Sen. Mark Pody

Maddy summarySB 1959 requires all public universities in Tennessee to create a "Charlie Kirk Memorial Courtyard for Civil Debate" on each main campus by December 31, 2026. The courtyard must measure at least 40 feet by 40 feet (1,600 sq. ft.) and feature full-text displays of the Tennessee Constitution's Article I, Ten Commandments, Bill of Rights, and Declaration of Independence on its four sides. Each display must be at least 24"x36" with 36-point font, positioned no higher than 5 feet, and include the courtyard name and September 10, 2025 date. This bill directly affects Tennessee's public higher education institutions and their governing boards, mandating a specific physical space to display foundational documents as part of campus infrastructure.

Maddy summarySB 150 allows Tennessee students to use scores from the Classic Learning Test (CLT) instead of or alongside ACT or SAT scores to qualify for state-funded grants and scholarships, including those using lottery proceeds. It requires the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation to provide CLT testing dates when informing students about scholarship opportunities and permits public colleges to accept CLT scores for admissions. The bill amends multiple sections of state education law to replace references to "ACT or SAT" with "ACT, SAT, or CLT" in eligibility criteria. This change directly affects students seeking financial aid or college admission and public institutions of higher education. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 566 requires blasting companies to provide pre-blast survey results to building owners or occupants within 300 feet of a blast site at no cost, if requested. This directly affects property owners near construction or mining sites where blasting occurs. The bill amends Tennessee law (TCA Title 68, Chapter 105) to add the "no cost" provision to existing requirements for survey documentation. It focuses on ensuring transparency and reducing financial barriers for affected residents without altering blasting procedures themselves.

Maddy summarySB 1041 allows Tennessee local school boards and public charter schools to hire or accept as volunteers school chaplains who provide support services to students, staff, and parents. The bill removes the requirement for chaplains to be state-certified, but mandates criminal background checks and investigations as required for school employees. Chaplains are granted legal immunity for actions taken under this section, unless acting maliciously or with intent to harm. The bill defines a "school chaplain" as clergy credentialed by a religious organization to support religious freedom in schools. This legislation directly affects school communities by expanding access to faith-based support services within public education settings.

Maddy summarySB 2250 removes a criminal penalty for Tennessee local government officials who vote to adopt certain "prohibited sanctuary policies." Specifically, it deletes language classifying such a vote as a Class E felony under Tennessee law. This bill directly affects local officials (like mayors or council members) in Tennessee by eliminating potential criminal charges tied to their vote on sanctuary policy measures. The key change is simply the deletion of two specific legal provisions in Titles 7 and 8 of Tennessee Code.

Maddy summarySB 1765 allows Tennessee trial judges to revoke probation for felony or misdemeanor offenders based solely on a "technical violation" (like missing a check-in or failing a drug test), without requiring a new crime. For first or second revocations, judges can impose up to 90 or 180 days in jail, respectively; third or subsequent revocations may result in the full remaining sentence. The bill explicitly excludes new criminal offenses from this process, requiring separate handling under existing rules. It defines "technical violation" as breaking probation terms without committing a new crime, and offers community-based alternatives for resentence. This changes how courts handle probation breaches, focusing on minor rule violations rather than new offenses.

Maddy summarySB 1961 requires that when a county or city fails to repay a state loan for real property reappraisal, the director of property assessments must provide written notification to the commissioner of finance and administration. This amendment to Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 67, Chapter 5, specifically adds "in writing" to the existing requirement for default notifications. It directly affects local governments borrowing state funds for property valuation programs and the state agency overseeing these loans. The change clarifies communication protocols, ensuring documented records of repayment defaults rather than verbal notices.

Maddy summarySB 2046 shortens the reporting deadline for businesses offering short-term, high-cost loans (like payday loans) in Tennessee. It reduces the time these licensed providers must report certain events to the state financial regulator from 15 to 10 days. These events include bankruptcy filings, legal actions that could lead to license revocation, denial of operating rights, or felony convictions of business owners or executives. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Titles 45 and 47, directly affecting payday loan and similar service providers.

Maddy summarySB 738 directs Tennessee's state capitol commission to handle the upkeep and maintenance of the "monument to unborn children" using existing funds allocated to the commission. The bill amends multiple sections of Tennessee law (Titles 4, 8, 20, 29, 36, 39, 40, 41, 49, 56, 63, 68, and 71) to formally assign this responsibility. It does not create new funding or alter the monument's purpose, only specifying that the commission manages its physical care through currently appropriated resources. The bill is procedural, focusing solely on maintenance logistics without introducing new policy or affecting other groups.

Maddy summarySB 24 directs all state sales tax revenue from new and used vehicle and tire sales that exceeds a base amount (defined as the prior fiscal year's revenue level) to the state highway fund starting July 1, 2025. It requires annual allocation of the incremental tax increase above this base to the highway fund, without changing current tax rates. The bill explicitly excludes two existing tax allocations - those from the 2002 tax rate increase (6% to 7%) and education-related tax revenue - from this new highway fund allocation. This policy change affects how vehicle and tire sales tax revenue is distributed, ensuring all excess revenue flows to highway funding.