Sen. Dawn White

Maddy summarySB 1022 expands Tennessee's assault law to protect additional public safety personnel by redefining "law enforcement officer" to include correctional officers working in county jails, state prisons, or private prisons, and probation/parole officers employed by the state or private providers. This change directly affects those officers by extending the legal protections of the assault offense statute to them, meaning assaulting them would now carry the same penalties as assaulting traditional law enforcement. The bill amends Tennessee Code § 39-13-116 to explicitly list these roles in the definition, removing ambiguity about their coverage. It takes effect on July 1, 2025, and does not alter existing penalties for assault.

Maddy summarySB 686 makes Tennessee's Tennessee Promise completion grants a permanent program, directly affecting students who received Tennessee Promise scholarships and need additional support to complete their degrees. It creates a dedicated state treasury account for these grants, allowing unspent funds to carry forward annually instead of reverting to general funds. The bill specifies that completion grants can be funded from the new special account or unspent funds from another state grant program, with a $250,000 annual cap on funds from the latter source. Starting in 2025-2026, it also requires colleges to assign coaches to participating students and ensures Pell-eligible students can receive up to $1,000 per semester in completion grants.

Maddy summarySB 681 would increase property tax relief for disabled veteran homeowners in Tennessee by raising the taxable value threshold from $175,000 to $250,000. This change directly affects veterans with disabilities who own homes, allowing them to receive tax reimbursement on a larger portion of their home's value. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Section 67-5-704 to adjust this threshold, meaning more of a home's value would be exempt from property taxes under the relief program. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee and would take effect July 1, 2025, if passed.

Maddy summarySB 679 updates Tennessee's school funding formula (TISA) to include pre-kindergarten students with special education needs and their non-disabled classmates ("peer models") who learn together in the least restrictive environment. The bill amends state law to define these terms and ensures school districts receive dedicated TISA funding for these students without reducing other state education funds. This change applies to the 2025-2026 school year and beyond, directly affecting pre-K special education programs and their inclusive classroom settings.

Maddy summarySenate Joint Resolution 1117 is a commemorative measure that honors Dr. Sidney A. McPhee as he retires as president of Middle Tennessee State University. The resolution recognizes his twenty-five years of service, during which the university completed over $2 billion in facilities improvements and expanded its academic programs. It formally thanks Dr. McPhee for his leadership and expresses well wishes for his future academic career as a tenured professor in the university's College of Education. This bill does not create new laws or change existing policies; it serves solely to acknowledge his contributions and celebrate his retirement.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Joint Resolution honors Master Jericho Noah Gabriel Shearon, a fifth-grade wrestler from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, for winning the 2026 Tennessee AAU state wrestling championship. The resolution formally commends his undefeated record and multiple awards, including being named Most Outstanding Wrestler at the state tournament. It also invites him to join the Tennessee Senate Wrestling Caucus as an honorary member. This measure is a ceremonial recognition that does not change laws or allocate funding.

Maddy summarySB 2137 requires Tennessee courts to sentence defendants as "repeat violent offenders" to life imprisonment if they have three or more prior violent convictions committed on or after July 1, 2026. It defines "violent offenses" to include crimes like aggravated rape, murder, kidnapping, human trafficking, and certain child sexual abuse offenses, with at least two prior convictions needing to be from the most severe listed offenses. This law directly affects individuals convicted of new violent crimes who have prior violent felony convictions meeting the specified criteria. The bill amends Tennessee sentencing statutes to implement this mandatory life sentence requirement for qualifying repeat offenders.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Tennessee's Department of Correction to conduct annual education assessments for inmates serving felony sentences. The assessments determine each inmate's highest education level and interest in continuing or advancing their studies. The department must then provide written notice within 90 days of the assessment about available educational programs. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 2108 requires Tennessee law enforcement agencies and local governments to submit quarterly reports about individuals not lawfully present in the U.S., including arrests for immigration violations and criminal offenses. It also mandates the Department of Finance and Administration to report annually (starting December 2026) on state costs for public services like schools, prisons, and hospitals provided to this population. The bill creates a centralized immigration enforcement division to receive these reports and imposes Class A misdemeanor penalties for non-compliance. This legislation primarily affects state agencies, local officials, and law enforcement entities by establishing new data collection requirements. It does not change immigration enforcement policy but focuses on compiling information about service costs and related activities.

Maddy summarySB 2402 requires Tennessee's Department of Children's Services to record all interviews with children during abuse, dependency, or neglect investigations using audio or video. This applies directly to department employees conducting these interviews and includes exceptions for technical issues or unforeseen circumstances that prevent recording. The bill clarifies that failing to record an interview does not affect the use of child statements or related evidence in court, and all recordings must remain confidential per existing law. The law would take effect July 1, 2026.