Sen. Bill Powers

Maddy summarySJR 390 is a ceremonial resolution honoring Zoey Melendrez, the 2025 salutatorian of Northwest High School in Tennessee. It recognizes her academic achievements, including her high GPA and extracurricular involvement, without creating any new laws, policies, or direct impacts on individuals or programs. The resolution was formally adopted by both legislative chambers and signed by the Governor, serving solely as a symbolic tribute to her accomplishments.

Maddy summarySJR 388 is a ceremonial resolution honoring Ma'Kayla Brianna Nickoyle Coates, the 2025 salutatorian of Northeast High School in Tennessee. It formally commends her academic achievements, including her high GPA and extracurricular involvement, and expresses the legislature's admiration for her success. This resolution has no legal effect or policy impact - it is purely symbolic and does not alter any laws or affect any individuals or groups beyond recognizing one student's accomplishments. The resolution was approved by both legislative chambers and signed by the Governor in April 2025.

Maddy summarySJR 384 is a Tennessee legislative resolution honoring Amelia Ferreira, Kirkwood High School's 2025 Salutatorian, for her academic achievements. It formally commends her outstanding scholarship, extracurricular involvement, and dedication to excellence. This ceremonial resolution, passed by both the Senate and House and signed by the Governor, serves as a symbolic recognition with no policy impact. It directly affects only the named student and her community through official commendation.

Maddy summarySB 954 allows Tennessee counties to set lower speed limits on county-maintained roads, with the option to delegate this authority to the chief administrative officer of the county highway department. This delegation is only permitted if the department employs a qualified engineer capable of conducting required traffic investigations. The bill mandates that all speed limit changes must follow standard traffic engineering practices, align with the MUTCD guidelines, and be properly documented. The law, effective April 3, 2025, directly affects county highway departments and their engineering staff in implementing local speed limit adjustments.

Maddy summarySB 329 requires all Tennessee state executive agencies to accept digital document submissions (replacing fax requirements) and removes "fax" or "facsimile" terminology from over 30 state code sections. It defines "electronic transmission" as digital communication (like email or online uploads) that can be stored, retrieved, and printed, excluding fax. This directly affects state agencies processing documents and anyone submitting paperwork to them, such as businesses, residents, or legal entities. The bill streamlines state operations by modernizing document submission standards without creating new programs or funding.

Maddy summarySB 1340 requires Tennessee's higher education commission to review and update the state's outcomes-based funding formula for public colleges and universities at least every five years. This change directly affects public institutions receiving state funding by creating a structured process to adjust funding based on program outcomes. The key mechanism mandates that the commission prioritize incentives for schools offering programs that lead to job placement in high-demand fields within Tennessee. The bill aims to align state funding with workforce needs by making funding decisions increasingly tied to measurable job placement results in priority industries.

Maddy summarySB 810 requires Tennessee public universities that receive funds from credit card programs (including those using school logos) to report annually how much they received and how they spent those funds. The bill changes the deadline for this reporting from October 1 to November 1 each year. These reports must be submitted to the Senate and House education committees. The change applies to all public institutions of higher education receiving such funds, affecting their annual financial transparency requirements.

Maddy summarySB 952 requires utilities governed by Tennessee's Utilities' Cut-Off Procedures Act to publish their policies for discontinuing service due to nonpayment on their website in a publicly accessible location. This applies to all such utilities operating under the specified state code sections (Titles 4, 5, 6, 7, 65, 68, and 69). The key provision mandates that these policies must be clearly available online, rather than only in physical locations or internal documents. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, aiming to increase transparency for customers about service disconnection rules.

Maddy summarySB 115 requires Tennessee municipalities to submit completed financial audits to the state comptroller within six months after their fiscal year ends. Municipalities with two or more overdue annual audits face penalties that reduce their state-distributed sales tax revenue by up to 15% per year until compliance is achieved. The withheld funds are held in reserve and returned once audits are submitted on time. This law directly affects municipalities that fail to meet audit submission deadlines and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1335 requires vehicle owners to provide proof of insurance or financial responsibility (like a cash deposit or self-insurer certification) before registering or renewing a vehicle in Tennessee. It increases the fee for failing to provide this proof: from $25 to $50 for the first failure, $250 for a second failure within three years, and $500 for a third or subsequent failure. Fifty percent of these fees must be paid to county clerks, with 20% specifically designated for administering the vehicle insurance verification program. The bill directly affects vehicle owners during registration or renewal processes and aims to enforce compliance with Tennessee’s financial responsibility law.