Maddy summarySB 2119, the "Parental Rights Protection Act," raises the evidentiary standard required for state-initiated termination of parental rights from "clear and convincing evidence" to "beyond a reasonable doubt" and establishes a right to a jury trial in such cases. It directly affects parents and children in dependency, neglect, or termination proceedings under Tennessee law (Titles 36 and 37). Key provisions include defining "adjudication" to require formal hearings with cross-examination, banning federal financial incentives that could influence decisions, and clarifying that family separation cases are "quasi-criminal" due to the severity of liberty interests at stake. The bill aims to strengthen constitutional due process protections for parental rights in state custody proceedings.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySB 1892 changes Tennessee's subdivision approval process by requiring local planning commissions (or authorized agencies) to approve subdivision plans *before* the state Department of Environment and Conservation can review them. This directly affects developers, local governments, and the state department by shifting the initial approval step to local entities. Key provisions include mandating local approval before state submission and requiring the department to update its website for uploading local approval documentation. The bill applies to all subdivision permits approved by local commissions after July 1, 2026, and amends several state code sections related to permits.
Maddy summarySB 1894 would have required Tennessee public schools and charter schools to install continuous video monitoring in special education classrooms during instruction, but only with written parental consent for each student. The bill mandated that footage could only be viewed by parents or under privacy laws like FERPA, and schools would need to create policies for retaining recordings. It specifically applied to classrooms where special education services are provided to a majority of students for at least 50% of the instructional day. However, this bill was withdrawn from consideration in February 2026 and never became law.
Maddy summarySB 1949, the "mRNA Bioweapons Prohibition Act," prohibits the manufacture, possession, or distribution of modified mRNA products (including certain vaccines and gene therapies) in Tennessee, classifying violations as Class B felonies - equivalent to weapons of mass destruction offenses. It defines prohibited products as synthetic mRNA with specific genetic modifications (e.g., N-methyl-pseudouridine substitutions) used in medical treatments, excluding naturally occurring mRNA. The bill requires state and local officials to investigate violations and allows residents to sue for enforcement failures. It exempts naturally occurring mRNA and takes effect July 1, 2026.
Maddy summarySB 1948 requires Tennessee county medical examiners to report sudden unexpected deaths of infants (under 1 year) and young people (under 20) to a federal health registry. It mandates that examiners review and document the deceased’s immunization records and medical history, including immunizations given within 90 days before death. Violations carry civil penalties of up to $1,000 for the first offense and $5,000 for repeated offenses, with potential license suspension for medical examiners. The bill aims to standardize data collection for public health research on sudden deaths in children and young adults.
Maddy summarySB 1440 extends the current city judge's term in Tullahoma by one year (until August 2026) to align the judge's election with the city's regular municipal elections for mayor and aldermen. It then establishes that starting in 2026, the city judge will be elected every eight years during these biannual elections held on the first Thursday in August of even-numbered years. The bill also maintains existing requirements that the judge must be a Tennessee-licensed attorney with one year of residency in Tullahoma.
Maddy summarySB 476 prohibits Tennessee public schools and charter schools from selling or providing food or beverages containing Red 40 (a common food dye) to students on school property through school nutrition programs, including vending machines or authorized third parties, starting August 1, 2027. The ban covers all school-provided meals, snacks, and drinks but excludes fundraising events. This law directly affects school nutrition programs by removing a specific dye from all food and beverage options available to students during the school day. The requirement applies to all local education agencies and public charter schools statewide.
Maddy summarySB 484 allows home producers to sell certain homemade food items without state licensing or inspection, directly affecting small-scale home cooks. The bill exempts non-hazardous foods (like baked goods) and specific meat/dairy items (under federal inspection rules) from most state food regulations, provided producers sell directly to consumers or through third parties for non-meat/dairy items. It requires clear labeling with producer details, ingredients, and an allergen warning, and mandates proper temperature control for perishable items during delivery. The law applies to food made in private residences and takes effect July 1, 2025.
Maddy summarySB 1034 amends Tennessee's heritage protection law to explicitly include city and county government seals depicting historic conflicts, events, figures, or organizations within the definition of a "memorial." This change ensures such seals receive the same legal protection as artwork and flags under state heritage preservation rules. The bill directly affects local governments that use these seals, requiring them to be treated as protected historical artifacts. Signed by the Governor on May 5, 2025, and effective immediately, it expands the scope of items covered by Tennessee's heritage protection statutes.
Maddy summarySB 1038 increases the fee that county clerks and other agents collect when selling hunting and fishing licenses in Tennessee. It raises the flat fee from $1.00 to $3.00 for annual licenses and from $0.50 to $3.00 for temporary licenses. This change applies to all licenses, permits, and tags sold under Tennessee's game and fish laws. The bill, now enacted as Public Chapter 349, directly affects license purchasers and the local offices that process these sales.