Sen. Page Walley

Maddy summarySB 195 prohibits vehicle manufacturers, corporations, and third parties from sharing, selling, or distributing a vehicle's driving data without the explicit, written consent of the vehicle owner. It defines "driving data" broadly to include information from sensors, infotainment systems, telematics, and connected devices (like brake events, location, or vehicle health). Entities must disclose how data is collected and obtain annual written consent, with easy mechanisms for owners to revoke permission. The bill does not apply to data shared with government agencies like the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration under federal law. (Note: The bill was withdrawn on February 5, 2025, per recent actions.)

Maddy summarySB 126 requires that 50% of recordation taxes collected from real estate transfers be returned to the county where the property is located, starting July 1, 2025. This applies to all property transfers on or after that date, with the state remitting funds to counties based on each county’s total tax contributions. The bill does not change the tax rate but alters how collected revenue is distributed. This policy directly affects counties receiving the returned funds and property owners paying the recordation tax.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a regulatory framework for commercial-scale solar energy facilities (over 5MW) in Tennessee. It defines "solar energy facility" to include equipment like arrays, inverters, and storage systems, while excluding small residential installations. Key provisions require 3.5 times the array width as setbacks from property lines and exempt facilities built before July 1, 2025. Local governments may adopt their own siting rules by that date, applying to new projects and expansions.

Maddy summarySB 12 increases property tax relief for disabled veteran homeowners in Tennessee by raising the value threshold for reimbursement. The bill amends Tennessee law to change the reimbursement amount from covering the first $175,000 of a home's market value to the first $200,000. This directly affects qualifying disabled veterans who receive property tax relief under existing programs. The change takes effect July 1, 2025, for tax years beginning on or after that date. The amendment applies to all relevant sections of Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 67, Chapter 5, Part 7.

Maddy summaryThis bill enacts the Social Work Licensure Compact, a new agreement that allows licensed social workers to practice across multiple member states with a single license. The primary mechanism creates a multistate license issued by a worker's home state, which grants them the legal authority to provide services in other participating states without needing to obtain separate local licenses. This system is designed to reduce administrative burdens for professionals and improve access to care for clients, particularly benefiting military families and those in rural areas. Additionally, the compact establishes a shared data system to track licensure and disciplinary records, ensuring that states can cooperate to protect public health and safety while maintaining each state's regulatory authority.

Maddy summaryThis Tennessee bill changes how the Bolivar Energy Authority fills empty seats on its Board of Directors. Instead of the mayor making these appointments, the existing board members will select new directors, who must then be approved by the city council. The bill also sets specific time limits for filling vacancies and requires a two-thirds vote from the city council to officially approve the law. If the city council does not give this final approval, the changes will not take effect.

Maddy summaryThis law changes how the state comptroller evaluates whether a utility system is financially struggling. When making this determination, the comptroller must now ignore the depreciation value of any equipment or infrastructure purchased or finished in the last 12 months, provided the utility's leaders voted to allow this exclusion. The rule applies only if the utility follows standard accounting methods and explicitly approves the change through a majority vote of its governing board. By removing these recent asset costs from the financial assessment, the bill alters how the state calculates the financial health of utility systems across Tennessee.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the amount of land eligible for special property tax treatment under Tennessee's Agricultural, Forest and Open Space Land Act. Specifically, it raises the acreage limit from 1,500 to 5,000 acres for a single parcel within one taxing jurisdiction. The change applies to tax years starting on or after January 1, 2025, and directly affects landowners who wish to qualify their properties for reduced tax rates. By amending the state code, the legislation allows larger farms, forests, and open spaces to maintain their tax status without needing to split the land into multiple smaller parcels.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes the deadline for filing nominating petitions in Tennessee elections from April to March. It directly affects political candidates and their supporters who must submit paperwork to get on the ballot. The law requires these petitions to be filed four months before an election instead of the previous three-month window. This adjustment gives candidates more time to gather signatures and organize their campaigns before the election date.