Sen. Jeff Yarbro

Maddy summarySB 2521 requires Tennessee's Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council to include specific recommendations for detecting and preventing fraud committed by people using AI in its 2026 and subsequent annual reports to state leaders. The bill amends multiple sections of state law to expand the council's reporting requirements, mandating these fraud-focused strategies alongside existing report content. This change directly affects the AI advisory council, which must now develop and submit these recommendations as part of its mandated reports. The legislation does not create new enforcement powers but updates the scope of information the council must provide to the governor and legislative leaders.

Maddy summarySB 2515, the "Volunteer Communities Act," creates tax benefits and legal protections for informal community groups providing mutual aid. It directly affects unincorporated associations or small nonprofits (under $100,000 annual revenue) that pool resources, share services, or offer emergency help within neighborhoods. Key provisions include sales, property, and business tax credits; liability protections for activities; and zoning exemptions for registered groups. Organizations must register with the state, report annually, and transition to formal nonprofit status if revenue exceeds $100,000 or they must file IRS Form 990.

Maddy summarySB 1832 requires private high-performance computing (HPC) facilities in Tennessee using over 50 megawatts monthly to dedicate 50% of their computing output to public benefits like education, health, or environmental improvements. Operators must annually report energy use, carbon footprint, and how public benefits were delivered, and conduct internal compliance audits. Non-compliance risks license suspension, with reports posted publicly by state agencies. The bill targets large private HPC facilities (excluding government-owned ones), focusing on measurable environmental and community impacts.

Maddy summarySJR 615 is a commemorative resolution honoring Nashville SC as the 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup champions. It formally recognizes the team's victory in the nation's oldest soccer tournament, their first national championship, and their qualification for the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup. The resolution has no policy impact - it is purely symbolic, expressing the Tennessee General Assembly's approval and congratulations to the team. The resolution was unanimously adopted by the Senate on February 5, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 2523 clarifies that knowingly accessing cloud computing services (like email or online storage) for fraud or theft is a criminal offense. It directly affects individuals who misuse cloud accounts for financial gain or data theft, and law enforcement handling such cases. The bill amends Tennessee Code by adding "cloud computing service" to the list of protected systems under existing fraud and theft laws. This update ensures cloud-based services are explicitly covered under current criminal statutes without creating new penalties.

Maddy summarySB 2396 creates new criminal offenses for employers who systematically evade federal employment verification rules (like I-9 forms) or exploit unauthorized workers. It targets employers - especially officers, managers, or general contractors - with repeated violations, making it a Class E felony. Key mechanisms include mandatory restitution for lost wages, unpaid taxes, and benefits, plus fines of $50,000-$500,000 for businesses. The bill directly affects employers who fail to comply with verification requirements across multiple workers, with penalties extending to business owners and contractors. It also requires future compliance monitoring for convicted entities.

Maddy summarySB 2617 requires Tennessee's District Attorneys General Conference to collect and analyze data on prosecutions and convictions for unlawful automated calls (specifically under TCA §47-18-1509) by December 15, 2026. The conference must submit a report to the governor, legislative leaders, and the legislative librarian, consulting with law enforcement agencies like the TBI and Department of Safety as needed. This bill directly affects district attorneys, law enforcement agencies, and state officials who will use the data to assess enforcement of anti-robocall laws. It does not change existing laws but mandates a formal review of current enforcement efforts.

Maddy summarySB 2401 requires Tennessee's Department of Children's Services (DCS) to publicly release detailed information about contracted service providers by January 1, 2027, including provider lists, funding sources, licensing details, and violation records (excluding individual foster parents). It also mandates monthly reports on short-term placements - such as hotels or shelters - starting January 30, 2027, tracking metrics like youth numbers, stay lengths, and overtime staffing. The bill specifies exact data points for transparency, including average stay durations and reasons for temporary housing. These reports must be published on DCS's website and included in annual reports, with contractor lists for temporary locations updated semi-annually.

Maddy summarySB 2618 requires the joint chairs of Tennessee's Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council to publish their annual reports on AI's economic, labor, and ethical impacts on the state legislature's website. This adds a public online posting requirement to the existing obligation of submitting these reports to the governor and legislative leaders. The bill amends multiple state code sections to implement this transparency measure, directly affecting the advisory council's reporting process and making AI impact findings accessible to the public.

Maddy summarySB 2299 requires Tennessee's Secretary of State to create a free, nonpartisan online page showing candidate information for all local, state, and federal elections. It mandates that each page include a candidate's ballot name, photo, website/link, contact details, and party affiliation, displayed uniformly for all candidates running for the same office. The site must be searchable by name, office, or location and accessible at least 14 days before early voting, with updates allowed once after the submission deadline. All candidate information pages must remain publicly available for one year after the election. This directly affects voters seeking election information and candidates who must submit their details.