Sen. Brent Taylor

Maddy summarySB 221 allows Tennessee courts to use juvenile court records - including past dispositions and evidence - in pretrial reports for setting bond in certain criminal cases. It requires magistrates to consider a defendant's prior juvenile record when determining their risk of danger to the community. This change directly affects individuals with prior juvenile court involvement who are facing criminal charges and undergoing bond hearings. The bill amends Tennessee Code sections 37-1-133, 37-1-153, and 40-11-118 to permit this use of juvenile records, which were previously prohibited in non-juvenile court proceedings.

Maddy summarySB 239 requires Tennessee's TACIR (Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations) to study the availability of facilities for two groups of juvenile offenders: those detained before court hearings and those committed to the Department of Children's Services after being found guilty. The study will assess current facility capacity and identify potential needs for additional housing or treatment options in both scenarios. TACIR must complete this study using existing resources and submit findings and recommendations to the General Assembly by January 1, 2026. This bill directly affects juvenile justice systems and facilities across Tennessee, though it does not create new facilities or change existing laws.

Maddy summarySB 1138 prevents cities and utility districts from stopping sewer services outside their city limits if they've operated those systems for 25+ years, provided the systems maintain sufficient capacity (verified by a TACIR study). It directly affects municipalities and utility districts with long-standing sewer operations beyond their corporate boundaries, as well as property owners relying on these services. The key provision requires these entities to continue operations so long as capacity meets current needs, rather than allowing them to discontinue services. This law amends Tennessee statutes to ensure ongoing wastewater service in unincorporated areas where systems have been in place for decades.

Maddy summarySB 392 creates a new Class E felony offense for "human smuggling" in Tennessee, defined as knowingly transporting 10+ adults or 5+ minors across state lines while concealing them from immigration authorities, with knowledge they entered the U.S. illegally. It also establishes a Class A misdemeanor for harboring undocumented immigrants (a $1,000 fine per person). The law amends Tennessee Code to include human smuggling under "human trafficking offenses" and grants the Attorney General authority to seek court orders dissolving organizations involved in these crimes. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 670 requires Tennessee's Department of Environment and Conservation to annually report on compensatory mitigation for aquatic permits to state officials, and establishes four regulatory categories for isolated wetlands. It also adds a new rule preventing the state from classifying property as a wetland unless it meets federal standards. The bill directly affects developers seeking permits for wetland alterations and state agencies managing environmental regulations. Key changes include mandatory reporting to the governor and legislature, and aligning state wetland rules with federal classifications, effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 857 allows counties participating in Tennessee's homebuyers' revolving loan program to end their involvement if they've made loans exceeding their initial funding. Counties can then retain all funds in the pool, including their original capital and any interest earned from repayments, after giving notice to the Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA). This change applies to counties that have lent more than their initial capitalization amount, altering how they manage excess funds when exiting the program. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, and directly affects participating counties managing these homebuyer loans.

Maddy summarySB 227 amends Tennessee law to allow charitable organizations providing housing to individuals unlawfully present in the U.S. to be held legally responsible for injuries or deaths resulting from crimes committed by those individuals - *if* the charity was negligent, grossly negligent, or engaged in willful misconduct while providing housing. It directly affects homeless shelters, food banks, and similar nonprofits offering housing services to undocumented immigrants. The law does not create new obligations but clarifies that existing negligence standards apply when charities knowingly house undocumented individuals. This change applies to any housing services provided by such organizations, with liability triggered only by the charity’s own negligence, not the actions of the person they house.

Maddy summarySB 217 requires Tennessee's Department of Transportation (TDOT) to create a policy for handling personal belongings left behind by people camping in highway areas (like shoulders, under bridges, or overpasses). The policy mandates a 72-hour notice before removal, 90 days of storage for unclaimed items, and specific handling for medical items or hazardous property. It directly affects people camping in these areas, TDOT, and local governments, which must confirm no one occupies a site before cleanup begins. The law also requires TDOT to partner with homeless services providers and post clear retrieval instructions at removal sites. The bill became law on May 2, 2025, after being signed by the Governor.

Maddy summarySB 713 requires all Tennessee public senior high schools to allow military recruiters access during student lunch periods at least once a month and provide additional targeted access every other month for students who express interest in military opportunities. The bill directly affects public high schools and military recruiters by mandating scheduled access to students for career and educational information about military service. It amends Tennessee law (Title 49) to establish these specific access requirements, replacing a previous section. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, and does not alter military programs but changes school access protocols.

Maddy summarySB 664 modifies Tennessee's water permit rules to exempt certain applicants from compensatory mitigation requirements. If a project applicant is denied coverage under a simplified "general permit" solely because of the project's size (not other factors), the Department of Environment and Conservation must exempt them from needing replacement wetlands or habitat for an area equal to what would be exempt under the general permit. This directly affects developers or landowners seeking permits for activities impacting water resources who are disqualified only by project scale. The change takes effect July 1, 2025, and applies to permits under Title 69, Chapter 3 of Tennessee law.