Sen. Jack Johnson

Maddy summarySB 1076 requires Tennessee's Office of Legislative Information Systems to create a permanent digital archive of the House Select Committee on Redistricting's webpage for the 112th General Assembly. The bill mandates that all archived content - including videos, documents, maps, and other materials - remain functional and publicly accessible. This ensures transparency by preserving the committee's redistricting process records for ongoing public review. The law directly affects residents seeking access to historical legislative redistricting information. It is a procedural measure focused on information preservation, not policy change.

Maddy summarySB 1873 modifies Tennessee state employee employment rules, primarily affecting all state workers and hiring processes. It adds a new provision prohibiting applicants from using hiring applications to harass or intimidate staff (Section 7), and overhauls appeal procedures by removing executive service employees' right to appeal disciplinary actions (Section 12). The bill also deletes outdated sections about hiring classifications and existing appeal steps, replacing them with new rules for filing appeals within 14 days and limiting retroactive remedies to 30 days. These changes directly impact how state employees can challenge workplace decisions and how agencies conduct hiring.

Maddy summarySB 1776 creates a temporary sales tax exemption for the retail purchase of firearms and ammunition in Tennessee. It allows retailers to sell these items without charging the usual sales tax during the four-day period from July 3-6, 2026. The bill amends Tennessee’s tax code to exempt these specific products from sales tax only during that defined window. This policy directly affects consumers buying firearms or ammunition at retail stores during those dates. The exemption applies only to retail sales and does not change broader tax laws beyond the specified dates.

Maddy summarySJR 27 authorizes the Tennessee Housing Development Agency to allocate $10 million annually in tax credits for low-income housing projects, applicable against premium tax, retaliatory tax, franchise tax, and excise tax liabilities. These credits are specifically for projects meeting criteria under the Tennessee Rural and Workforce Housing Act, with at least 50% of funds required to support housing in eligible rural areas. The resolution directs the agency to use these credits for the 2026-2028 calendar years, building on existing state law (Public Chapter 971 of 2024). It directly affects housing developers and property owners who qualify for these credits, providing a financial incentive to build or rehabilitate affordable housing. The bill does not create new taxes but modifies how existing tax credits can be applied.

Maddy summarySB 1091 amends Tennessee tax law to require the Commissioner of Revenue to include the Office of Legislative Budget Analysis as a recipient of the annual report on franchise and excise tax credits. This report, currently sent to finance committees and the Senate, will now also be distributed to this nonpartisan legislative agency. The bill does not change tax rates, credits, or filing requirements - it only updates the distribution list for an existing report. The Office of Legislative Budget Analysis, which provides fiscal analysis to lawmakers, will now receive this data to inform budget decisions.

Maddy summarySB 1077 requires all public Tennessee universities to offer a mandatory 3-semester-hour course in American government or history before students earn a bachelor's degree. The course, developed by the University of Tennessee-Knoxville's Institute of American Civics, must cover specific foundational documents including the U.S. Constitution, Declaration of Independence, Federalist Papers, Emancipation Proclamation, Gettysburg Address, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Letter from Birmingham Jail," plus one additional document from the African-American freedom struggle. Students must complete this course by 2025-2026, with exemptions for those who took equivalent advanced placement, IB, or dual-credit courses meeting the same content requirements. The bill mandates final exams testing knowledge of these required documents and prohibits adding credit hours or conflicting with accreditation standards.

Maddy summarySJR 399 is a commemorative resolution thanking Tennessee retailers for collecting $14 billion in sales taxes in 2024. It recognizes that retailers bear card processing fees on the tax portion of transactions, which benefits the state, and expresses appreciation for their role in tax collection. The resolution does not change tax laws or create new obligations; it is a symbolic gesture of recognition. It directly addresses retailers who collect sales taxes on behalf of the state.

Maddy summarySB 695 converts Tennessee's temporary school safety grant pilot program into a permanent statewide two-year program (2025-2027) for school safety alert systems. It removes the previous limit on how many schools can receive grants, allowing more public, charter, private, and church-related schools to apply annually. Grants remain capped at $8,000 per school and must be distributed across Tennessee's three grand divisions to ensure geographic diversity in funding. The program funds mobile panic alert systems approved by the education and safety departments, with reports required for the General Assembly by 2026 and 2027.

Maddy summarySB 1080 would redirect 50% of Tennessee counties' real estate transfer tax collections (previously retained by the state) to local governments starting July 2025. Counties would receive these funds to fund transportation infrastructure (requiring at least 50% of the allocation), schools, road projects, and other one-time expenses like public facilities or capital debt. The bill prohibits using these funds for salaries/benefits or replacing existing state/local funding for roads. It ensures counties cannot "supplant" current funding streams when using these tax revenues for infrastructure projects.

Maddy summaryThis bill calls for a joint meeting of the Tennessee Senate and House of Representatives to vote on two specific confirmations. The first vote is for Judge Stacy Street to take a seat on the Tennessee Court of Appeals, Eastern Section, while the second is for Ms. Vanecia Kimbrow to join the State Election Commission. The resolution sets a specific date and time for this joint session to occur, ensuring both legislative chambers meet together to cast their votes on these appointments.