Sen. Kerry Roberts

Maddy summarySB 1567 is a proposed bill that establishes rules for Tennessee's participation in a national Article V convention to propose U.S. constitutional amendments. It sets strict qualifications for commissioners (e.g., U.S. citizenship, no recent lobbying/federal roles) and requires a two-thirds joint legislative vote to appoint them, with equal representation across Tennessee's grand divisions. The bill restricts commissioners from supporting changes to voting rules, altering individual liberty guarantees in the Constitution, or promoting non-germane amendments. It also mandates that participation costs only occur after legislative approval through specific joint resolutions. This bill, currently pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee, would govern Tennessee's delegate conduct if the state ever joins an Article V convention.

Maddy summarySB 2644, the "Crush Transnational Repression in Tennessee Act," targets foreign governments or terrorist organizations attempting to control Tennessee residents through coercion or harassment. It enhances criminal penalties for agents of foreign adversaries who coerce residents to act against U.S. laws or silence protected activities like free speech or religious practice. The bill invalidates court rulings or contracts based on foreign law if they violate Tennessee or U.S. constitutional rights, and prohibits enforcement of foreign laws without state law enforcement approval. It also requires the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to develop a training program for law enforcement by 2027. The law directly affects Tennessee residents facing foreign government pressure and law enforcement agencies implementing its provisions.

Maddy summarySB 2642 updates Tennessee law to allow professional solicitors (those who solicit funds for charities) to notify the Secretary of State about changes to their charitable campaigns via email or physical mail, rather than requiring only physical mail. This change applies to all professional solicitors operating in Tennessee who must report modifications within 72 hours of any change to their campaign details. The bill explicitly clarifies that email is an acceptable method for submission, which was not previously specified under the prior "written notice" requirement. This amendment streamlines the reporting process without altering the existing 72-hour deadline or the substance of charitable solicitation rules.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Joint Resolution honors Julia Long, the 2026 valedictorian of South Haven Christian School, for her outstanding academic achievements. The measure formally commends her high grade point average and dedication to excellence while wishing her success in the future. It does not create new laws or alter government operations but serves solely as a ceremonial tribute to recognize a specific student.

Maddy summarySB 2634 requires all public colleges and universities in Tennessee to observe an academic holiday on every general election day. This means institutions must cancel all academic activities - including in-person and online classes, exams, assignments, and graded work - that affect students' grades. The bill defines an "academic holiday" as a full cessation of all academic obligations for students. It directly affects public higher education institutions and their students by ensuring election days do not disrupt academic schedules. The law would take effect upon becoming law.

Maddy summarySB 1568 designates August 8 of each year as "Clog Dancing Day in the Volunteer State" to recognize clog dancing's cultural heritage in Tennessee. The bill does not create new policies or affect specific groups - it simply establishes an annual observance to honor the tradition's historical significance, community role, and connection to Tennessee's Appalachian roots and cultural identity. It is a ceremonial designation with no substantive legislative impact.

Maddy summarySB 2645 requires that anyone elected or appointed as a Tennessee constable on or after August 1, 2030, must graduate from a Tennessee POST-approved law enforcement training academy. It excludes constables who have already served one complete term and are re-elected to the position on or after that date from this training requirement. This bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Titles 5, 8, and 38 to update qualification standards for constable officeholders.

Maddy summarySB 2647 requires Tennessee's Department of Children's Services to create a public website by July 1, 2027, providing parents and caregivers with searchable information about licensed child care agencies. The site must display license status, inspection results, violations (including dates and injury details), adverse actions, and corrective measures, while excluding private family home addresses and personal identifiers. It also mandates plain-language summaries of inspection reports and details on licensing processes, background checks, and complaint systems. This bill directly affects parents seeking child care, licensed child care agencies, and the Department of Children's Services, which must maintain the registry.

Maddy summarySB 2649 creates a statewide cold case division within the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), organized into three geographic regions with each region requiring a regional director and at least five dedicated cold case detectives. It mandates that local law enforcement agencies submit unsolved missing person or homicide cases to this division after 10 years without resolution. Family members of victims may request access to their case files after 10 years if they have no criminal record, a prior statement in the file, and are not suspects. The bill directly affects victims' families, local police departments, and the TBI by establishing new investigative protocols for long-standing cases.

Maddy summarySB 2639, the "Tennessee Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Act," authorizes the state treasurer to invest up to 10% of certain public funds (like the general fund and revenue fluctuation reserve) in Bitcoin, subject to strict security and reporting rules. It requires all Bitcoin holdings to be held through secure custody solutions - using multi-location key storage, annual security audits, and multi-party transaction approvals - to protect state assets. The bill limits annual Bitcoin acquisitions to 5% of eligible funds until reaching the 10% cap, prohibits investments in other cryptocurrencies, and mandates annual public reports detailing holdings, value, and transactions. This directly affects how Tennessee manages its public investment portfolios and the state treasurer’s investment decisions.