Sen. Jack Johnson

Maddy summarySB 1306 reorganizes Tennessee's tourism department by creating a new marketing division to promote tourism investment and attractions, and a dedicated welcome centers division to manage state welcome centers. The bill requires the Department of Tourist Development to oversee welcome centers, including staffing, maintenance, and promoting Tennessee's heritage through materials like maps and guides. It directs the commissioner of finance to redirect highway user tax funds to cover the annual costs of operating all welcome centers statewide. These changes streamline tourism administration, shift funding sources, and clarify responsibilities for welcoming visitors at state facilities.

Maddy summarySB 1072 exempts wine sales for on-premises consumption at Tennessee wineries, farm wine producers, and their satellite facilities from the state's liquor-by-the-drink tax. This includes tastings (free or paid) and sealed bottles sold for immediate consumption at the location, aligning with federal law. The bill amends Tennessee tax code (TCA §57-3-207) to remove this tax burden for these specific sales. It takes effect July 1, 2025, directly affecting wineries and farm producers operating retail locations.

Maddy summarySB 133 requires Tennessee's election coordinator and the Department of Safety to create a secure electronic portal by January 1, 2028, for county election officials to verify voter eligibility. The portal will check if applicants are U.S. citizens using driver's license or ID records from the Department of Safety, and if applicants with felony convictions are eligible to vote using Tennessee Bureau of Investigation records. It also updates driver's license laws to require applicants to provide proof of U.S. citizenship at the time of initial issuance or renewal. This system provides a process for applicants to appeal rejected applications based on portal information.

Maddy summarySB 1083, the "Dismantle DEI Act," prohibits Tennessee local governments (counties, cities, metropolitan areas) and public universities from considering race, gender, religion, age, disability, or national origin in hiring decisions. It bans using these protected characteristics as metrics for employment and also forbids hiring specifically to meet diversity, equity, or inclusion goals. The law requires hiring to be based solely on merit, directly affecting all public sector employers covered under the amended Tennessee Code (Titles 5, 6, 7, 8, and 49). This is a concrete policy change restricting how public entities evaluate job candidates.

Maddy summarySB 1431 is a funding bill that allocates state budget resources for the fiscal years beginning July 1, 2024, and July 1, 2025. It directly provides funding for all branches of Tennessee state government, including $76.9 million for legislative operations (House, Senate, and support services), $200.6 million for judicial functions (courts, legal aid, and administration), and $160.3 million for district attorneys' offices. The bill specifies exact funding amounts for each department and agency to cover operational costs, salaries, capital projects, and debt service. This procedural bill authorizes spending but does not create new policies or affect citizens directly.

Maddy summarySB 1430 authorizes Tennessee to issue up to $1.01 billion in state bonds for infrastructure projects. The funds will finance construction and repairs of highways, bridges, state buildings, and equipment, as well as provide grants to counties, cities, and local governments for similar public projects. The bonds are backed by the state's full credit and repaid through tax revenues, with proceeds allocated to the Department of Finance and Administration (for local grants and state buildings) and the Department of Transportation (for highways and bridges). The bonds are exempt from state taxes except for inheritance, transfer, and estate taxes.

Maddy summarySB 1429 amends Tennessee Code Annotated Section 71-5-1305 to change payment frequency requirements from "monthly" to "monthly or quarterly" for certain state budget processes. This procedural adjustment aligns administrative procedures with the annual appropriations act. The change directly affects state budget offices and agencies managing fund transfers under the Access Tennessee health insurance program. It does not alter program benefits or eligibility but streamlines administrative reporting for fiscal year 2025. The bill was enacted without substantive policy changes, focusing solely on updating statutory language.

Maddy summarySB 1296 creates two new criminal offenses in Tennessee: (1) threatening to commit "mass violence" (defined as an act likely to cause serious injury or death to four or more people), and (2) posting someone’s home address or phone number online with intent to cause harm. The bill directly affects individuals whose personal information is shared online for malicious purposes and targets threats made in places like schools, government buildings, or events. Violations of the first offense range from a Class E felony (standard) to Class D felony if the threat involves schools, events, or weapons preparation. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and excludes public officials acting within legal duties.

Maddy summarySB 1316, the "Less is More Act of 2025," amends multiple Tennessee Code sections to streamline state board and commission operations. It establishes detailed rules for virtual meetings, requiring governing bodies to allow electronic participation with public access options, real-time recording, and posting recordings online within three business days. The bill also modifies member appointment terms (four-year terms with reappointment), extends deadlines (from 30 to 90 days for certain actions), and deletes outdated provisions across various titles. Additionally, it mandates at least one in-person quorum meeting per calendar year to ensure physical presence. These changes directly affect state boards, commissions, and their governing bodies by altering meeting procedures and administrative requirements.

Maddy summarySB 1082 amends Tennessee law to add 30+ new offenses to the list of "dangerous felonies" that trigger stricter penalties for firearm possession during or after committing those crimes. It directly affects individuals convicted of specific violent or serious crimes like aggravated robbery, rape, human trafficking, meth manufacturing, or aggravated burglary who possess firearms during or attempt such offenses. The key mechanism expands the existing list of dangerous felonies (e.g., adding "aggravated stalking," "trafficking for commercial sex acts," and "meth manufacturing" to the list) so that firearm possession during these crimes becomes a separate offense with enhanced penalties. This bill takes effect July 1, 2025.