Sen. Bo Watson

Maddy summarySB 20 modifies Tennessee's licensing rules for professional counselors by creating an exemption from the standard 60-credit hour graduate requirement. It directly affects applicants who already hold a valid, unencumbered professional counselor license in another state, territory, or federal district. The key provision allows these applicants to be licensed in Tennessee if the Tennessee Board for Professional Counselors determines that the applicant's home state's licensing standards are acceptable. This change streamlines licensure for qualified out-of-state counselors without requiring additional coursework, effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration to post specific documents and publications on its official website. It directly affects the public by making information about complex rehabilitation technology, such as wheelchair repairs, more accessible online. The law does not change how repairs are performed or funded but mandates that the department share existing resources digitally. These materials will become available to anyone viewing the department's site starting July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Chris Wright Act, increases penalties for repeat offenders by upgrading third or subsequent domestic assault convictions from misdemeanors to felonies. It also establishes a new rule where committing a sixth or later offense from a specific list of serious misdemeanors, such as theft, assault, or driving under the influence, automatically results in a felony charge. The law defines "qualifying misdemeanors" as over thirty specific crimes and sets strict conditions, including a ten-year look-back period, to determine if a defendant has enough prior convictions to trigger these harsher penalties. Additionally, the bill requires prosecutors to explicitly list these past offenses in legal documents to ensure the enhanced charges are properly applied. These changes aim to provide stricter consequences for individuals with a history of violent or serious non-violent criminal behavior.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Tennessee Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council to guide how state government uses artificial intelligence. The council consists of fifteen members, including state officials and representatives appointed by the governor and legislative leaders. Its main job is to develop an action plan that promotes awareness, education, and clear usage policies for AI tools among state employees. The council must submit its initial recommendations within six months and a final plan within twelve months of starting. The group is attached to the Department of Finance and Administration and will cease to exist on July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new Medicaid buy-in program in Tennessee specifically designed for working individuals with disabilities who wish to maintain health insurance coverage while employed. To qualify, applicants must be at least 18 years old, meet federal disability standards, and work full-time or part-time, but they are exempt from resource and income tests that typically limit access to such programs. The program allows participants to pay monthly premiums to receive medical assistance, which can supplement existing employer-sponsored insurance, and includes protections like a grace period for temporary job interruptions and the ability to continue coverage for six months after an involuntary job loss. Additionally, the legislation authorizes the state to use savings from federal block grants to fund the initiative and permits the exclusion of certain retirement accounts from eligibility calculations.

Maddy summaryThis enacted bill updates Tennessee laws governing retail tourism development districts to clarify how financial incentives are calculated and distributed. It restricts the definition of "cost" for tax credits by excluding management fees, overhead expenses, and payments to affiliated entities, ensuring that only direct project costs are eligible. Additionally, the law redefines "direct or indirect assistance" to specifically include rent discounts tied to leases signed before July 1, 2022, while excluding future discounts or those related to lease terminations. These changes apply to all cost reimbursements submitted on or after July 1, 2011, and directly impact businesses and property owners within designated retail tourism areas.

Maddy summaryThis law clarifies that the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation cannot regulate small-scale farming activities involving topsoil removal, rock harvesting, or pond construction. The exemption applies only when the work happens on less than five acres of land that is officially classified as a greenbelt. By removing these specific tasks from state oversight, the bill allows farmers on qualifying small properties to manage their land without needing environmental permits. The changes became effective on July 1, 2024, and apply to various sections of the state's agricultural and environmental codes.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Tennessee laws to strengthen protections for individuals facing consumer debt lawsuits. It requires creditors to include specific proof of the debt and their authority to collect it when filing a lawsuit, ensuring they can only sue for debts they have verified. Additionally, the law automatically shields up to $2,500 in a person's bank account from being seized to pay a judgment, provided they have not already claimed that specific account for another exemption. These changes apply to general sessions court cases involving personal, family, or household financial obligations.

Maddy summaryThis law allows certain schools in Tennessee that are struggling to leave a specific improvement program before the 2024-2025 school year. To qualify for an early exit, a school must be a Title I institution serving grades six through eight that failed to meet state performance goals by the end of the previous school year. When a school exits the program, it no longer needs to follow the required turnaround plan, and the committee overseeing the school's improvement efforts is dissolved. Additionally, the independent experts hired to help struggling schools must stop billing for services once the school officially leaves the pilot program.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 2374 requires the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations to conduct a comprehensive study of state and local laws affecting child care businesses. The study must examine regulations in urban, suburban, and rural areas by interviewing business owners to identify rules that create unnecessary costs or delays without serving health and safety needs. Once completed, the commission must submit a report with its findings and legislative recommendations to state leaders by January 31, 2025. This bill directly impacts child care agencies, family homes, and centers by mandating an analysis of the regulatory environment they operate under.