Sen. Brent Taylor

Maddy summarySB 2255 requires Tennessee's TennCare program to publish two biannual reports starting in 2027, focusing on psychotropic medication use and costs. The first report details statewide usage patterns across age groups, medication counts per person, and costs (separately tracking state/federal funds). The second report specifically tracks psychotropic medication use among children in foster care and young adults in state custody, categorized by age and medication frequency. All data must be de-identified to comply with privacy laws like HIPAA, ensuring no personally identifiable information is disclosed.

Maddy summarySB 273 amends Tennessee law to clarify that school employees do not commit a criminal offense when updating a student's grade in official records after the student retakes a failed course, exam, or assignment and earns credit through a valid academic program. This specifically applies to grade changes made under retake policies, removing potential criminal liability for such updates under TCA Section 39-14-136. The bill directly affects school staff (like teachers and administrators) who manage academic records, ensuring they are not prosecuted for routine grade corrections tied to retake programs. It takes effect July 1, 2025, and focuses solely on defining when grade adjustments are legally permissible.

Maddy summarySB 218 creates a presumption that defendants charged with offenses involving firearm use/display or causing serious injury/death should not be released on personal recognizance before trial. This directly affects individuals facing these specific charges and requires magistrates to document written reasoning if they override this presumption. The bill mandates that magistrates include specific written findings for each factor considered when determining bail, rather than relying on general discretion. It amends Tennessee Code Annotated § 40-11-115 and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 2058, the "Supporting Troopers through Advanced Retirement (STAR) Act," creates an optional retirement plan for Tennessee state troopers. It allows current troopers to switch to this enhanced defined benefit plan, requiring a one-time 5% contribution for those leaving the legacy plan (no fee for hybrid plan members), with ongoing 5% monthly contributions. Troopers earn benefits equal to 3% of their average final salary per year of service, reaching a maximum 75% benefit at 25 years of service. Eligible troopers can also defer retirement to keep working full-time for up to eight years while their retirement benefits accumulate in an interest-bearing account.

Maddy summarySB 1825 prohibits individuals who hold dual citizenship or are not natural-born U.S. citizens from qualifying as candidates in Tennessee's primary elections for federal office (such as Congress or the presidency). It directly affects prospective candidates for federal positions seeking party nominations in Tennessee primaries. The bill defines "dual citizenship" as holding U.S. citizenship alongside another country's citizenship and "natural-born citizen" as someone born in the U.S. or born abroad to U.S. citizen parents. This amendment to Tennessee election law would change eligibility requirements for federal primary candidates starting upon enactment.

Maddy summarySB 1466 would authorize recall elections for Tennessee local elected officials, including mayors, sheriffs, school board members, and county clerks. To initiate a recall, petitioners must collect signatures from 66% of voters who cast ballots for that office in the previous election, with specific requirements for the petition's content and a sworn affidavit verifying signatures. If the petition is approved, a special election is held where voters decide by majority vote whether to remove the official, with the office becoming vacant if recalled. The bill also prohibits recall elections within 90 days before or after regular elections. This bill directly affects local officials and voters in their jurisdictions, establishing a new process for their removal.

Maddy summarySB 2429 changes a deadline for counties to submit reports about judicial commissioners. It amends Tennessee law to require county legislative bodies to submit written evaluations of judicial commissioner use to criminal court judges and relevant committees by April 30 instead of April 1. This procedural change directly affects county governments and criminal court officials who must now meet the new April 30 deadline. The bill makes no substantive changes to criminal procedure, only adjusting the reporting timeline.

Maddy summarySB 2257 requires every Tennessee county to establish an ethics commission by January 1, 2027, to oversee county government conduct. Each commission must have six members (two appointed by the county mayor, four by the county legislative body, with equal party representation), all meeting specific qualifications like residency, age, and no felony convictions. The commissions will investigate ethics complaints from citizens, provide guidance to county officials, issue advisory opinions, and have authority to subpoena witnesses and request legal assistance. This bill directly affects county governments and officials by creating a formal process for addressing ethical concerns in local governance.

Maddy summarySB 2129 amends Tennessee law to require that notices of intended property seizure for unpaid taxes be mailed to taxpayers' last known address using certified, registered, or first-class mail. This bill directly affects property owners facing potential tax-related property seizure by ensuring they receive written notice via a reliable mail method. The key provision adds "certified, registered, or first class mail" to the existing requirement for delivering seizure notices. This is a procedural change focused on improving notice delivery, not altering tax rates or eligibility for seizure. The bill is currently pending in the Senate State and Local Government Committee.

Maddy summarySB 2056 creates a new criminal court (designated as "Part IX") in Tennessee's 30th judicial district, effective September 1, 2026. The governor will appoint a judge to serve until September 2028, after which voters in the district will elect a judge in the August 2028 general election for an eight-year term. This change directly affects residents of the 30th judicial district by expanding criminal court capacity and altering the election timeline for that specific court position. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 16, Chapter 2, to establish this new court structure and its appointment/election process.