Sen. Joey Hensley

Maddy summarySB 1360 limits civil lawsuits against sellers of certain weapons and accessories by removing negligence per se claims and expanding the definition of "qualified products" to include knives, body armor, pepper spray, silencers, and other items. It requires plaintiffs to prove actual physical injury (not just an unreasonable risk of injury) for negligent entrustment claims against sellers. The bill also clarifies that local governments cannot impose stricter firearm regulations than state law allows and specifies who qualifies as an "adversely affected party" for filing lawsuits. These changes directly affect civil cases brought against gun dealers, manufacturers, and sellers in Tennessee.

Maddy summarySB 161 requires Tennessee school districts with high schools to adopt a policy allowing one junior or senior student to serve as a nonvoting representative on each school board. The student must attend all public board meetings (excluding confidential sessions), serve at least one school year, and meet eligibility criteria set by the board. School boards must establish a fair selection process ensuring all high schools within the district have equal opportunity for student representation. The policy must be implemented by the 2025-2026 school year, with students receiving no salary but possible reimbursement for reasonable expenses. This bill directly affects local education agencies and high school students in Tennessee.

Maddy summaryTennessee's SB 263, now law, prohibits state and local governments from enforcing or recognizing requirements from the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations (UN), or World Economic Forum (WEF). The law specifically blocks these entities from mandating mask-wearing, vaccines, medical testing, or collecting personal data about residents through state or local actions. It declares such international mandates "have no force or effect" in Tennessee and requires state agencies to disregard them. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, and applies to all state departments, counties, cities, and other local government entities.

Maddy summarySB 1003 requires Tennessee public schools and charter schools offering pre-K programs to allow pre-K teachers to use results from approved universal reading screeners as an alternative method for generating their individual teacher evaluation scores. This applies specifically to pre-K teachers in schools that administer these screeners to students, replacing the need to use the pre-K/kindergarten portfolio growth model for evaluations. The bill amends education code to mandate that school districts permit this use of screener data, which must be approved by the state board. The policy change takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year.

Maddy summarySB 827 prevents Tennessee’s state board of education from requiring fully online, self-paced private schools (that are regionally accredited) to follow specific public school rules. It directly affects Category III nonpublic schools offering online programs by exempting them from requirements for class size, minimum instructional days/hours, student vaccination mandates, and annual standardized testing in math and English for grades 3-11. The bill’s key provision states the state board cannot enforce these four requirements when approving such online schools. This change allows these schools to operate under different standards than traditional public or private schools. The law took effect on May 5, 2025, for all purposes.

Maddy summarySB 657 amends Tennessee's racketeering law (TCA §39-12-203) to explicitly include organized retail crime, firearm possession during dangerous felonies, and carjacking as racketeering activities. This change directly affects individuals committing these specific offenses, making them subject to enhanced penalties under racketeering statutes. The bill adds new definitions to the law (effective July 1, 2025) and clarifies that carjacking is now explicitly covered under racketeering. It does not create new crimes but reclassifies existing offenses for prosecution under racketeering provisions.

Maddy summarySB 495 allows cities in Tennessee with a city manager-commission charter to contract with private companies for the development, construction, management, or operation of indoor or outdoor sports facilities. The bill updates city charter powers to permit agreements on terms like revenue sharing, lease or sale of facility space, management fees, or other conditions the city deems beneficial. It directly affects cities operating under this specific charter structure, expanding their ability to partner with private entities for sports infrastructure. The law becomes effective upon enactment, enabling cities to pursue such partnerships without additional legislative approval for the terms.

Maddy summarySB 660 allows Tennessee county clerks to request assistance from neighboring county clerks for vehicle registration services during public health emergencies, natural disasters, or temporary office closures. The requesting clerk must submit a written request specifying the duration, and the assisting clerk can process registrations, renewals, and plate transfers without collecting county-specific taxes but may charge a $2.50 fee per transaction. This provision directly affects county clerks and vehicle owners needing to complete registration during emergency disruptions.

Maddy summarySB 1410 modifies two key provisions affecting Tennessee public schools. It increases the maximum consecutive days a substitute teacher may work without a teaching license from 20 to 30 days. Additionally, it changes the rules for six weeks of paid parental leave, allowing eligible public school employees to take this leave either consecutively or non-consecutively based on specific criteria, rather than requiring consecutive use. The bill, effective July 1, 2025, impacts school districts, substitute teachers, and public school staff members.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (SJR 375) commending Nathan Walsh for his service as a legislative intern working for Senator Joey Hensley during Tennessee's 2025 legislative session. It honors Walsh's academic achievements, involvement with Belmont University student groups, research collaboration, and contributions to the legislative process. The resolution has no policy impact - it is purely a formal expression of appreciation with no binding effect on laws, funding, or regulations. It directly affects Nathan Walsh by publicly recognizing his work, but does not alter any rights or responsibilities for others.