Sen. Joey Hensley

Maddy summaryThis bill is a Senate Joint Resolution that formally honors Breonna Lashay Grinder, a student at Lewis County High School in Tennessee. It recognizes her as the 2026 Top Ten Senior for her high academic performance and leadership roles in various school clubs. The resolution commends her achievements, such as earning top grades in multiple subjects and receiving several awards, and expresses support for her future studies at Middle Tennessee State University. This document serves as an official commendation rather than a law that changes policy or affects public programs.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Joint Resolution honors Brylee Whitehead, a student from Lewis County High School, for being named a 2026 Top Ten Senior. The bill formally recognizes her academic achievements, extracurricular involvement, and community contributions through a commendation from the Tennessee General Assembly. It does not create new laws or change policies but serves to acknowledge her specific accomplishments and wishes her well in her future plans for medical school.

Maddy summarySenate Joint Resolution 1130 is a commemorative measure that honors McKinley Sullivan, a senior at Lewis County High School who was named a Top Ten Senior for the 2026 graduating class. The resolution formally recognizes her academic achievements, leadership roles in student organizations, and community involvement. It directs the General Assembly to commend her accomplishments and present a copy of the resolution to her. This bill does not create new laws or policies but serves to acknowledge and celebrate an individual student's success.

Maddy summaryThis legislative resolution honors Addison Osborne, a senior at Lewis County High School, for being named one of the top ten students in her graduating class. It recognizes her academic achievements, including high grades in multiple subjects and professional licenses in healthcare fields, as well as her participation in extracurricular activities. The bill formally commends her success and expresses the General Assembly's best wishes for her future studies in nursing at the University of Tennessee at Martin.

Maddy summarySB 1940 designates January 22 of each year as "Sanctity of Life Day" in Tennessee, as amended to Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 15, Chapter 2. The bill establishes this date for annual observance to renew the state's commitment to protecting life and honor those lost to legalized abortion, per the bill's preamble. It does not create new legal obligations or policies but formally recognizes this day for state acknowledgment. The designation applies to Tennessee's official observances under state law.

Maddy summarySB 2371 amends Tennessee law to clarify that tenure rules and dismissal processes for school staff do not apply to individuals holding temporary academic or clinical permits. The bill updates two specific sections of state code (TCA 49-5-501 and 49-2-301) to explicitly exclude these temporary permit holders from definitions of "teacher" and related personnel procedures. This change directly affects educators working under temporary permits, ensuring they are not subject to standard tenure or dismissal protocols. The legislation focuses solely on defining eligibility for existing personnel rules, without creating new policies or funding mechanisms.

Maddy summarySB 2354 shortens the deadline for reporting wildlife-related injuries from 48 to 24 hours after an incident involving captive wildlife. It directly affects owners, handlers, or facilities that possess captive wildlife, requiring them to notify the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency more quickly. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 39-70-416, 44, and 70 to implement this change, aiming to improve response times for medical care. The law will take effect on July 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 2310 would prohibit Tennessee public schools and charter schools serving grades K-5 from allowing students to use digital devices at school, requiring teachers to use digital devices for instruction, or administering assessments electronically - except for specific cases. The bill directly affects K-5 students and educators in these schools, with key exceptions for public virtual schools, compliance with disability laws (IDEA, Section 504, ADA), and state-mandated assessments like the Tennessee universal screener. It would take effect July 1, 2026, if passed, banning digital device use during instruction and assessments for young students while maintaining existing requirements for disability accommodations and state testing. The bill does not address social media or require schools to remove devices from classrooms entirely, only restricting their use for instruction and assessments.

Maddy summarySB 419 increases caps on compensation for non-economic damages in Tennessee civil lawsuits. It raises the maximum payout for regular injury cases from $750,000 to $1.5 million and for catastrophic injuries (like severe burns or permanent disability) from $1 million to $2 million. The bill directly affects plaintiffs who win civil cases involving pain, suffering, or loss of enjoyment of life. The changes take effect July 1, 2025, applying to cases filed on or after that date.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a Senate Joint Resolution that formally honors and congratulates Graciee Katherine English for being selected as the 2026 Mule Day Court Second Runner-Up. The resolution acknowledges her background as a Freed-Hardeman University graduate, physical education teacher, and small business owner, highlighting her contributions to her family and Maury County community. The measure directs the General Assembly to present a copy of the resolution to Ms. English as a gesture of recognition for her achievement, without creating any new laws or funding.