Sen. Charlane Oliver

Maddy summarySJR 664 is a symbolic resolution honoring Nashville Electric Service (NES) line workers and State/Metro Nashville civil service employees for their work during Winter Storm Fern in January 2026. It recognizes their efforts to restore power to 230,000 customers amid freezing conditions, with NES deploying over 900 workers (including crews from multiple states) during the historic ice storm. The resolution specifically acknowledges union-affiliated workers (SEIU, IBEW, LiUNA) and agencies like Metro Nashville Public Schools and the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency. As a ceremonial resolution, it has no legal effect and serves only to express legislative appreciation.

Maddy summarySJR 684 is a non-binding Senate resolution expressing the Tennessee General Assembly's opposition to The Boring Company's proposed "Music City Loop" tunnel project between downtown Nashville and the airport. It criticizes the company for insufficient community engagement, lack of transparency, and labor/safety concerns, noting the project doesn't qualify as "mass transit" under state law (as it's for airport travelers, not public use). The resolution affirms that public infrastructure decisions must prioritize Nashville residents' needs, referencing the city's approved Choose How You Move transportation plan. It failed in the Senate Transportation Committee on March 4, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 2301, the "School Mental Health Transparency Act," requires Tennessee's Department of Education to compile and publish a statewide list of mental health resources for students, including locations and residency-based availability limits, after consulting with agencies like health and children's services departments. Public schools must then use this state list to create their own local resource lists for enrolled students and provide them to parents or guardians (or to students aged 18+) at least once per school year, while also posting the lists on school websites. The law clarifies that listing a resource does not constitute state endorsement and does not mandate new funding or staffing. This applies directly to all public schools, students, and their families in Tennessee.

Maddy summarySB 2512, the "Universal Pre-K Funding Act," would require all Tennessee school districts to provide free, full-day pre-kindergarten programs for every eligible 4-year-old child living within the district. It mandates specific quality standards, including maximum class sizes of 20 students, certified early childhood teachers, and a curriculum covering literacy, math, and social development. The bill proposes funding this universal program through a tax on digital advertising, replacing the previous voluntary, federally-dependent model. It directly affects all school districts and children aged 4 residing in Tennessee communities, aiming to expand access to high-quality early education.

Maddy summarySB 2505 requires employers receiving Tennessee's economic development incentives (like FastTrack grants or capital grants) to certify they pay workers on the project at least $21.99 per hour starting July 1, 2026. The wage rate will automatically increase annually based on the MIT living wage calculator for a household with two adults, one working, and two children in the project's county. Employers who fail to meet this standard risk having their incentives recovered by the state. This policy directly affects businesses seeking state economic development funding, ensuring those projects provide higher wages to workers.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 290 honors the opening of Forward Creative Commons at Bordeaux, a new community space in North Nashville designed to bring together older adults, youth, artists, and families through arts, wellness, and creative programming. It recognizes the partnership between FiftyForward Bordeaux (which serves adults 50+) and Creative Girls Rock (which empowers girls and women), and commends their leaders, Sallie Hussey and Charmin Bates, for fostering intergenerational collaboration. As a ceremonial resolution, it has no policy impact but formally celebrates this community initiative and its founders. The resolution passed unanimously in the Tennessee Senate on February 12, 2026.

Maddy summarySJR 613 is a ceremonial resolution honoring The Tennessee Tribune newspaper on its 35th anniversary. It recognizes founder Rosetta Irvin Miller-Perry and the newspaper’s 35 years of service to Nashville’s African-American community through journalism. The resolution commends the Tribune’s role in highlighting civil rights and minority voices in Middle Tennessee, noting its founding in 1991 and historical significance as a regional publication. This is a non-binding tribute with no policy or funding changes.

Maddy summarySB 2678 requires all Tennessee elementary and secondary schools to display the state's child abuse hotline number prominently on their school websites. This law directly affects every public and private K-12 school in Tennessee by mandating a specific online posting location for the Department of Children's Services' toll-free reporting line. The key provision adds a new subsection to education law, specifying that the hotline number must be placed "in a conspicuous location" on school websites. The requirement takes effect July 1, 2026, and focuses solely on improving accessibility for reporting child abuse or neglect.

Maddy summarySB 2524 creates a voluntary program allowing hotels and restaurants to assist local communities during severe weather emergencies. Hotels can offer discounted rates to residents needing shelter, provide flexible checkout options, and issue prorated refunds. Restaurants and food trucks can stay open and operate in affected neighborhoods, with temporary permit waivers permitted. Participation is entirely voluntary for businesses, with no mandates or penalties, and the program is administered by Tennessee’s Department of Tourist Development and Agriculture. The bill directly affects local residents seeking shelter or food during declared emergencies.

Maddy summarySB 2341 creates Tennessee's First-Time Homebuyer Assistance Program, providing up to $20,000 in financial support to eligible first-time homebuyers for down payments, closing costs, or reducing mortgage interest rates. The program applies to new residential units under $450,000 purchased in Tennessee, requiring owner-occupancy within 60 days and meeting federal tax criteria for first-time buyers (including specific provisions for single parents). Recipients must repay up to 50% of their home equity gain if they sell the property before the original mortgage term ends. The Tennessee Housing Development Agency administers the program using state appropriations and other funds.