Sen. Brent Taylor

Maddy summarySB 2104 extends the time window for firework exhibitor license renewals in Tennessee from 90 to 95 days after a license expires. This change allows license holders to renew their licenses retroactively to the date their previous license expired. The bill amends specific sections of Tennessee law (including Title 68) related to fireworks licensing and commerce. It directly affects individuals and businesses holding firework exhibitor licenses who need to renew their permits. The policy change simplifies administrative processes for license renewal without altering licensing requirements.

Maddy summarySB 2127 would have created a new Class E felony offense for intentionally threatening a public official or their immediate family member (including spouses, parents, siblings, or children) due to the official’s role. The bill required that the threat be perceived as harmful by a reasonable person and made because of the official’s position. It defined "immediate family" broadly to include stepparents, stepchildren, and adoptive relationships. The bill was introduced in the Tennessee Senate in early 2026 but was withdrawn before passing.

Maddy summarySB 1485 requires that most real estate deeds (excluding deeds of trust or mortgage) include the name and address of both the property owner and the person responsible for paying real estate taxes when recorded. This information can then be used to legally notify either party if they fail to pay property taxes, by serving them as if they were an agent for the property. The bill directly affects property owners and tax payers by creating a clear, standardized method for delivering legal notices through recorded deeds. It amends Tennessee law to clarify this process, aiming to streamline tax collection efforts.

Maddy summarySB 1484 creates a new civil cause of action allowing victims of crimes committed while on bail to sue the person who posted bail for the defendant (excluding professional bondsmen and those with "bailable interest," like family members or employers). If the defendant is later convicted for a crime that occurred while released on that bail, the victim can seek compensation for property damage, injury, or death resulting from that crime. The bill amends Tennessee law to add this provision to the bail process, effective July 1, 2026. It directly affects third parties who post bail for defendants and victims of subsequent crimes committed during that release.

Maddy summarySB 1476 creates a new "law enforcement officer recruitment fund" within Tennessee's general fund to help local agencies hire officers. It directly affects city, county, or municipal law enforcement agencies with 10% or more open officer positions by allowing them to apply for grants to cover recruitment costs. The Department of Finance and Administration will manage the fund, setting application rules, grant criteria, and reporting requirements to track how funds are used. Grants can only be spent on recruitment activities, and the fund may accept private donations but requires separate annual appropriations to operate. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 1472 amends Tennessee property tax law to require cities and counties to accept the disputed portion of a property tax bill if the taxpayer pays the full amount due before the delinquency date. This directly affects property owners appealing their tax assessments, as it changes the current option ("allows") to a mandatory requirement ("requires"). The key provision removes discretion from local tax officials, ensuring that timely payment of the full tax obligation triggers acceptance of the disputed amount. The bill does not alter tax rates or create new fees, only clarifying the process for taxpayers who pay before the deadline.

Maddy summarySB 384 changes Tennessee's hotel tax law to require operators to stop charging the tax after a guest stays 30 consecutive days in a hotel. Specifically, once a guest maintains occupancy for 30 days, the hotel must remit all collected tax to the municipality and cease charging the guest for the remainder of their stay. This directly affects long-term hotel guests (staying 30+ days) and hotel operators who must adjust their billing practices. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 67, Chapter 4, Part 14, to implement this change, effective May 5, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1439 would amend Germantown's city charter to require the mayor to serve full-time, with salary set by city council via ordinance, overriding prior part-time provisions. This change would directly affect Germantown's mayor and city council, as the council would determine the mayor's salary. The bill requires voter approval through a special election in May or August 2026, with results certified before implementation. It does not take effect unless approved by a majority of voters in that election.

Maddy summarySB 1139 requires utilities (including municipal or county-owned water, electric, and gas providers) to review development plans for compliance with infrastructure codes within 30 days. If a utility misses this deadline, developers can hire a third-party examiner (an engineer with relevant expertise) to review the plans, submit the findings to the utility, and the plans are deemed approved if the utility fails to act within 10 business days. The bill also limits utility inspection fees for approved projects to 2% of the development's total cost and mandates utilities to provide a schedule of approved materials. This directly affects developers seeking permits for new construction and utilities managing infrastructure reviews.

Maddy summarySB 1336 aligns county school board elections with county legislative elections in Tennessee counties that have adopted charter government. It requires school board elections to occur simultaneously with county legislative elections, mandates that school board terms match the staggered structure of county legislative terms, and applies identical term limits to both bodies. This bill directly affects county school boards and county legislative bodies in charter counties, eliminating separate election cycles for school boards. The law changes existing election timing, term structure, and term limit rules to create consistency between these two elected bodies.