Sen. Brent Taylor

Maddy summarySB 1985 creates the "Tennessee Real Estate Consumer Fraud Protection Act" to establish new rules for real estate transactions. It requires title insurance premiums to be split equally between buyers and sellers, mandates foreign title insurers to maintain a local office for outstanding claims, and requires all real estate deeds to be prepared by licensed Tennessee attorneys with their license number - deeds not prepared this way after July 1, 2026, will be void. The bill also requires out-of-state property buyers to designate a Tennessee agent for legal service. These changes directly affect homebuyers, sellers, title insurers, and real estate attorneys in Tennessee.

Maddy summarySB 2101 amends Tennessee law (TCA Title 47, Section 47-16-103(c)) to extend the deadline for litigation financiers to update their registration with the Secretary of State from 30 to 35 days when their information changes or becomes inaccurate. This bill directly affects litigation financiers operating in Tennessee, who must register with the state. The key provision is a 5-day extension for submitting updated registration details, with no other substantive changes to the registration requirements. The bill is procedural and does not alter the underlying rules governing litigation financing.

Maddy summarySB 1486 requires Tennessee law enforcement agencies to accept and honor federal immigration detainers by holding individuals for 48 hours beyond their scheduled release time (excluding weekends and holidays) to allow federal authorities to take custody. Agencies must also notify federal immigration officials as soon as possible before releasing someone subject to a detainer. This law applies to all Tennessee law enforcement agencies and directly affects individuals detained under federal immigration requests. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and amends Tennessee statutes related to law enforcement and immigration cooperation.

Maddy summarySB 1983 amends Tennessee law (TCA Section 67-5-2701) to change the redemption period for properties sold due to unpaid property taxes. It sets a one-year redemption period for properties with three years or less of tax delinquency, and a 90-day period for properties with more than three years of delinquency. This directly affects property owners who miss tax payments and face tax sales, giving them different timeframes to reclaim their property after a sale. The change takes effect July 1, 2026, applying to tax sale confirmations on or after that date.

Maddy summarySB 2128 requires data center owners or operators to pay the full cost of all infrastructure (including roads, utility upgrades, and cooling systems) needed to support their facilities, such as new power lines or expanded water systems. It mandates that electric utilities ensure data centers cover the entire cost of infrastructure and electricity services, preventing rate increases for residential or other commercial customers due to data center demand. The bill allows utilities to create new billing categories for data centers if needed and establishes a complaint process for customers who believe utilities are violating these requirements. This policy directly affects data center developers, utilities, and non-data center customers by shifting infrastructure costs to the data center industry.

Maddy summarySB 1889 requires non-English speaking applicants for driver's licenses to receive a one-year restricted license valid only for travel to school, work, or medical appointments. To obtain a full license afterward, they must retake the written exam in English without aids. The bill also mandates that vehicle registration applicants provide proof of U.S. citizenship, lawful permanent residency, or authorized temporary status, with a Tennessee driver's license serving as acceptable proof. These changes apply to all new license applicants and vehicle registrations starting July 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 1708 restricts third-party bail posting in Tennessee by prohibiting entities (other than defendants, family members, legal guardians, employers, or licensed bondsmen) from securing a defendant's release more than three times per year or for the same defendant more than once annually. The bill requires such entities to obtain prior approval for each bond they seek to post and defines "family" broadly to include third-degree relatives or household members. It directly affects community groups, nonprofits, or businesses that previously posted bail for others, limiting their ability to do so frequently. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and amends Tennessee Code Sections 39-11-715 and 40-11-123.

Maddy summarySB 846 requires the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) to submit its annual report on narcotics investigations to the House criminal justice committee and Senate judiciary committee by February 15 each year, instead of the previous annual deadline. The bill amends specific Tennessee Code sections to update the submission timeline and committee references. This change affects the TBI’s narcotics division and the legislative committees overseeing criminal justice oversight. The bill focuses solely on adjusting the reporting schedule, with no new policy requirements or funding impacts.

Maddy summarySB 676 requires gender clinics receiving state funding to offer both gender transition and detransition procedures, and mandates that insurers covering transition procedures must also cover detransition. It applies to all gender clinics licensed in Tennessee and insurance providers offering such coverage. The bill also mandates clinics to report detailed statistics on gender transition procedures (including patient age, procedure type, and diagnoses) to the Department of Health monthly, with annual public reports starting in 2025. These requirements aim to increase transparency around gender healthcare services while imposing specific obligations on covered providers.

Maddy summarySB 1467, the "Memphis Safe Task Force Accountability Act," requires Tennessee district attorneys general to submit a 24-hour report to state and federal officials whenever they make specific decisions about felony cases tied to two federal law enforcement operations: the Memphis Safe Task Force or Operation Viper. The report must be filed if the district attorney enters a plea agreement, reduces charges, dismisses a case, or declines to prosecute. This applies only to cases originating from these operations, which are defined as federal efforts focused on combating violent crime in Memphis through aggressive policing and prosecution. The bill aims to increase transparency around prosecutorial decisions in these specific cases without altering the legal standards for handling them.