Sen. Todd Gardenhire

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 294 designates February 21, 2026, as "Robert Gardenhire Day" to honor his 41-year ministry at Schrader Lane Church of Christ, his 41-year career at Bridgestone/Firestone (including roles as Director of Logistics), and his civic service on boards like the Tennessee Technological University College of Business Foundation and United Way of Greater Nashville. The resolution recognizes his work in church leadership, missionary efforts, and community advocacy, including authoring a book on project funding. It was introduced and passed by the Tennessee Senate in February 2026.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Joint Resolution (SJR 586) is a ceremonial tribute recognizing Deborah Kerley DeBord for her 42 years of service as Bledsoe County Clerk and Master, including her retirement on June 30, 2025. It has no policy impact or binding effect - it solely commends her public service through formal recognition. The resolution was unanimously adopted by both chambers of the Tennessee General Assembly in February 2026. It directly affects only Deborah Kerley DeBord, honoring her career without altering any laws or regulations.

Maddy summarySJR 587 is a ceremonial resolution honoring Greggory Joe Ridley, the retiring Mayor of Bledsoe County, Tennessee, after his 20-year tenure. It recognizes his service, leadership in projects like the TCAT facility and medical office, and commitment to fiscal responsibility and community growth. The resolution does not create new laws or affect policies; it is a symbolic gesture of commendation passed unanimously by the Tennessee General Assembly. It directly affects no individuals or entities beyond expressing official appreciation for Mayor Ridley's retirement.

Maddy summarySenate Joint Resolution 588 is a formal resolution passed by the Tennessee General Assembly to commend Fredric "Fred" J. Sharpe for his service in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. It recognizes his military service beginning at age 19 (with two brothers already serving), his post-military work with the Tennessee Valley Authority for over a decade, and his community involvement with the American Legion and his family business in Marion County. Adopted unanimously by both the Senate (33-0) and House (94-0), this resolution serves as a ceremonial tribute without creating legal obligations or policy changes. It directly honors Mr. Sharpe, a Jasper, Tennessee resident, for his contributions to national service.

Maddy summarySB 1657 requires counties, municipalities, and metropolitan governments to approve sludge application from wastewater treatment plants to agricultural land through a two-thirds vote resolution. This approval must establish a fee per ton of sludge collected by the wastewater facility and remitted to the local government, with funds restricted to building and maintaining local wastewater facilities. The bill places a moratorium on new or renewed permits for sludge application in areas without such local approval, effective July 2026. It directly affects wastewater operators, local governments, and agricultural landowners by creating a new local permitting requirement tied to funding for water infrastructure.

Maddy summarySB 2333 removes a requirement that would have automatically reduced funding by 10% for Tennessee judicial districts with an unusually high number of judges (as determined by the comptroller) if the legislature failed to pass new district boundaries by 2028. The bill deletes this provision from state law, eliminating the threat of automatic budget cuts for affected districts. It directly impacts judicial districts that currently have imbalances in judge-to-population ratios. The change takes effect immediately upon enactment, without creating new requirements or altering judicial district boundaries.

Maddy summarySB 2541 requires Tennessee's Administrative Office of the Courts to post monthly reports online. These reports track personal injury or death cases filed seeking monetary damages, including how many cases proceed to trial and how many result in damages. The bill amends state law to mandate that these existing public documents be available on the court's website, increasing public access to court data without changing the report content. This transparency measure directly affects the Administrative Office of the Courts and makes case data more accessible to the public.

Maddy summarySB 1686 requires Tennessee's Department of Correction to create a performance-based contracting program for entities operating state prison facilities. It ties 25% of each contractor's annual funding to yearly improvements on specific, measurable outcomes - including staff turnover rates, inmate safety metrics (like preventable deaths and sexual violence incidents), participation in rehabilitation programs, and post-release employment. Contractors must meet these targets to receive the full 25% payment; otherwise, the funds revert to the state general fund. The program must be implemented within six months, with quarterly audits by the comptroller to verify compliance and public reporting of results.

Maddy summarySB 1661 requires the Tennessee Board of Dentistry to submit its annual report by February 1 each year to both the governor and the Tennessee General Assembly, clarifying that the General Assembly must receive the report (previously unclear under current law). The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 63-5-106, to establish this deadline and recipient requirement, while ensuring copies remain available to the public. It directly affects the Board of Dentistry (as the reporting entity) and the General Assembly (as a new required recipient). This procedural change does not alter the report's content but standardizes the submission process for transparency.

Maddy summarySB 1652 updates Tennessee's legal definition of "hemp" to match the federal standard established in the 2026 federal appropriations act. It defines hemp as Cannabis sativa L. with ≤0.3% total THC on a dry weight basis, excluding products exceeding this limit or containing synthetically produced cannabinoids. The bill clarifies that "industrial hemp" refers to non-cannabinoid uses (like fiber or seeds), while "hemp-derived cannabinoid products" include all other consumer products containing cannabinoids. This directly affects hemp growers, manufacturers, and retailers by aligning state regulations with federal law and setting clear limits on THC content and product types.