affect any current policies or individuals.

Maddy summarySB 123 requires Tennessee voters to declare a statewide political party or recognized minor party affiliation before voting in primary elections. Unaffiliated voters who do not declare by August 2026 will be designated as "independent" and lose eligibility to vote in primaries. The bill adds a registration field for party affiliation, mandates declarations at a voter's first primary after the law's effective date, and restricts affiliation changes to more than 30 days before an election. It amends election code sections to enforce these requirements and update voting eligibility rules.

Maddy summarySB 140 creates a formal recall process for local elected officials in Tennessee, specifically targeting members of municipal legislative bodies (like city councils) and city or county school boards. The bill requires petition signatures from at least 20% of registered voters in the official's district to initiate a recall, with valid reasons including misconduct, incompetence, felony convictions, or lack of confidence. It establishes procedures for filing petitions, prohibits recalls for performing mandatory duties, and sets rules to prevent multiple recalls within two years without reimbursing prior election costs. The process is designed to be separate from existing removal methods and includes penalties for fraudulent petition signing.

Maddy summarySB 139 requires Tennessee hospitals that accept Medicaid to ask patients about their citizenship status (citizen, lawfully present, or not lawfully present) during registration and to submit quarterly reports to the state health department on admissions and emergency visits by these groups. The health department must then annually report to the governor and legislative leaders on costs of uncompensated care for patients not lawfully present, including impacts on hospital funding and service delivery. Hospitals must include a statement that responses won’t affect care or be shared with immigration authorities. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, with the first annual report due July 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 120 expands Tennessee's Class C felony charge for aggravated assault against first responders to include knowingly possessing specific fentanyl-related substances (fentanyl, carfentanil, remifentanil, alfentanil, thiafentanil, or analogues) in a way that could reasonably expose a first responder to the substance during their official duties. This applies when the exposure results in serious bodily injury or death to the first responder. The bill defines "expose" as direct contact via touch, ingestion, or inhalation and imposes a mandatory $15,000 fine and 90-day minimum jail sentence for violations. It takes effect July 1, 2025.