Sen. Bo Watson

Maddy summarySB 2154 requires the presiding officer of a local government planning advisory committee to promptly notify the appointing authority (such as a city council or mayor) when a committee member misses three consecutive meetings. This rule directly affects planning committee members and the local government body that appointed them. The key provision creates a mandatory notification process after three absences, ensuring appointing authorities are informed of chronic absenteeism. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, to implement this procedural change.

Maddy summarySB 2074 replaces local property taxes with a statewide 4% sales tax surcharge on goods and services, collected like existing sales tax. It directly affects all 95 Tennessee counties, cities, school districts, and special districts by eliminating their authority to levy property taxes (except for debt service on bonds issued before 2031). The bill creates a new "Local Government Revenue Stability Tax Fund" to distribute the surcharge revenue, guaranteeing local governments the equivalent of their 2028 property tax revenues adjusted annually for economic growth. This replaces the current property tax system with a uniform statewide sales tax mechanism, effective after January 1, 2031.

Maddy summarySB 2075 amends Tennessee law to require the comptroller of the treasury to provide property tax relief cost and income limit estimates to both state legislators and the Legislative Budget Analysis office. This procedural change updates existing reporting requirements under Tennessee Code Annotated, Titles 48 and 67, without altering tax policy or eligibility for relief. The bill affects how financial data is shared with legislative staff but does not create new tax benefits or obligations. It is a technical adjustment to reporting procedures, not a substantive policy change.

Maddy summarySB 1462 replaces the entire governing charter of the City of Ridgeside with a new, updated document. It establishes the city's corporate name, reaffirms its boundaries (with technical updates to the boundary description), and grants the city specific governing powers. Key provisions include authority to levy taxes, issue bonds, acquire property, exercise eminent domain, and grant exclusive franchises for public utilities for up to 25 years. This bill directly affects Ridgeside's city government and its residents by defining how the city is structured and operates under its new charter.

Maddy summarySB 1390 expands Tennessee's TennCare Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) by creating a new pilot program in a grand division without an existing PACE service area as of 2024. It also allows an existing PACE program in a specific county (population 366,200-366,300) to expand into contiguous counties meeting defined population thresholds (12,700-12,800; 32,800-32,875; or 108,600-108,700). The bill requires applicants to submit service area plans, market analyses, and proof of unmet need, while directing TennCare to coordinate referrals and monitor program quality. This law directly affects elderly Tennesseans eligible for nursing facility-level care who require comprehensive, integrated services through PACE programs.

Maddy summarySB 1426, known as "Lucca's Law," requires TennCare managed care plans to cover medically necessary treatments for children diagnosed with PANDAS (pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections) and PANS (pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome). It mandates coverage for antibiotics, behavioral therapies, immune-modulating drugs, plasma exchange, and IV immunoglobulin therapy, with no higher copays or deductibles than other similar treatments. The law also prohibits denying or delaying coverage based on prior treatment history or different diagnostic labels, and requires coverage to be provided without lifetime limits. This applies to all TennCare managed care organizations starting January 1, 2026, and specifies that PANDAS/PANS must be coded as autoimmune encephalitis until new medical codes are established.

Maddy summarySB 1381 authorizes Tennessee local governments (cities, counties, or metropolitan areas) to regulate sober living homes - alcohol- and drug-free residences where adults recovering from substance abuse live together - to ensure compliance with federal Fair Housing and ADA laws. Key provisions require such homes to be at least 1,000 feet from schools/daycares, allow local zoning rules for location/operation, and mandate clinical referrals from licensed providers before admission. The bill directly affects sober living home operators, local governments creating regulations, and residents seeking recovery housing. It updates state housing laws to clarify that these homes are not treatment facilities and must avoid discriminatory practices under federal law.

Maddy summarySB 1382 requires Tennessee's Commerce and Insurance Commissioner to study whether insurers' online processes for step therapy exceptions (where patients must try cheaper treatments first) are easy for patients and doctors to use. The study specifically examines if insurers comply with state law without creating unnecessary barriers for requesting exceptions, particularly for conditions like advanced cancer. The commissioner must report findings and recommendations to lawmakers by December 15, 2025. This bill affects patients and healthcare providers seeking coverage for treatments that require step therapy exceptions, but it does not change coverage rules - only studies current processes.

Maddy summarySB 1366 amends Tennessee law to change the deadline for state agencies submitting applications for federal financial assistance from February 1 to March 1. This affects state agencies that seek federal funding, requiring them to meet the new March 1 deadline instead of the previous February 1 date. The bill specifically updates two sections of the Tennessee Code (9-4-5404 and 9-4-5406) to reflect this timeline adjustment. The change provides an additional month for agencies to prepare and submit their applications.

Maddy summarySB 1359 modifies reporting requirements for Tennessee's higher education funding. It requires the state commission to submit annual reports on capital outlay funds to relevant legislative committees by July 1 each year, starting in 2025. This affects public colleges and universities that receive state capital funding, as it standardizes when they must report how these funds are used. The bill does not change how institutions can spend the funds, only the timing and process for reporting to lawmakers. (Effective May 9, 2025)