Maddy summaryThis enacted law, known as the Families' Rights and Responsibilities Act, establishes parental rights as a fundamental liberty that government agencies cannot substantially burden without proving a compelling interest and using the least restrictive means. It explicitly reserves to parents the authority to direct their children's upbringing, religious training, healthcare, and education, while also granting them specific rights to access medical and school records and consent to the collection of biometric data or DNA. The legislation further prohibits public employees from coercing children to withhold information from their parents or withholding relevant health information, and it allows parents to seek legal relief and damages if a government entity violates these provisions.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill amends state education laws to require the Tennessee Department of Education to provide a specific form to all local school districts on its website. The change directly affects school administrators and districts that need to access this form for compliance or administrative purposes. By making the form publicly available online, the legislation ensures easier access for schools without requiring them to request it through other channels. The act took effect immediately upon signing and became fully operational on July 1, 2024.
Maddy summaryThis bill enacts the Dietitian Licensure Compact, a new agreement that allows licensed dietitians in Tennessee to practice in other member states without obtaining separate licenses for each location. To qualify for this interstate privilege, professionals must meet uniform standards, including holding a current license, completing continuing education, and passing a jurisprudence exam on state laws. The legislation establishes a commission to manage the compact and facilitates the sharing of disciplinary and investigative information among member states to protect public health. Additionally, the law specifically supports active military members and their spouses by simplifying the process for them to relocate and continue their careers across state lines.
Maddy summarySB 2158 requires the Tennessee attorney general to review federal executive branch policies and spending related to illegal immigration. The bill mandates that the attorney general compile a report on these findings and deliver it to the governor and the speakers of the state senate and house of representatives. This legislation aims to address concerns about the financial and social impacts of immigration on the state by ensuring an official assessment of federal actions.
Maddy summaryThis Tennessee bill increases the monthly personal needs allowance for long-term nursing home residents from $50 to $70, effective January 1, 2025. The law requires that this higher amount be deducted from a resident's total income when calculating what they must pay for their care. Additionally, the bill directs the state health facilities commission to review and update rules preventing the misuse of these personal funds for unnecessary goods or services. The updated recommendations must be submitted to state legislative committee chairs by January 15, 2025.
Maddy summaryThis bill updates Tennessee's adoption and foster care laws by clarifying how parental rights are terminated and redefining the legal status of putative fathers. It establishes that a man is considered a putative father if he has registered his intent to claim paternity, provided financial support, lived openly with the child, or entered a permanency plan, ensuring his rights are protected during termination proceedings. The legislation also sets specific rules for calculating abandonment timeframes in supplemental petitions and requires out-of-state agencies and attorneys to partner with licensed Tennessee professionals for local adoptions. Additionally, the bill permits the payment of reasonable medical, legal, and living expenses related to pregnancy and adoption, including up to two years of counseling for birth parents, while prohibiting payments for services before the pregnancy begins.
Maddy summaryThis law requires law enforcement and jail officials in Tennessee to work together to check the citizenship status of anyone arrested, booked, or held in a county or municipal jail. When a person is found to be unlawfully present in the country or their status cannot be confirmed, the sheriff must report this information to the district attorneys general conference. The bill also extends the deadline for completing certain criminal justice procedures from ninety days to one hundred days. These changes apply across multiple areas of Tennessee criminal law and took effect on July 1, 2024.
Maddy summaryThis law requires pharmacies in Tennessee to inform customers about the lowest available cost for their prescription drugs before completing a sale. When a patient requests to fill or renew a prescription, the pharmacy must make reasonable efforts to notify them of cheaper options, such as generic versions, discount programs, or different suppliers. This rule applies to all authorized dispensers of prescription drugs across the state. The goal is to ensure patients are aware of potential savings on their medication at the time of purchase.
Maddy summaryThis bill allows Tennessee counties and incorporated cities to choose whether to levy a lower sales tax rate on food and food ingredients or to exempt them entirely from the standard local sales tax. Local governments must pass a resolution or ordinance to activate this option, giving them direct control over how food taxes are applied within their jurisdictions. The legislation updates state tax codes to formally authorize these reduced rates or exemptions while ensuring that any changes are clearly recorded in local tax records.
Maddy summaryThis bill extends the deadline for distressed rural counties in Tennessee to apply for retaining sales and use tax revenue generated by commercial development districts. Originally set to expire on December 31, 2024, the new deadline is now December 31, 2030, with a corresponding adjustment to a related June 30, 2025, date to June 30, 2031. The legislation directly affects counties that have been designated as distressed and are seeking to keep tax funds from specific business zones. By amending the state code, the bill provides these counties with additional time to submit their applications under the existing program rules.