Sen. Ferrell Haile

Maddy summarySB 1496 amends Tennessee law to clarify that healthcare professionals cannot use the terms "Clinical informatics," "Lifestyle medicine," or "Medical virtualist" after their name to suggest they are licensed physicians or osteopathic doctors. The bill adds these specific terms to the existing list of titles that mislead the public about medical licensure. It directly affects healthcare providers who might use these terms in their practice without proper authorization. This change updates the definition of "practice of medicine" under Tennessee Code Title 63, ensuring these terms cannot be misused to induce public belief in unlicensed medical practice.

Maddy summarySB 1457 removes outdated sections from Portland's city charter (specifically Article XII) by deleting them and replacing them with a note stating those provisions are repealed. The bill requires Portland's city council to approve the amendment with a two-thirds vote before it can take effect. This change directly affects Portland's local governance by updating its charter to reflect current legal standards. The amendment becomes effective only after local approval, as specified in the bill.

Maddy summarySB 1453 removes a charter restriction requiring most Gallatin city officers (except the city attorney) to work exclusively for the city during business hours. The bill deletes language from Gallatin's 1953 city charter that mandated officers "devote all of their time to their respective offices." This change would allow appointed city officers to hold outside employment during non-city business hours, subject to approval by Gallatin's city council with a two-thirds vote. The bill requires local legislative body approval before taking effect, as specified in Section 2.

Maddy summaryThis bill converts Tennessee's temporary school turnaround pilot program into a permanent initiative for priority schools that need intervention. It allows the state Department of Education to select up to 15 priority schools at any time, ensuring geographic diversity across the state's grand divisions. Participating schools must develop and implement turnaround plans over three years, with the department evaluating progress annually against state standards. The bill also requires annual reports comparing student outcomes between schools that exit the program and those that do not, along with recommendations on whether successful plans should be replicated elsewhere.

Maddy summarySB 1245 amends Tennessee law to require that notices about bail terms on bonds must be printed in a way that is easy to read, allowing bondsmen to use different font sizes and colors for clarity. This change directly affects bondsmen (those who post bail for defendants) and the people they serve, as it standardizes how critical information must be presented. The bill does not alter bail amounts or legal procedures but focuses solely on improving the visibility of required notices on bonds. It became law as Public Chapter 491 on May 27, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1002 clarifies that subsidiaries of Tennessee agricultural cooperatives qualify for a business tax exemption regardless of their legal structure (e.g., corporation, LLC, or partnership). This applies to subsidiaries controlled by agricultural co-ops where profits benefit the co-op, directly affecting agricultural businesses and their subsidiaries. The bill amends Tennessee law to remove previous restrictions requiring subsidiaries to be formed as corporations to receive the exemption. It ensures the tax benefit applies uniformly to all subsidiary entities, promoting agricultural economic activity without changing existing tax rates or requirements.

Maddy summarySB 416 requires virtual schools operated by local education agencies (LEAs) to use curricula and instructional materials that meet or exceed Tennessee’s state academic standards, with no exceptions for waivers. It establishes a process where the state textbook commission must review public complaints about non-compliant materials within 60 days and issue written findings to the schools. If materials fail to meet standards, the school must immediately switch to approved alternatives. This law directly affects virtual schools and the textbook commission, ensuring accountability through resident feedback and timely evaluations.

Maddy summarySB 262 amends Tennessee law to extend the age limit for infants that can be voluntarily surrendered to a facility without the mother facing criminal liability, from 14 days to 45 days. This change directly affects mothers who choose to surrender newborns to designated facilities within 45 days of birth. The bill updates specific sections of Tennessee Code (Titles 36, Chapter 1, Part 1 and Title 68, Chapter 11, Part 2) to reflect this age increase. The law, effective May 9, 2025, provides a longer window for mothers to access this legal surrender process without criminal consequences.

Maddy summarySB 245 expands the circumstances under which a temporary district attorney (pro tem) can be appointed to include specific civil cases, such as property disputes and cemetery regulations, beyond just criminal matters. It requires most meetings of Tennessee's District Attorneys General Conference to be open to the public, with limited exceptions for confidential topics like ongoing litigation or audits. The bill also mandates that the conference's executive director provide legal counsel to district attorneys and their staff, with this advice protected as confidential and exempt from public records laws. These changes affect district attorneys, their staff, and the transparency of their conference operations.

Maddy summarySB 48 amends Tennessee law to add Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC, Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc., Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc., Indivior Inc., Viatris Inc., and Purdue Pharma L.P. to the list of companies that can be released by the attorney general from pending or future opioid-related lawsuits. The bill specifically updates Tennessee Code Annotated sections 20-13-203 and 33-11-103 to replace "The Kroger Co." with these pharmaceutical companies in the release provisions. This change directly affects the listed companies by allowing them to be released from opioid litigation claims under the specified legal framework. The law took effect on May 2, 2025, after being signed by the Governor.