Sen. Dawn White

Maddy summarySB 2403 requires Tennessee public schools to annually report all local assessments (including purpose, subject, grade level, and administration schedule) to the state Department of Education. This information must be published online for public access by July 2027, allowing parents and students to compare assessments across schools. The bill eliminates schools' ability to use non-state universal reading screeners for kindergarten through third grade, mandating instead the state-provided Tennessee universal reading screener. Additionally, it creates an Assessment Review Board of nine classroom teachers to evaluate the state's assessment program tests from the previous school year.

Maddy summarySB 2404 deletes an ended 2023-2024 pilot program that provided grant funds to five local school districts for preschool initiatives, and removes a Tennessee preschool task force created to develop a strategic plan by June 2024. The bill amends state education laws (Tennessee Code Sections 49-6-109 and related titles) to eliminate these outdated structures. It directly affects the five school districts that previously participated in the pilot program and the task force members. The bill makes no new policy changes but formally removes existing, expired provisions from state law.

Maddy summarySB 2407 helps education students in Tennessee complete teaching credential requirements. It allows individuals who have started but not finished their required clinical practice hours to receive a temporary teaching permit if they meet other criteria. The bill lets these students combine their pre-permit clinical hours with teaching time under the temporary permit to fulfill their full clinical practice requirement. This change directly affects education preparation program candidates seeking teaching credentials in Tennessee.

Maddy summarySB 2145 allows individuals to file for a **lifetime order of protection** against someone convicted of certain crimes in another state, if those crimes would be considered equivalent offenses under Tennessee law. It directly affects victims of out-of-state crimes who now have a clearer legal path to long-term protection. The bill changes where such cases can be filed: petitions must be submitted in the county where the respondent lives, or where the petitioner lives if the respondent is not a Tennessee resident. This amends Tennessee Code Annotated Sections 36-3-627(a)(1)(D) and (c)(2) to clarify jurisdiction and eligibility.

Maddy summarySB 677 requires Tennessee's Department of Education to provide at least one free, self-paced online professional development course about using artificial intelligence in classrooms for teachers in grades 6-12. Teachers in these grades must complete one department-approved AI training course by August 1, 2027, or within two years of receiving their teaching license, whichever is later. The course must be created by an entity with expertise in STEM fields and can be used to earn required professional development credits. This bill directly affects all public school teachers in grades 6-12 across Tennessee, mandating specific AI training as part of their professional development requirements.

Maddy summarySB 2659 requires Tennessee's Public Utility Commission to include a separate annual report on compliance with existing laws regulating phone and text solicitations to residential subscribers. This report must be submitted to the chairs of the House Commerce committee and Senate Commerce and Labor committee each year. The bill does not change the underlying rules for solicitors but mandates an annual review of how well current regulations are being followed. It directly affects the Public Utility Commission's reporting obligations and provides legislative committees with regular compliance data.

Maddy summarySB 2141 modifies Tennessee's higher education financial aid system. It removes specific report deadlines for educational entities, updates eligibility criteria for the Tennessee Student Assistance Award (including defining "financial need" based on FAFSA data), and requires the Tennessee Higher Education Commission to review transfer pathways annually. The bill changes how aid is distributed - requiring payments directly to colleges first, with remaining funds going to students - and clarifies TSAC's authority to set rules. These changes affect Tennessee students applying for state aid, eligible colleges, and the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation.

Maddy summarySB 2106 expands protections for students by adding "former students" to the definition of individuals with whom educators cannot engage in sexually related behavior, covering those who graduated or withdrew from school within the past year. It requires educators to report violations to the state board of education, which could lead to license discipline. The bill also removes the option to discipline educators for breaking employment contracts without a valid reason. These changes directly affect teachers, principals, and school staff in Tennessee whose conduct could violate these provisions. The bill is pending legislative approval and would take effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 1738 exempts active-duty military service members stationed outside Tennessee from paying the additional registration fee for all-electric vehicles. It applies to members stationed out of state under military orders, provided the vehicle is titled and registered in their name (alone or with a spouse/relative). To qualify, service members must submit a copy of their official stationing orders to the county clerk when renewing registration. The exemption takes effect July 1, 2026, for registrations renewed on or after that date.

Maddy summarySB 1737 creates a new criminal offense in Tennessee for knowingly traveling on the same path as another person (without substantial deviation) toward a business or financial institution, while carrying two or more "criminal instruments" with intent to steal cash. It directly affects individuals who attempt coordinated thefts by following others' routes while possessing tools like lockpicks or fake IDs designed for crime. The law classifies violations as a Class A misdemeanor, escalating to a Class D felony if the person commits additional crimes like burglary, or a Class B felony if they commit armed robbery. This bill defines "criminal instruments" as items not inherently illegal but used for offenses under specific Tennessee criminal codes.