Sen. Janice Bowling

Maddy summaryThis law allows Tennessee courts to impose the maximum penalty of life imprisonment without parole for specific violent crimes committed by individuals illegally in the United States. The enhanced sentence applies if the crime involves a deadly weapon, occurs on school property while students or children are present, or is a violent offense committed by an illegal alien. Additionally, the bill requires that arrests and convictions meeting these criteria be reported to a state advisory council to track links to human trafficking. These changes take effect on July 1, 2024, and apply to offenses occurring on or after that date.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes state-level extreme risk protection orders in Tennessee and prevents local governments from creating their own versions of these orders. It defines these orders as judicial directives that temporarily remove firearms from individuals deemed a danger to themselves or others. The legislation also bars political subdivisions from accepting funding to enforce such orders and declares any federal attempts to enforce them within the state as invalid. Additionally, the bill makes it a misdemeanor for anyone, including law enforcement officers, to try to enforce a federally implemented extreme risk protection order in Tennessee.

Maddy summaryThis law makes it illegal for anyone to knowingly take a minor out of Tennessee to get a medical procedure that is banned in the state. The bill applies to parents or guardians who remove a child from the state with the intent of having them receive such a procedure elsewhere. It also creates a legal path for victims to sue individuals who recruit, hide, or transport minors for these prohibited treatments. The changes take effect on July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to rewrite the city charter for Tullahoma, Tennessee, subject to local approval by the city's voters. It directly affects the city's governance structure by establishing a Board of Mayor and Aldermen consisting of the mayor and six elected members, while also mandating that the city be managed by a City Administrator. The legislation reaffirms the city's existing boundaries and grants the new governing body the authority to manage municipal affairs and property. By replacing the previous legal framework, the bill aims to modernize the rules that guide how the city is run and how its officials are selected.

Maddy summaryThis Tennessee bill modifies the local government structure for the Town of Viola by reducing the number of aldermen from five to two, a change that will take effect only if the town's legislative body approves it. The legislation mandates a special election in November 2024 to select the new two aldermen and the mayor, while also updating the rules for filling vacancies and electing other town officials. Additionally, the bill removes an outdated provision related to work houses from the town's governing code. If the town council votes to reject the measure, the proposed changes to the number of aldermen will not be implemented.

Maddy summaryThis Tennessee law helps parents who must drive commercial vehicles to keep their jobs while paying child support. If a parent's license is suspended for not paying support, they can now ask to have it reinstated by proving their employer is withholding their pay to cover the debt. The state will review this proof and restore the license if the payment arrangement is confirmed. This change aims to allow these drivers to remain employed so they can earn enough money to meet their child support obligations.

Maddy summaryThis law allows local governments to hire staff or volunteers to manage traffic flow within school zones during student drop-off and pick-up times. To implement this, officials must install advance warning signs at least 500 feet before the zone and temporarily close or divert specific lanes only when flashers are active. Drivers who knowingly ignore these signs face a Class C misdemeanor charge punishable by a $50 fine. The rules do not apply to interstate highways or other federally designated roads.