Sen. Janice Bowling

Maddy summarySB 490 would have allowed individuals convicted of a Class E felony for "official misconduct" to have their court records erased from public access. This bill directly affected people with such convictions who met specific eligibility criteria. The key provision would have amended Tennessee law to create a new expunction pathway for this specific offense, enabling the destruction of related court records. However, the bill failed in the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 11, 2025, and did not become law.

Maddy summarySB 479, the "Restoring State Sovereignty Through Nullification Act," proposes a process for Tennessee's General Assembly to declare certain federal actions unconstitutional and void. It directly affects Tennessee's legislative body, which would have the authority to nullify federal statutes, regulations, agency orders, or executive orders it deems beyond constitutional limits. The bill establishes specific procedures for the General Assembly to review and formally reject such federal actions based on its interpretation of separation of powers and the Tenth Amendment. This is a proposed legislative mechanism, not yet enacted, and remains pending before the Senate State and Local Government Committee.

Maddy summarySB 489, the "Tennessee Medical Cannabis Act," would establish a regulated medical cannabis program for patients with qualifying conditions in Tennessee. It creates a Tennessee Medical Cannabis Program Commission to license and oversee cultivation, processing, and dispensing operations, requiring physician certifications for patients and setting up a tracking system from cultivation to sale. The bill defines medical cannabis (excluding hemp) and specifies qualifying conditions, while prohibiting smoking/vaping products and cannabis-infused foods like edibles until future rulemaking. It would directly affect Tennessee patients seeking medical cannabis, healthcare providers issuing certifications, and businesses applying for licenses to operate dispensaries or cultivation facilities. The bill remains pending after failing committee review in February 2025.

Maddy summarySB 487 lowers the asset threshold for financial institutions subject to Tennessee's consumer protection laws, reducing it from $100 billion to $50 billion. This change directly affects banks, credit unions, and mortgage lenders with assets between $50 billion and $100 billion, expanding their coverage under existing consumer protection rules. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections in Titles 4, 9, 45, 47, and 56 to implement this threshold adjustment. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, without altering the specific consumer protections applied.

Maddy summarySB 1036 requires all Tennessee driver licenses and photo ID licenses to be manufactured and printed within the state. The Department of Safety must review and choose the most cost-effective method for production - either through state departments, contracts with private vendors, or internal operations. The bill takes immediate effect for the cost review process but requires in-state manufacturing to begin on January 1, 2026. This directly affects all Tennessee residents needing or renewing driver licenses or photo IDs.

Maddy summarySB 1046 would prevent undocumented immigrants (defined as people unlawfully present in the U.S. per federal law) from filing lawsuits or serving as plaintiffs in any civil case within Tennessee courts. The bill amends multiple Tennessee code sections (Titles 4, 8, 16, 20, 28, and 29) to explicitly deny such individuals legal standing in civil matters. This change directly affects undocumented immigrants who might otherwise seek legal remedies for issues like employment disputes or personal injury claims. The policy shifts court access by barring these individuals from initiating or participating in civil litigation, without altering immigration status or enforcement.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates the new swimming pool at Henry Horton State Park as the "Riley Gaines Aquatic Center." It directs the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation to install signage identifying the facility by this name. The bill does not create new policies or affect any regulations - its sole purpose is to rename a specific public facility. The change applies only to the physical pool at Henry Horton State Park, with no broader impact on state law or public services.

Maddy summarySB 1109 amends Tennessee law to remove outdated reporting requirements for zero to three court programs and safe baby courts. It replaces obsolete language about "initial reports" with a new requirement for these programs to submit annual reports by February 1 each year. The reports must be submitted to the Department of Children's Services, Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, Administrative Office of the Courts, and the Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges. This bill clarifies existing reporting obligations without creating new programs or funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow Tennessee to use fentanyl in lethal injections when carrying out death sentences. It amends state law to explicitly include pharmaceutical fentanyl as an option within the lethal injection protocol for executions. The change would directly affect inmates on death row in Tennessee who are executed under the state's current protocol. The law would take effect on July 1, 2025, with immediate application for rule-making purposes.

Maddy summarySB 488 removes the option for property owners to abandon properties when a municipality declares a structure unsafe for human occupation. It authorizes all Tennessee municipalities to create their own ordinances requiring inspections of deteriorated residential properties. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated sections related to building safety, eliminating the previous "abandonment" pathway and giving local governments clearer authority to enforce housing standards. This directly affects homeowners in Tennessee and strengthens municipal oversight of unsafe residential buildings.