Sen. John Stevens

Maddy summarySB 2292 would protect certain college sports program records from public disclosure in Tennessee. It specifically shields commercial contracts related to intercollegiate athletics (like sponsorships or facility deals) and records about game/player integrity that could harm a school's competitive edge if revealed. These confidentiality rules would expire for contracts on July 1, 2033, while the existing protection for game integrity records would extend beyond July 2026. The bill also clarifies that this confidentiality does not allow private lawsuits - except for businesses claiming disclosure would undermine their economic advantage. The bill applies to all public universities in Tennessee.

Maddy summarySB 1859 modernizes Tennessee's Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) by adopting updated definitions and provisions from the Uniform Law Commission's 2018 and 2022 amendments. It directly affects businesses, legal professionals, and consumers involved in commercial transactions by clarifying key terms like "conspicuous" (requiring terms to be visibly noticeable to a reasonable person), "delivery" of electronic documents, and the definition of "electronic" to include modern digital technology. The bill makes technical updates to existing UCC sections without creating new substantive requirements, such as replacing "authenticated" with "signed" in contract rules. These changes ensure Tennessee's commercial law aligns with current business practices and digital transactions.

Maddy summarySB 866 modifies Tennessee's legal time limits for construction-related lawsuits. It removes a four-year deadline (statute of repose) that previously barred certain counterclaims or third-party claims about defects in real property design, planning, supervision, or construction. This change directly affects property owners, contractors, and developers involved in disputes over construction quality. The bill allows these specific claims to be filed beyond the standard four-year period after a project's substantial completion. The amendment takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1958 removes the right for individuals to seek court orders (declaratory or injunctive relief) challenging the constitutionality or legality of state government actions, including state statutes. It directly affects people or groups trying to legally challenge state laws or actions in court. The bill preserves Tennessee’s sovereign immunity (meaning the state cannot be sued) and creates a limited exception only for challenges against *local* governments (like cities or counties), but still prohibits lawsuits seeking damages or challenging state laws. It amends specific Tennessee Code sections to clarify these restrictions.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Joint Resolution formally recognizes the Henry County High School Madrigals for achieving a Gold Rating at the WorldStrides Festival in New York. The bill directs the state to prepare and present a copy of the resolution to the group as a gesture of appreciation for their performance. The measure does not alter existing laws or require new funding, serving solely as a commemorative acknowledgment of the students' accomplishments.

Maddy summarySB 2181 requires Tennessee state and local governments to provide fully paid health insurance to the immediate family members (spouses and children, including unborn children) of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty or suffering a catastrophic injury (as defined in the bill) on or after January 1, 2020. It removes a previous two-year limit on coverage duration and mandates that the state reimburse local governments for the full cost of providing this insurance. The bill expands existing coverage to include officers with catastrophic injuries (e.g., paralysis, severe burns, or brain injuries meeting SSDI criteria) and applies to both state and local law enforcement officers. The law takes effect on July 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 2183 redirects 10% of Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) payments in lieu of taxes that the state receives or retains to the Wildlife Resources Fund. This funding must be used specifically for boating and wildlife conservation projects managed by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. The bill amends Tennessee Code sections related to state finance (Title 11), TVA payments (Title 67), wildlife funding (Title 69), and the wildlife resources fund (Title 70). It takes effect July 1, 2026, ensuring a dedicated source of funding for state wildlife and boating infrastructure.

Maddy summarySB 1734 reorganizes Tennessee counties into five population-based classes (instead of seven) to determine salaries for general sessions and juvenile judges, effective September 1, 2030. It establishes a new county litigation tax on each civil, criminal, juvenile, and traffic case filed in these courts to fund judge salaries, with salary levels tied to county size. Judges in counties with populations over 30,000 (Classes 1-3) must work full-time without outside employment, while judges in smaller counties (Classes 4-5) may work part-time with some restrictions. The bill also includes rules for consolidated courts and ensures judges' salaries remain stable if a county's population class changes after election.

Maddy summarySB 526 amends Tennessee's tax code to allow business tax return extension requests to be signed by an authorized representative, not just the business owner. This change directly affects businesses that use tax professionals, accountants, or other authorized agents to handle their filings. The key provision replaces the requirement for a business owner's signature with an option for an authorized representative's signature on extension requests. The bill does not change tax rates or filing requirements, only the signature process for extensions. This is a procedural update to administrative tax filing rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a Senate Joint Resolution that formally honors Robert Taswell "Tas" Gardner, the 2025-2026 president of the Tennessee District Public Defenders Conference. The resolution recognizes Gardner's long career as a public defender in the 24th Judicial District and his leadership in advocating for criminal justice system improvements. It acknowledges his professional achievements, community service, and dedication to public service as reasons for the commendation. The measure does not change laws or policies but serves as an official expression of appreciation from the Tennessee General Assembly.