Sen. Dawn White

Maddy summarySB 1604 requires Tennessee public schools and charter schools to teach students about the formation of U.S. and Tennessee governments using foundational documents like the Constitution and state founding texts at appropriate grade levels. This mandate aligns with existing state social studies standards adopted by the state board, without creating new standards. The bill directly affects all local education agencies and public charter schools in Tennessee by adding this specific curriculum requirement. It focuses on factual historical instruction about government origins rather than political content.

Maddy summarySB 685 revises Tennessee's laws on unlawful photography, increasing penalties for taking unauthorized photos of others. It upgrades the offense to a felony (Class E, D, or C depending on circumstances) and adds specific aggravating factors, such as when the victim is under 13 years old or when the perpetrator holds a position of trust (e.g., a teacher or coach). The bill also mandates that offenders register as sexual offenders under Tennessee's registry law. These changes apply to acts committed on or after July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 682 amends Tennessee's Future Teacher Scholarship program to support education students pursuing teaching licenses. It updates eligibility to include junior/senior undergraduates or post-baccalaureate students seeking initial licensure, requires applicants to be U.S. citizens residing in Tennessee for at least one year, and sets an annual $5,000 scholarship amount. Recipients must teach for two consecutive years in a targeted school setting within Tennessee or repay the scholarship amount pro-rated per year. The bill also adds mandatory program evaluations by the Office of Research and Education Accountability in 2027, 2030, and 2034 to assess effectiveness.

Maddy summarySB 1020 allows public charter schools authorized by a county school district (LEA) to use available school buildings or facilities within a city school system in the same county - specifically where only one city school system exists in that county. It requires a written lease agreement for educational use and applies only to facilities in the same county as the charter school's authorizing district. This change modifies existing rules to permit charter schools to expand facility access without changing their enrollment boundaries or approval requirements. The bill directly affects county-authorized charter schools in counties with a single city school system, enabling them to utilize existing infrastructure under specific conditions.

Maddy summarySB 1019 changes how Tennessee allocates state education funds generated by students attending public charter schools. It requires the state education department to send the state share of these funds directly to the public charter school instead of the local school district (LEA) where the charter is located. Key provisions include amending funding formulas to ensure charter schools receive these funds directly and adding financial reporting requirements for charter schools to track state and federal funds. This policy affects all Tennessee public charter schools by altering their funding stream from local districts to direct state allocation. The bill became effective May 9, 2025, with full implementation for budget purposes starting July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 688 expands the Tennessee State Board of Education's authority to require testimony or documents during accountability hearings for public schools or charter schools rated "D" or "F" on state report cards. The bill allows the board chair or their designee to issue subpoenas for people, documents, videos, or audio recordings deemed relevant to these hearings. It specifically amends Tennessee Code sections related to education oversight (Titles 49, Chapters 1, 3, and 5) to formalize this subpoena power. This change directly affects low-performing schools and the state board during investigations into their operations. The law became effective May 5, 2025, after the governor signed it.

Maddy summarySB 678 changes Tennessee sentencing for aggravated sexual battery. It makes this crime a more serious Class A felony (instead of Class B) when the victim was under 18 or was mentally defective, mentally incapacitated, or physically helpless. The bill requires defendants convicted in these cases to be sentenced as Range II offenders, meaning their minimum sentence cannot be lower than Range II even if Range III applies. This policy change directly affects defendants convicted of aggravated sexual battery where the victim meets one of the specified vulnerability conditions, effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1018 prohibits Tennessee county public schools and public charter schools from charging registration, enrollment, or tuition fees to students who reside in the same county and transfer from one local school (LEA) to another public charter school within that county. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 49-13-113 and 49-13-106 to explicitly ban these fees for intra-county transfers. This directly affects county school districts, public charter schools operating within them, and students moving between such schools within the same county. The law took effect immediately upon the governor’s signature on May 5, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 680 requires Tennessee local schools (including public charter schools) to include specific diabetes information in health-related communications to parents of K-12 students, starting August 1, 2025. The bill mandates the Tennessee Department of Education, working with the Department of Health, to create and post free, downloadable resources on its website containing key facts about Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, risk factors, warning signs, screening guidance, and treatment planning recommendations. These resources must be provided to schools to share with parents when discussing immunizations, infectious diseases, or other health topics. The law took effect April 11, 2025, after being signed by the Governor.

Maddy summarySB 690 requires Tennessee public school districts (LEAs) to allow virtual school students to try out for interscholastic athletic teams at their zoned public school if they meet the school's eligibility requirements. The bill directly affects virtual students who live in the attendance zone of a physical public school offering athletics and are otherwise eligible to attend that school. It mandates that districts cannot block these students from trying out solely due to their virtual school status, though it does not guarantee team placement (coaches retain final selection authority). The law does not override athletic association rules but ensures virtual students have the same opportunity to try out as in-person students at their designated school.