Sen. Shane Reeves

Maddy summarySB 2555 allows individuals with criminal histories to request pre-application eligibility determinations for health care licenses either in writing or electronically, rather than only in writing. It directly affects applicants seeking Tennessee health care licenses (e.g., nursing, pharmacy) who must disclose criminal records. The bill updates procedures so that licensing authorities must provide written or electronic notice of disqualification, and the 30-day window to challenge this in Davidson County court begins when the applicant receives either form of notice. These changes clarify and modernize the process for applicants while maintaining existing disqualification standards.

Maddy summarySB 2561 changes the annual report deadline for Tennessee's Department of Environment and Conservation commissioner. Specifically, it moves the submission date from January 31 to January 15 each year to the chairs of the Senate Energy, Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee and the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4 and Title 69, solely to adjust this procedural deadline. No new policies or funding are affected - this is a straightforward calendar change to the reporting requirement.

Maddy summarySB 2552, the Tennessee Secondary Aluminum Waste Management Act, regulates how secondary aluminum waste (like smelting byproducts and recycling dust) must be disposed of in landfills. It prohibits commingling this waste with municipal trash and requires dedicated landfill units (such as separate cells or monofills) for its disposal. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation must create rules for permitting these units, including standards for liners, groundwater protection, and monitoring. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, affecting landfill operators and secondary aluminum smelting facilities.

Maddy summarySB 2022 requires Tennessee's transportation department to reimburse utility companies for costs incurred when relocating infrastructure (like power lines, water pipes, or fiber optic cables) during highway construction projects. It sets a $2.5 million minimum reimbursement for projects exceeding that cost, while allowing the transportation commissioner to approve higher payments at their discretion. The bill clarifies that modern infrastructure (including broadband and fiber optic systems) qualifies for reimbursement and ensures utilities must submit relocation plans for approval based on cost-effectiveness. This directly affects utility providers and their customers by preventing cost-shifting during highway projects, while maintaining current reimbursement practices without requiring new state funding.

Maddy summarySB 877 requires Tennessee's Department of Environment and Conservation to post a public list online of water withdrawals exceeding 10,000 gallons per day from surface or groundwater sources. This affects the department (which must maintain the list) and large water users (like farms, industries, or municipalities) who registered such withdrawals. The bill amends state code to mandate this website posting as a standard requirement, making existing registration data publicly accessible. It does not change water use rules but increases transparency about large-scale water withdrawals.

Maddy summarySB 891 requires Tennessee's governor to submit an annual report by January 15 to relevant legislative committees. The report must detail all state lands and waters officially set aside as wildlife preserves, including their exact boundaries. This bill amends multiple sections of Tennessee law to establish this reporting requirement, which applies to the governor's office and legislative committees overseeing natural resources. It does not change wildlife management practices but ensures transparency about preserve locations and sizes.

Maddy summarySB 2550 would require health insurance companies in Tennessee to give healthcare providers 65 days' notice before making significant changes to their provider manuals or reimbursement policies, up from the current 60-day requirement. This change directly affects health insurance entities and the healthcare providers who rely on timely updates to billing and service agreements. The bill, pending before the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee, amends Tennessee law to extend the notice period without altering other insurance practices.

Maddy summarySB 1795 requires all health insurance plans in Tennessee renewed or entered after January 1, 2027, to cover specific treatments for acquired brain injury (ABI), including cognitive rehabilitation, neurofeedback therapy, and community reintegration services. It directly affects health insurers (who must provide this coverage) and patients with ABI (who gain guaranteed access to these treatments). The bill prohibits lifetime or unreasonable annual limits on these services and mandates insurers to create an expedited appeal process for coverage denials related to ABI care. This policy change ensures broader access to critical ABI therapies without arbitrary coverage restrictions.

Maddy summarySB 1791 protects property owners with a prior claim (like a recorded mortgage or lien) that has priority over other claims on the same property from having their rights blocked by a court-ordered receivership. The bill prevents receivership proceedings from interfering with these "superior interest" rights without the owner's written consent, defining "superior interest" as claims such as prior deeds of trust or financing statements. If a prior claim holder intervenes to prove their priority in a receivership case, they do not lose their rights by doing so and may recover attorney fees if successful. This change applies to all Tennessee receivership cases initiated after the law takes effect.

Maddy summarySB 2545 extends the holding period for property seized during camping offenses on public property in Tennessee from 90 to 120 days. This change applies directly to individuals whose belongings are confiscated by law enforcement when violating camping restrictions on public land. The bill requires agencies to securely hold such property for the longer period before disposal or allowing owners to reclaim it, unless the property is needed as evidence in a criminal case. The law amends multiple Tennessee Code sections to implement this time extension.