Sen. Janice Bowling

Maddy summarySB 2486, the "Freedom to Farm Act," would allow registered Tennessee adults (21+) to grow up to 15 marijuana plants (max 5 mature) at their private residence, with specific restrictions. Key provisions include requiring registration with the Department of Agriculture ($100 fee, 3-year validity), limiting stored marijuana trim to 16 ounces, and prohibiting resin/concentrates. The bill directly affects registered adult residents who own or lease their homes, requiring secure, locked cultivation areas not visible to the public. It explicitly excludes resin, oils, and concentrates from legal personal use, maintaining their regulation under existing law (TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 4).

Maddy summarySB 1767, the "Tennessee mRNA Pharmaceutical Sovereignty and Safety Act," prohibits healthcare and veterinary providers from administering any vaccine or injectable solution containing mRNA technology. It directly affects medical professionals, hospitals, clinics, and animal care facilities by banning the use of all mRNA-based vaccines (like current COVID-19 vaccines) for humans and animals. The bill amends multiple Tennessee Code titles to implement this prohibition, targeting the specific medical products rather than broader healthcare policies. It does not address vaccine efficacy or safety claims but mandates a legal ban on administering these specific products.

Maddy summarySB 1750 prevents Tennessee's Department of Environment and Conservation from blocking public water utilities (like city or county water systems) from pumping or withdrawing water from natural sources for drinking water, unless federal law specifically requires it. The bill allows the department to prohibit such water use only if mandated by federal laws like the Safe Drinking Water Act or Endangered Species Act, and requires them to provide written notice citing the exact federal law. This directly affects water utilities and the state department by limiting the department's authority to restrict water access for drinking water services. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and applies to permit renewals and ongoing operations.

Maddy summarySB 1108 requires local school boards in Tennessee to notify the state education department when they designate their district as "high performing." The department must then maintain and publish a list of these districts on its website. This bill applies directly to local school boards and the state education department, creating a new administrative process. It is procedural in nature, focusing on transparency through public listing rather than changing educational standards or funding. The bill does not alter performance criteria or impose new requirements on schools beyond the notification and listing.

Maddy summarySB 2565 requires Tennessee electric utilities and large transformer owners (public or private) to assess their high-voltage transformers (100kV+ and 25MVA+) for vulnerability to geomagnetically induced currents (GICs) caused by solar storms. By January 2027, these entities must complete technical assessments using specific industry standards and submit detailed reports by July 2027 to state officials. Reports must include transformer specifications, risk analysis, protection solutions, costs, and a priority list, while redacting sensitive location and operational details as "Critical Energy Infrastructure Information." The bill explicitly prohibits relying solely on operational fixes like load shedding for GIC protection.

Maddy summaryThis bill defines Tennessee residents who legally own firearms (without violent felony convictions) as "individually licensed and verified" under the federal Gun-Free School Zones Act. It clarifies that existing state constitutional rights to firearm ownership satisfy federal verification requirements for school zones. The change applies to all lawfully possessing firearm owners meeting these criteria, eliminating the need for separate state verification. It directly affects firearm owners in Tennessee by aligning state law with federal school zone regulations.

Maddy summarySB 1744 allows Tennessee law enforcement officers who retire or separate from their agency to maintain annual state certification (POST certification) under specific conditions. To qualify, retired officers must complete required annual training, provide letters of good standing from their former agency, prove Tennessee residency, and pay associated fees. The bill explicitly states retirees cannot receive pay supplements for this certification and must immediately notify officials if they move out of state, at which point certification becomes invalid. This policy directly affects retired law enforcement personnel seeking to retain their certification status without active employment.

Maddy summarySB 1028 requires all paper ballots (including absentee ballots) and voting machine ballots in Tennessee elections to include a visible, secure watermark for verification. It mandates that ballot scanners count votes based solely on the text or machine mark portion of the ballot, prohibiting the use of QR codes, barcodes, or other machine-readable coding for tabulation. The bill also creates programs for scanning and auditing ballots, directs the coordinator of elections to define watermark specifications, and updates election equipment standards to ensure compatibility with these requirements. These changes directly affect Tennessee election officials, county commissions, ballot vendors, and all voters participating in elections.

Maddy summarySB 2488, the "Tennessee Foreign Law Non-Recognition Act," prohibits Tennessee courts, arbitrators, and administrative bodies from applying foreign law if it would violate constitutional rights under the U.S. or Tennessee Constitutions. The bill specifically bans rulings based on foreign legal systems that conflict with these rights, while allowing enforcement of foreign judgments or contracts that comply with constitutional protections. It also voids arbitration agreements requiring foreign law application that would infringe on constitutional rights. The law applies to both court decisions and arbitration awards involving foreign legal principles.

Maddy summarySB 1030 deletes a Tennessee law requiring parents or guardians to ensure children receive vaccines recommended by the CDC or AAP. This change removes a specific legal obligation for families but does not alter existing school or childcare facility vaccination requirements. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated § 37-10-401(a) to eliminate the parent responsibility clause. It does not affect current immunization rules for schools, nurseries, or childcare centers. The bill focuses solely on removing this parental duty from state law.