Sen. Jack Johnson

Maddy summarySB 134 amends Tennessee law to require the Department of Education to submit an annual early grades reading report to both the Senate and House education committees by October 15 each year. This procedural change directly affects the Department of Education and legislative committees by establishing a new, fixed deadline for this reporting requirement. The bill does not alter educational standards or funding but streamlines the process for sharing reading assessment data with lawmakers. It became effective May 2, 2025, after being signed by the governor.

Maddy summarySB 1311 creates three types of temporary teaching credentials to help Tennessee schools fill vacancies when qualified licensed teachers are unavailable. It allows schools to hire individuals with bachelor's degrees (via a "temporary academic permit"), those enrolled in educator preparation programs (via a "temporary clinical permit"), or licensed teachers seeking additional endorsements (via a "license endorsement exemption"). These credentials expire June 30 after issuance, require mentorship for courses with end-of-course exams, and cannot be used for special education. The bill directly affects school districts struggling to recruit licensed staff, non-licensed candidates, and educators in training programs.

Maddy summarySB 1282 revises Tennessee's food service regulations by removing fixed permit fees for restaurants, food trucks, and other food establishments, requiring the health commissioner to set fees through administrative rules instead. It updates inspection frequency (e.g., from monthly to quarterly for some facilities), clarifies definitions like the "Food Code," and deletes outdated provisions about rental properties and delivery vehicles. The bill affects food service businesses, camps, farmers markets, and child care centers that operate food services, requiring them to pay fees set by rule rather than statutory amounts. Key changes include revised inspection schedules, new fee-setting authority for the health commissioner, and removal of specific fee amounts from law.

Maddy summarySB 1276 changes Tennessee's parks grant rules to reduce financial burdens on counties designated as distressed or at-risk by the Appalachian Regional Commission. For such counties, the bill lowers the required local match from 100% to 25% of a project's cost when applying for grants from the local parks land acquisition fund. This applies specifically to projects located in these designated counties at the time of the grant application. The law takes effect October 1, 2025, and affects county or municipal governments seeking parks funding in eligible regions.

Maddy summarySB 1314 makes Tennessee's criminal proceedings notification system permanent by removing its temporary "pilot program" status and eliminating the July 1, 2025, expiration date. This change, effective upon enactment (as reflected in Public Chapter 354), directly affects criminal defendants who receive court notifications under Tennessee Code Annotated Section 40-38-507. The bill amends the statute by deleting "as a pilot program" from subsection (a) and removing subsection (d) entirely. The policy change ensures the notification system will operate indefinitely without requiring future legislative renewal.

Maddy summarySB 1315 reduces the administrative fee Tennessee's Department of Revenue charges on several local taxes - from 1.125% to 0.75% - to cover the costs of collecting and distributing the tax proceeds. This directly affects counties, cities, and towns that collect business taxes, short-term rental occupancy taxes, local sales tax surcharges, coal severance taxes, and local option sales taxes. The bill modifies specific sections of Tennessee law to implement this lower fee rate, ensuring more tax revenue reaches local governments after administrative costs are covered. The change applies to tax collections received on or after July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1291 expands tuition assistance under Tennessee's STRONG Act for National Guard members by covering additional fees beyond tuition, including parking, technology, and library fees for both undergraduate and master's degree programs. It increases the maximum credit hour limit for eligibility from 120 to 130 hours, shortens the application deadline for reimbursement from 90 to 45 days after course completion, and adds a new ineligibility rule for members suspended from federal tuition aid. The bill directly affects Tennessee National Guard members pursuing higher education at public institutions. These changes streamline financial aid access while clarifying covered costs and eligibility requirements.

Maddy summarySB 1293 removes the July 1, 2025, expiration date from a requirement that retailers selling food, candy, and nonalcoholic beverages (including bottled soft drinks) must report their sales to the Tennessee Department of Revenue. This change extends the reporting obligation indefinitely, meaning retailers will continue to file annual sales information reports without a set end date. The bill does not alter the types of products covered, the reporting process, or the entities required to comply - only the duration of the mandate. It was enacted as Public Chapter 335 on May 8, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1271 clarifies that definitions for housing facilities under Tennessee's industrial development corporation laws explicitly include affordable and workforce housing. It modifies economic impact plan processes, allowing municipalities or counties to approve amendments to these plans without requiring additional public hearings. The bill directly affects local governments, industrial development corporations, and housing developers by streamlining plan modifications for projects involving affordable/workforce housing. Key provisions update three code sections to include these housing types in definitions and simplify administrative approvals for economic development plans. The changes aim to reduce bureaucratic hurdles for housing projects while maintaining existing regulatory frameworks.

Maddy summarySB 1266 extends voluntary foster care support until age 23 for young adults who were in state custody at 18 or adopted/guardianship-approved at 16+. It allows these individuals to continue receiving services if they are in school, employed (80+ hours/month), in job-training programs, or have a medical condition requiring treatment. The bill also removes fees for driver's licenses and ID cards for eligible youth. This change takes effect July 1, 2025, expanding support beyond the previous 21-year limit.