Sen. Todd Gardenhire

Maddy summarySB 445 adds five new assistant district public defender positions in Tennessee, effective July 1, 2025. This bill directly affects public defender offices by increasing staffing capacity to handle caseloads for indigent defendants. The key provision amends Tennessee law to create these positions, aiming to improve resource allocation within public defense systems. The change applies statewide to district public defender offices under Titles 8 and 9 of the Tennessee Code.

Maddy summarySB 255 prevents the removal of Tennessee municipal judges who were elected or appointed before March 7, 2025, from office due to residency changes during their term. The bill ensures these judges remain in office if they met the residency requirements at the time of their election or appointment, regardless of later residency shifts. It amends multiple court-related sections of Tennessee law (TCA Titles 8, 16-29) to enforce this protection. This directly affects current and future municipal judges in Tennessee who were qualified under pre-March 2025 residency rules.

Maddy summarySB 246 requires Tennessee's Department of Education to form a working group focused on improving support for English language learners (ELLs) in K-12 public schools. The group, including school program directors, educators, state board members, and legislators, will study best practices from other states and examine specific strategies like expanding teacher training, creating specialized educator endorsements, and using classroom techniques such as visual aids and collaborative learning. The working group must submit a report with recommendations by January 1, 2026, to legislative education committees. This bill directly affects EL educators and students across Tennessee's public schools by mandating a study to develop better instructional approaches.

Maddy summarySB 407 changes how Tennessee restores voting rights after felony convictions. It removes the requirement for a governor's pardon, instead automatically restoring voting rights once a person completes their sentence (including probation or parole) for most felony convictions. The bill affects individuals with past felony convictions who were previously barred from voting without a pardon. However, voting rights remain restricted for those convicted of first-degree murder, aggravated rape, treason, or certain violent sexual offenses, as specified in the law.

Maddy summarySB 464 amends Tennessee's bail bond laws to set a minimum 5% premium fee for bonds, replacing the previous 10% cap. It directly affects defendants using bail bonds and bondsmen/insurance agents by requiring fees to be between 5% and 10% of the bond amount (e.g., $125-$250 on a $2,500 bond), while allowing up to 15% for certain bond types. The bill changes specific sections of Tennessee Code (40-11-151, 40-11-316, and 40-11-316(c)) to establish these new fee ranges. It takes effect July 1, 2025, impacting all professional bondsmen and insurance agents providing appearance bonds for criminal cases.

Maddy summarySB 212 expands Tennessee's open meetings law to require certain nonprofit organizations to make meeting agendas publicly available before meetings. It applies to nonprofits receiving federal funding, state community grants, local government funds, or providing utility services to Nashville/Davidson County. The law changes the requirement from optional ("may") to mandatory ("shall") for these groups to post agendas on their websites if they maintain one. This amendment to Tennessee Code Annotated Section 8-44-110 became effective on May 5, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1133 shortens the timeframe for placing defendants on Tennessee's fugitives list after missing a court appearance, reducing it from five days to three days. This directly affects criminal defendants who fail to appear for court dates, accelerating law enforcement's ability to pursue them. The bill specifically amends Tennessee Code Annotated Section 39-16-202(a)(1) to implement this change, impacting how courts handle non-appearances. The law aims to improve efficiency in the criminal justice system by streamlining the fugitives list process.

Maddy summaryBased on the provided bill text, SB 1193 (as enacted) requires Tennessee municipalities and counties to post new ordinances and resolutions online within one month of adoption. It allows local governments to use their own websites or the state secretary of state's website for this purpose. This law directly affects local governments by changing how they publicly share newly adopted rules, with no mention of housing deed restrictions in the actual text (which contradicts the bill's stated title). The policy change is procedural, focusing on transparency and accessibility of local government documents.

Maddy summarySJR 429 is a resolution commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord (April 19, 1775), which marked the start of the Revolutionary War. The Tennessee General Assembly resolves to join the national observance on April 19, 2025, alongside patriotic organizations like the Sons of the American Revolution. This symbolic resolution does not create new laws or policies but formally acknowledges the historical significance of the battles. It directly reflects the state's commitment to honoring this pivotal event in American history.

Maddy summarySB 835 amends Tennessee law to allow judges, hearing officers, or administrative judges to award attorney fees and costs to a person or entity that wins a lawsuit against the Alcoholic Beverage Commission (ABC). It directly affects individuals or businesses challenging the ABC’s actions in administrative or civil court. The key provision requires courts to grant legal fees to prevailing parties in cases involving the ABC, whether the suit was filed by the ABC or against it. This change shifts the financial burden of legal costs to the losing party in ABC-related disputes.