Sen. Raumesh Akbari

Maddy summarySB 1354 directs Tennessee's Department of Mental Health to create and implement a suicide prevention program. The program must include community-based prevention, support for individuals who have attempted suicide, partnerships with local organizations, research on suicide rates across diverse groups, strategies to reduce access to lethal means, and postvention support for affected families. The department must annually report to health committees on the program's progress and research findings by January 1. This bill affects all Tennessee residents by requiring state-level action on suicide prevention services, with implementation beginning in 2025.

Maddy summarySB 2661 amends Tennessee's charter school law by changing the deadline for the state board of education to post local education agencies' (LEAs) annual authorizer fee reports from December 11 to December 15 each year. This bill directly affects LEAs that collect fees from charter schools and the state board, requiring them to report total fees collected and how they were used. The key change is solely a procedural adjustment to the posting deadline, with no other policy modifications to fee collection or reporting requirements. The bill focuses on streamlining administrative timing for transparency, without altering substantive charter school funding rules.

Maddy summarySB 2660 amends Tennessee law to limit criminal liability for threatening mass violence on school property to only "valid and credible" threats, rather than any threat. It requires schools to include a written mental health assessment by a qualified provider (such as a psychologist or school counselor, potentially via telehealth) when evaluating students exhibiting threatening behavior. This assessment must evaluate the student's welfare and be provided to the school's threat assessment team before a threat can be deemed "valid and credible" for criminal or reporting purposes. School officials must then report only such verified threats to law enforcement. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 2386 allows nonprofit or for-profit organizations operating adult high schools under contract with Tennessee local school boards to receive state and local funding based on actual student enrollment after the first year, rather than projected numbers. It requires these entities to report enrollment data at least three times yearly (August, December, April), and mandates local boards to adjust funding payments quarterly (October, February, June) based on those reports. The bill directly affects contracted adult education providers, local school boards, and adult students whose funding depends on enrollment accuracy. It amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 49 to establish this enrollment-based funding model for subsequent years of operation, effective July 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 1836 requires Tennessee's Department of Transportation to study the feasibility of building a new third bridge across the Mississippi River connecting to Arkansas, including related highway infrastructure. The study must be completed by February 1, 2027, and report findings on funding sources (federal, state, or local), development timing, and legislative recommendations. This bill directly affects the Tennessee Department of Transportation, which must conduct the study and submit the report to relevant legislative committees. The bill does not fund or authorize construction but sets a process for evaluating a potential bridge project.

Maddy summarySB 585 allows Tennessee's Department of Finance and Administration, Office of Criminal Justice Programs, to use existing resources and seek federal or state funding to design and implement grants targeting gun violence reduction. The bill defines "gun violence" as homicide, violent crime, and domestic violence for these grant programs. It does not create new state funding but provides a mechanism for the department to access existing and additional resources to support community-based violence prevention initiatives. This legislation directly affects the department's ability to address gun violence through grant programs without requiring new legislative appropriations.

Maddy summarySB 1421 creates an affirmative defense for businesses that experience data breaches if they maintained a written cybersecurity program meeting industry-recognized standards at the time of the breach. It applies to "covered entities" (businesses handling personal information, health data, or sensitive restricted information) and requires written security protocols based on frameworks like NIST, annual risk assessments, and employee training. Businesses using this defense must prove their program met these criteria when the breach occurred. This defense applies only to lawsuits alleging inadequate security controls, not to breaches resulting from known threats the business ignored.

Maddy summarySJR 654 is a resolution honoring Melvin Deener for his 53-year career as a bus operator with the Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA), during which he drove 1.5 million miles and safely transported over four million passengers. The Tennessee General Assembly passed this symbolic resolution to recognize his dedication to public service upon his retirement, acknowledging his long-term commitment to the community and MATA. This non-binding resolution does not create new laws or affect regulations - it serves solely as a formal expression of appreciation from the state legislature.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution honors The Links, Incorporated, an international nonprofit organization of over 17,000 professional women of color dedicated to community service and advocacy. The bill formally recognizes the group's work in advancing equality and supporting African American communities through its chapters across Tennessee and globally. It acknowledges the organization's contributions to various causes, including its significant financial support for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, the United Negro College Fund, and St. Jude Children's Hospital. The resolution also notes that ten Tennessee chapters will meet on Capitol Hill in March 2026 to discuss legislation affecting their communities.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution honors Reverend Shavon Arline-Bradley, a public health leader and keynote speaker for the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority's 113th Founders Day Observance. The resolution formally welcomes her to Tennessee and commends her contributions to public service, diversity, equity, and inclusion work across various organizations including the National Council of Negro Women and the NAACP. It does not change laws or policies but serves as a ceremonial acknowledgment of her professional achievements and leadership experience.