Sen. Adam Lowe

Maddy summaryThis Tennessee bill changes the notice period landlords must provide before terminating a lease for specific tenant violations. It extends the timeframe from three calendar days to three business days after written notice is given, covering incidents like violent acts, threats to safety, hazardous conditions, or unauthorized occupancy. The law applies to all residential rental agreements under Tennessee's landlord-tenant laws (affecting Titles 5, 6, 7, 13, 56, 62, 66, 67, and 68 of Tennessee Code). It makes a technical adjustment to existing procedures without creating new violations or altering tenant rights.

Maddy summarySB 2651 clarifies the rules for counties and municipal solid waste regions that fail to follow Tennessee's Solid Waste Management Act. It defines four specific ways a local entity can be noncompliant (like missing plan deadlines or failing to implement approved plans) and outlines a clear, step-by-step penalty system. If noncompliance continues for 30 days after a warning, the entity loses access to state solid waste management funds; after 60 days, it faces daily civil penalties up to $5,000. This bill directly affects local governments managing waste, ensuring they must meet state standards to receive funding or avoid financial penalties.

Maddy summarySB 2268 changes the deadline for medical facilities and research institutions to certify compliance with Tennessee's anatomical gifts laws. It amends Tennessee law to require these entities to submit their compliance certification to the health commissioner by January 1 instead of July 1 each year. The bill does not create new requirements but adjusts the timing of an existing annual certification process under the Tennessee Genomic Security and End Organ Harvesting Act. This change directly affects hospitals, research centers, and other facilities covered by the act.

Maddy summarySB 2315 requires Tennessee's Alcoholic Beverage Commission to submit its biennial report on underage drinking, drunk driving, and other alcohol-related harms to both the governor and every member of the legislature, instead of just the legislature. This procedural change updates where the commission sends its report, ensuring the governor receives it directly alongside lawmakers. The bill does not alter alcohol laws or create new policies - it only modifies the reporting process. It affects the commission's administrative duties and ensures broader distribution of the report to state leadership.

Maddy summarySB 1575 would allow Tennessee government agencies to publish public meeting notices on a secure website instead of in a newspaper. It requires agencies that provide electronic notices (like e-newsletters) to offer a way for people to sign up for email notices or request paper copies by mail. This bill directly affects local governments and citizens by changing how meeting notices are distributed. The key provision standardizes online notice as a valid method while ensuring accessibility for those who prefer physical copies.

Maddy summarySB 1574 would have required lobbyists and their employers to update registration with Tennessee's ethics commission within seven business days (Monday-Friday, excluding holidays) instead of seven calendar days. This change would have directly affected all registered lobbyists and the organizations employing them, adjusting deadlines to align with business days. The bill amended specific sections of Tennessee's lobbying laws (Sections 3-6-302(a) and 3-6-302(c)) to implement this time-frame shift. However, the bill was withdrawn on February 5, 2026, and did not become law.

Maddy summarySB 2029 establishes Tennessee's "Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act," allowing property owners to designate beneficiaries who automatically inherit real estate upon the owner's death without probate. The bill creates a new legal mechanism: owners can record a "transfer on death deed" (which must name beneficiaries and state the transfer occurs at death) before their death, retaining full control of the property during life and the right to revoke or change the deed anytime. This directly affects Tennessee property owners seeking to simplify inheritance for their heirs, as it bypasses court involvement while keeping the property exempt from creditors' claims during the owner's lifetime. The law does not replace existing transfer methods but adds a new, straightforward option for property transfer.

Maddy summarySJR 540 is a resolution honoring the Walker Valley High School Lady Mustangs softball team for winning the 2025 TSSAA Class 4A state championship - the first state title in the program's history. It recognizes their athletic achievements (36-8 overall record, perfect 10-0 postseason), academic success (spring 2025 cumulative GPA of 3.81, fall 2025 GPA of 3.92), and community service efforts. The resolution serves as a formal expression of legislative praise, with no policy changes or financial obligations attached.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the legal definition of a dependent and neglected child in Tennessee to include those whose parents or guardians cannot provide care due to circumstances beyond their control. To prevent misuse, the law requires a judge to hold a specific hearing and make a formal finding that the parent's inability to care for the child is caused by factors outside their control. This change directly affects child welfare cases by clarifying when a child might be classified as neglected based on parental incapacity rather than intentional neglect. The legislation modifies existing state codes to ensure this new classification is only applied after a court verifies the specific conditions are met.

Maddy summarySB 1570, a proposed Tennessee bill, would have changed how livestock owners receive compensation when animals are destroyed to prevent disease spread. It would have required payments based on the animal’s value (subject to available funds) and made the state responsible for covering disposal costs of dead animals when ordered by officials. The bill also clarified that the state, not the animal’s owner, bears disposal costs and emphasized that no funds would be spent without specific legislative approval. However, the bill was withdrawn on January 20, 2026, before becoming law.