Sen. Adam Lowe

Maddy summarySB 2031 creates a new legal right for individuals to sue healthcare professionals if they were coerced into receiving certain medical procedures - such as puberty blockers, hormones, or surgeries - based on false claims about gender identity. It specifically applies when patients (or parents/guardians for minors) consented due to coercion by the provider, and the procedure was intended to help someone "identify with a purported identity inconsistent with sex." The bill defines "medical procedure" broadly to include hormone treatments, surgical interventions, and related care. Lawsuits must be filed within 18 years of the procedure or when the injury was discovered.

Maddy summarySB 2259 requires Tennessee's public universities (including the University of Tennessee system) to create policies that clearly separate faculty tenure decisions from disciplinary actions. It prohibits using tenure decisions as punishment and ensures disciplinary procedures apply equally to all faculty, regardless of tenure status. The bill mandates due process for faculty facing discipline, including written notice and a hearing before the institution's chief academic officer. These policies must prevent disciplinary actions from altering tenure status without proper institutional procedures. The law aims to protect academic freedom while maintaining institutional accountability for faculty conduct.

Maddy summarySB 1704 repeals existing Tennessee laws (TCA Sections 70-4-112 and 70-4-122) that set specific requirements for raccoon hunting. This change allows the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission to regulate raccoon hunting through proclamations and rules instead of relying on fixed statutory language. The bill directly affects the Commission (which gains more flexible regulatory authority) and raccoon hunters (who will follow Commission rules rather than specific statutes). The law takes effect July 1, 2026, shifting how hunting regulations for raccoons are managed in Tennessee.

Maddy summarySB 2220 requires Tennessee's Department of Children's Services (DCS) to complete investigations into child care agencies for alleged child abuse or sexual abuse within 45 days of starting the investigation, unless "good cause" justifies a delay. The law explicitly excludes investigations into whether an agency's operator or employee committed abuse. This bill directly affects DCS and child care agencies operating in Tennessee by setting strict timelines for handling these specific investigations, effective July 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 2118 would restrict Tennessee's Medicaid program (TennCare) from covering or reimbursing medical procedures intended to help an individual live as a gender inconsistent with their sex assigned at birth or to treat gender dysphoria. The bill defines "medical procedure" to include surgeries and the prescription of puberty blockers or hormones. Exceptions are allowed for procedures treating congenital defects, precocious puberty, or physical injuries (but not gender dysphoria), and for existing treatments started before the law's effective date (with coverage ending March 31, 2027). The law would take effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 1821 amends Tennessee's food safety law to exclude certain nonprofits (like churches, temples, civic groups, and veteran organizations) from being classified as "food service establishments" when volunteers prepare, serve, transport, or store food. This change removes these organizations from requiring food safety permits or inspections under the law, regardless of how often volunteers handle food. The exemption specifically excludes storage of unopened canned food, non-hazardous packaged bulk food, and dry goods from the definition. This bill directly affects volunteer-run nonprofits that serve food at events, simplifying their regulatory compliance.

Maddy summarySB 777 would amend Tennessee election law (Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2, Section 2-1-116) to shorten the time candidates have to remove campaign signs, posters, and placards after an election from three weeks to two weeks. This change directly affects candidates and their campaign teams, requiring them to clear election materials more quickly. The bill’s key provision replaces the current "three weeks" timeframe with "two weeks" in the statute. The legislation was introduced in the Tennessee Senate but failed in committee in April 2025.

Maddy summarySB 2264 amends Tennessee's lobbying laws to require that local government entities - including school boards, municipal utilities, and county or city departments - must register as employers of lobbyists when they hire contractors or representatives to lobby on their behalf. Previously, these entities were exempt from this classification, but the bill removes that exemption. The law now treats these local entities as direct employers of lobbyists, subjecting them to the same reporting and registration requirements as other lobbying employers. This change applies only to local government entities; state government agencies remain exempt under the updated law.

Maddy summarySB 1967 requires all Tennessee high school students (grades 9-12), not just seniors, to have access to nationally recognized career readiness assessments. It also mandates the Board of Regents to create a framework allowing public colleges to grant college credit for these assessments, enabling students to apply high school career credentials toward postsecondary degrees. The bill affects every public high school and college in Tennessee, changing assessment access and credit transfer processes. It takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 1577 changes Tennessee's HOPE scholarship rules to help students who missed initial eligibility due to high school GPA or ACT scores. It allows these students to qualify as transfer students if they earn an associate degree or certificate at a Tennessee Promise-eligible institution, maintain Tennessee Promise eligibility throughout their first program, achieve a 3.0 GPA, and enroll in a four-year program within six months. The bill directly affects transfer students who previously lost HOPE eligibility as freshmen but meet these specific academic and enrollment requirements. It takes effect for the 2026-2027 academic year and applies to all subsequent years.