Sen. Brent Taylor

Maddy summarySB 668 removes a requirement that a death must have been "anticipated" for a registered nurse to pronounce death in specific settings. The bill directly affects registered nurses working in nursing homes, hospitals, or assisted-care living facilities, allowing them to determine and pronounce death without needing to confirm the death was expected. Key changes include amending Tennessee law to eliminate the "anticipated death" rule and requiring the attending physician's written agreement to be present at the death location. This updates the process for death certification in healthcare facilities, focusing on practical workflow for medical staff. The bill became effective April 3, 2025, after being signed by the Governor.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Tennessee law to remove all references to the World Health Organization (WHO) in pandemic response procedures. It requires the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), not the WHO, to declare a pandemic, after which the governor must declare a state of emergency to gain exclusive authority to issue pandemic-related executive orders. The law directly affects Tennessee's public health response system by shifting declaration authority from the WHO to the CDC and centralizing emergency powers with the governor. These changes take effect upon the governor's signature, as specified in the bill's text.

Maddy summarySB 240 expands Tennessee's definition of "organized retail crime" to include using social media or online marketplaces to coordinate selling, trading, or bartering stolen merchandise. It adds specific acts to the offense, such as tampering with anti-theft devices, interfering with fire alarms during theft, and possessing stolen items for resale. The bill also increases penalties for certain violations, like when property is destroyed or a weapon is used, by elevating the offense classification. These changes directly affect individuals engaging in retail theft, particularly those using digital platforms to organize criminal activity.

Maddy summarySB 627 limits fees charged by Tennessee's election finance registry when providing copies of campaign disclosure reports to the public. It prohibits the registry from charging more than the actual cost of producing those copies, directly affecting voters, journalists, and watchdog groups seeking campaign finance data. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Sections 2-10-206(a)(3), 39, and 47 to enforce this fee cap. This change ensures public access to campaign finance records without excessive costs, aligning with existing disclosure requirements.

Maddy summarySB 236 requires Tennessee law enforcement agencies to automatically share emergency call data (like 911 calls) at rental homes or apartment complexes with qualified nonprofits. These nonprofits, defined as tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations, then distribute the data to rental property owners and managers. The goal is to help owners/managers identify and address recurring crime patterns at their properties. The bill creates a new process for sharing this information but does not impose new penalties or funding requirements.

Maddy summarySB 389 creates a new Class C felony for "reckless endangerment involving community terrorism," defined as gang-related acts endangering populations in specific geographic areas or within 1,000 feet of schools, parks, or other public facilities. It mandates that courts revoke or prohibit driver's licenses for five years following conviction, requires GPS monitoring to enforce geographic restrictions, and prohibits license reinstatement without court approval. Offenders may later apply for a restricted license for essential activities (work, medical care, school) after five years, subject to court approval, with full license reinstatement possible after demonstrating rehabilitation. The bill directly affects individuals convicted under this new felony, the Tennessee Department of Safety (handling license actions), and courts issuing sentencing orders. It applies specific penalties to offenses meeting the "community terrorism" definition outlined in the bill.

Maddy summarySB 275 requires certain county offices (sheriff, register, county clerk, assessor, and trustee) in Tennessee counties with charter government to independently develop and submit their own budgets directly to the county legislative body, rather than having budgets managed through the county government. The bill allows these offices to approve internal budget transfers between personnel and operational-maintenance categories without approval, while prohibiting the county legislative body from imposing personnel or operational restrictions on these offices. This change shifts budget authority directly to the county offices, altering how they manage financial planning within their designated budget categories under Tennessee Code Annotated Title 5.

Maddy summarySB 386, the "Early Behavioral Intervention and Reporting Act," would require Tennessee public charter schools and local school districts to implement a computer-based system for staff to report early warning signs of student behavioral issues, such as bullying, threats, substance abuse, or mental health concerns. Schools must train staff to use the system, which automatically alerts their threat assessment teams when a report is entered, and submit annual reports to the state education department. Non-compliance could result in the withholding of state funds, while all data handling must comply with privacy laws like FERPA. The bill clarifies that public charter schools must now establish threat assessment teams in the same way as traditional school districts.

Maddy summarySB 858 requires Tennessee's Attorney General to annually report by January 15 to the governor and legislative leaders the number of court injunctions filed against individuals who harassed state employees during the previous calendar year. The bill directly affects state employees by creating a public record of legal actions taken against harassers, though it does not change harassment laws or create new penalties. Its key provision is the mandatory annual data collection and reporting on these injunctions, as specified in amended Tennessee Code § 50-1-506(c). The bill is currently pending in the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee after committee recommendations.

Maddy summarySB 853 proposes to replace Tennessee's current certificate of need (CON) system with the "Tennessee Healthcare Quality and Access Act of 2025." It requires state approval (a certificate of need) before healthcare facilities can build new structures, increase bed counts (especially in nursing homes), or relocate, aiming to regulate facility expansion. The bill includes exemptions for relocations if at least 95% of current patients remain in the same zip codes, access for underserved communities isn't reduced, and commercial insurance doesn't increase disproportionately. This directly affects hospitals, nursing homes, and healthcare providers seeking major facility changes, with the Health Facilities Commission overseeing applications and enforcement.