Sen. Adam Lowe

Maddy summarySB 1705 requires Tennessee public schools to include unexcused absences from a student's previous school when they transfer to a new school or home school, using these combined absences to determine if a student meets habitual truancy thresholds. It mandates that school directors report students who were previously enrolled in public school (and received truancy interventions) but are now in home school to juvenile court if they accumulate 5+ unexcused absences. The bill also requires schools to apply progressive truancy plans and document interventions before reporting. This bill was filed for introduction in January 2026 but was withdrawn on January 20, 2026, and did not become law.

Maddy summarySB 1576 requires Tennessee's Department of Education to make a standardized form for reporting student allergies publicly available on its website. This directly affects schools, parents, and students by providing clear, accessible information for managing allergies. The bill amends existing law (TCA Title 49) to mandate this online posting, replacing a previous requirement without specifying the form's availability. It does not change allergy policies or create new requirements, only ensuring the existing form is easily accessible to the public. The change takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 1571 modifies Tennessee's anatomical gifts law to allow genome sequencing data collected during federally compliant clinical trials or biomedical research to be stored outside the U.S. or remotely accessed by foreign adversaries. This exception applies specifically to data gathered under federal rules (28 CFR Part 202) and directly affects researchers and institutions conducting such studies in Tennessee. The bill adds this exception to existing regulations governing how anatomical gift data may be handled. It does not change other aspects of the law or impose new requirements on data storage.

Maddy summarySB 844 amends Tennessee's tax code to extend the deadline for requesting a formal hearing from 10 to 12 days after a tax-related decision by the Department of Revenue. This affects taxpayers facing adverse actions like license revocations, permit denials, or tax disputes under revenue laws. The bill specifically changes Section 67-1-105(a)(1) of the Tennessee Code Annotated to provide an additional two days for individuals to seek a hearing before the Commissioner. The change takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1060 prohibits political campaign committees supporting or opposing ballot measures from accepting contributions or expenditures from foreign nationals - including foreign governments, entities, or U.S. organizations majority-owned by foreign nationals. It requires these committees and individuals making independent expenditures to certify no foreign funding exceeding $100,000 in the past four years and disclose all funding sources to Tennessee’s election finance registry. The law directly affects committees and spenders involved in local ballot measure campaigns, aiming to prevent foreign influence in state elections. It became law as Public Chapter 506 in May 2025.

Maddy summarySB 778 reclassifies driving with a canceled, suspended, or revoked license as a "nonmoving traffic violation" under Tennessee law (specifically amending TCA § 55-50-504). This change directly affects drivers who operate vehicles while their license is inactive, as these violations will no longer count as moving violations. The key mechanism is the new classification, which typically results in fewer points assessed against a driver's license compared to moving violations. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and aims to reduce penalty severity for this specific offense.

Maddy summarySB 727 amends Tennessee law to extend the required notice period for foreclosure sales of residential property from 10 to 12 business days before the sale. This change directly affects homeowners facing foreclosure and the entities (like banks or trustees) handling foreclosure sales, requiring them to advertise the sale for two additional business days. The bill modifies Tennessee Code Annotated Section 35-5-114(d) to specify the new 12-business-day notice period, without altering other foreclosure procedures or requirements. This is a procedural adjustment to notice timing, not a substantive change to foreclosure rights or processes.

Maddy summarySB 845 creates a process for Tennessee's Attorney General to review local government actions (such as ordinances, policies, or regulations) that may violate state law or the Tennessee Constitution. If a state legislator requests this review, the Attorney General investigates within 30 days and notifies the local government of any violation, giving it 30 days to fix the issue or face potential withholding of state funds. This directly affects counties and cities/towns, as they must comply with state law or risk losing state-shared tax revenues and other state funds. The bill also requires legislators to first notify local governments of alleged violations before requesting an investigation, with a 60-day window for local resolution before formal review.

Maddy summarySB 147 requires Tennessee's Department of Transportation to install clear signs or symbols at rest areas and welcome centers indicating where family restrooms are located. It defines a "family restroom" as a fully enclosed, lockable space designed to accommodate people with disabilities, elderly individuals, children, or those needing assistance. The bill also mandates that the department post a complete list of rest areas with family restrooms on its website. This affects travelers using Tennessee highways and directly requires the DOT to implement these accessibility features and transparency measures.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Tennessee education law to change how teachers and principals are evaluated and adjust instructional hour requirements. It requires 60% of evaluation scores to be based on student achievement data, with 35% from student growth (measured by Tennessee's student growth assessment system) and 25% from other approved measures chosen by educators. The bill also allows schools to use alternative growth models for non-tested grades and subjects, and sets rules for applying growth data to evaluations. These changes apply to all public schools and charter schools in Tennessee.