Maddy summarySB 2560, the "Tennessee Energy Freedom Act," protects fossil fuel industry activities within Tennessee by limiting legal liability for emissions. It defines "covered activities" as exploration, production, and use of coal, oil, and natural gas, and restricts lawsuits about emissions to cases involving products actually shipped *into* Tennessee ("in-jurisdiction products"). The bill prohibits courts or governments from imposing liability for emissions unless federal environmental laws (like the Clean Air Act) are violated, and allows companies to seek court rulings to establish their emissions calculations. This directly affects fossil fuel companies operating in Tennessee and could shield them from out-of-state lawsuits alleging emissions harm. The bill is currently pending before the Senate Energy Committee.
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Maddy summarySB 2548 allows physician assistants (PAs) to delegate medication administration to certified medical assistants (CMAs) under specific conditions. It expands the list of medications CMAs can administer - including vaccines, topical treatments, oral medications, and certain injectables like transdermal anesthetics - while requiring clinics to verify CMA competency for these tasks. The bill mandates that PAs must collaborate with a physician, follow approved protocols, and cannot delegate tasks requiring clinical judgment (e.g., adjusting patient care plans). This directly affects PAs, CMAs, and ambulatory clinics in Tennessee, updating their scope of practice under state law.
Maddy summarySB 1790 requires insurers covering inmates in Tennessee to treat FDA-approved non-opioid pain medications equally with opioids in their preferred drug lists (PDLs), meaning non-opioid options cannot be disadvantaged in coverage or cost-sharing. It directly affects insurers offering policies that cover incarcerated individuals, including TennCare and private health plans. The law mandates that non-opioid medications (approved by the FDA for pain management) must have equal coverage treatment relative to opioids on the PDL, without prohibiting insurers from favoring one opioid over another. The bill applies to all such medications approved by the FDA for nine months or longer and takes effect January 1, 2027.
Maddy summarySB 2559 modifies Tennessee's Alzheimer's and dementia respite care program by removing its temporary status and enrollment limits. Specifically, it eliminates the program's termination date (making it permanent) and deletes the requirement that the program must serve no more than 225 participants annually. This change directly affects individuals receiving respite care for Alzheimer's or dementia in Tennessee, allowing the program to operate indefinitely without a fixed participant cap. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 52, Chapter 8, Part 2, to implement these operational adjustments.
Maddy summaryTennessee's SB 422 shortens the review cycle for medical device regulations from every three years to every two years. The bill requires an advisory committee (including medical device industry representatives and a state economic development official) to reassess pharmacy oversight rules for facilities manufacturing, warehousing, and distributing medical devices more frequently. This change directly affects medical device facilities operating under Tennessee's pharmacy board regulations. The bill amends specific sections of Tennessee law (TCA Title 63, Section 63-10-314) to implement this timeline adjustment.
Maddy summarySB 430 urges the Tennessee Department of Revenue to study whether making franchise and excise tax credits transferable to entities beyond the original recipient would impact the state's economy. If conducted, the study must be reported to the Senate Finance Committee and the relevant House tax committee by January 1, 2026. This bill does not change current tax law but requests an analysis to inform potential future policy. The study would specifically examine economic effects of allowing credit transfers, without making any immediate policy adjustments.
Maddy summaryThis bill is a joint resolution that officially recognizes and celebrates the twentieth anniversary of the Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program (TAEP). It does not change any laws or policies but instead serves as a formal acknowledgment of the program's contributions to Tennessee agriculture since its establishment in 2005. The resolution honors the program's role in supporting farm operations through cost-share funding and its impact on rural communities. No new requirements, funding, or operational changes are introduced by this measure.
Maddy summaryThis bill is a Senate Joint Resolution that formally commends Alaya Fuqua for her exemplary service as a legislative intern for Senator Shane Reeves during the 2026 session. The resolution recognizes her academic achievements at Middle Tennessee State University and acknowledges her dedication, insight, and decorum in assisting the General Assembly. It does not create new laws or policies but serves as an official recognition of her contributions and extends well wishes for her future success.
Maddy summarySB 2549 allows healthcare providers who subcontract through contracted vendors with Tennessee's Department of Correction (or county/municipal jails) to prescribe buprenorphine for opioid use disorder treatment, provided specific criteria are met. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 53-11-311 and related provisions to enable this practice in correctional healthcare settings. It directly affects medical staff working within prison or jail healthcare systems by expanding their ability to use buprenorphine - a medication for opioid addiction - under defined conditions. The law would take effect upon enactment, modifying how opioid treatment is delivered in state correctional facilities.
Maddy summarySB 2554 requires Tennessee's comptroller of the treasury to submit the annual actuarial study of the TennCare program (which manages Medicaid for low-income residents) and related comments to legislative committees in electronic format instead of physical copies. This change directly affects the comptroller's office, legislative committees, and state agencies involved in reviewing TennCare's financial health. The bill amends multiple state code sections to formally allow electronic submission of these reports, streamlining the process for sharing the study's findings. It does not alter TennCare's coverage or funding but changes how the report is delivered to lawmakers.