Sen. Raumesh Akbari

Maddy summarySB 1191, "Akilah's Law," creates a new offense for selling, offering to sell, delivering, or transferring a firearm to someone known to have been a patient in a mental health facility (including hospitals, clinics, or centers for mental illness) within the past five years. It specifically excludes cases where treatment was solely voluntary for alcohol abuse without other mental illness or substance disorders. The law directly affects firearm sellers and transferors who knowingly violate this restriction. It takes effect on July 1, 2025, and amends Tennessee Code Annotated Sections 39-17-1316 and 33-17-13.

Maddy summarySB 2662 establishes strict rules for using oral-fluid tests in DUI cases in Tennessee. It requires officers to document specific, observable driving-related reasons (not general suspicions) before administering tests, and mandates that screening results alone cannot be used as evidence for arrest or license suspension. The bill requires approved devices, proper calibration documentation, and a confirmatory lab test (using accredited methods) for any evidence to be admissible in court. It also guarantees defendants the right to independent lab testing of preserved samples and requires law enforcement to retain detailed records for three years or longer.

Maddy summarySB 2383 (Tennessee property tax rate limits) sets new annual caps on local property tax rates. It limits county property taxes to $3.00 per $100 of assessed property value and municipal taxes to $2.50 per $100. These provisions directly affect all Tennessee counties and municipalities by restricting how much they can charge for property taxes. The bill takes effect January 1, 2027, replacing previous rate-setting authority under Tennessee Code § 67-5-102 and § 67-5-103.

Maddy summarySB 2390 requires Tennessee local law enforcement agencies to provide detained individuals held under federal immigration agreements with specific information and access to legal resources. The bill mandates that agencies disclose basic personal details (name, date of birth, intake date, facility location) within 24 hours of a request to the detainee, their attorney, family members, or a court. It also ensures reasonable access to legal counsel, phone calls for legal purposes, and family visits, while prohibiting retaliation against detainees for exercising these rights. Violations can be challenged in court, with successful plaintiffs potentially recovering attorney fees.

Maddy summarySB 2378 requires Tennessee county election commissions to document and electronically submit any legitimate complaint about a voting rights violation to the state election commission. The bill amends Tennessee Code sections related to elections (Titles 2, 4, 8, 29, 39, and 41) to establish this standardized complaint process. It directly affects county election commissions, which must now follow this procedure for all verified voting rights complaints. The bill creates a procedural mechanism for reporting voting issues but does not change voting rules or eligibility. This is a procedural update focused on complaint handling, not substantive voting policy.

Maddy summarySB 2389 requires Shelby County registers of deeds to verify and record government-issued photo IDs (like driver's licenses) for in-person property transfers during a two-year pilot program. It directly affects property buyers and sellers in Shelby County (population over 900,000 per 2020 census) who file documents in person. Key provisions include: no fee for copying ID information, confidentiality of recorded ID data, and ensuring property documents remain valid even if ID isn't recorded. The law applies only to Shelby County and automatically expires after two years.

Maddy summarySB 1972 requires Tennessee law enforcement to verify veteran status before assisting federal immigration actions. It prohibits state cooperation unless federal authorities certify the person isn't a veteran or the VA has confirmed their status. Agencies must screen for military service records, delay transfers until verification, and provide veterans access to legal counsel. The law directly affects veterans facing immigration enforcement and state/local police handling such cases.

Maddy summarySB 1699 prohibits civil immigration enforcement activities from using public parking lots, school campuses (including public, charter, and private schools), and tax-exempt religious institutions as staging areas or operations bases. It requires schools and religious institutions to implement reporting procedures for staff to immediately notify supervisors and local officials if they observe such activities. The bill also mandates state agencies to create and distribute public materials explaining individuals' rights regarding federal agents entering these properties. This law directly affects Tennessee’s state and local government entities, schools, and religious institutions.

Maddy summarySB 1906 would amend Tennessee law to allow a person infected with HIV to use proof of following their prescribed medical treatment as an affirmative defense in criminal exposure cases. This defense requires showing by a preponderance of evidence that the treatment was suppressing the risk of HIV transmission. The bill directly affects individuals charged with criminal exposure of HIV, providing a legal argument that they took steps to prevent transmission. It changes the existing statute without altering the underlying crime or creating new obligations.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits Tennessee law enforcement from detaining individuals based solely on an ICE immigration request (detainer) or immigration status. It requires any detention or transfer to ICE to be based on a valid judicial warrant signed by a judge, showing probable cause for the specific person. Individuals unlawfully detained under this law may sue for damages of at least $1,000 per day, plus attorney fees. The law states ICE detainers have no legal effect in Tennessee and explicitly prohibits state officers from claiming federal policy as a defense for violating these rules.