Sen. Paul Rose

Maddy summarySB 2367 amends Tennessee law to apply the Neighborhood Preservation Act and authorize participation in the Tennessee Local Land Bank Program specifically for Tipton County. It adjusts population thresholds in two statutes to include counties with 60,900-61,000 residents (based on the 2020 census), which matches Tipton County's population. This change directly affects Tipton County residents and local officials by enabling the county to access these existing state programs. The bill makes no new policy changes but adjusts eligibility criteria to include Tipton County for established programs.

Maddy summarySB 2372 expands Tennessee's criminal code to treat adulterating food, drinks, or pharmaceuticals with intent to cause involuntary intoxication as a Class D felony. It directly affects individuals who intentionally spike beverages to incapacitate others and requires bars, restaurants, and alcohol licensees to provide free, rapid drug testing devices for customers to check suspected spiked drinks. The bill mandates that testing devices detect at least 10 controlled substances and 2 date rape drugs within 5 minutes, must be readily available upon request, and must be posted prominently. Licensees are protected from liability for inaccurate test results. This law aims to address beverage tampering by imposing felony penalties and creating a safety mechanism for patrons at alcohol-serving venues.

Maddy summarySB 1774 creates a criminal offense for school employees who intentionally bully or cyberbully students, directly affecting teachers and staff in Tennessee schools. The bill clarifies that school employees found to have committed bullying, harassment, or cyberbullying must face dismissal or suspension, with new definitions specifying "school employee" to include all public and private school staff. Key provisions include expanding the legal definition of bullying to cover acts disrupting education, defining "victim" as students targeted by staff, and adding automatic disciplinary consequences for violations. The law applies to all school employees and takes effect July 1, 2026, for acts occurring on or after that date.

Maddy summarySB 1665 amends Tennessee law to explicitly include "honorifics" (such as "Mx." or "Dr.") alongside names and pronouns in prohibitions against requiring students, teachers, state employees, or contractors to use or provide specific identifiers. The bill updates multiple sections of the Tennessee Code (including education, employment, and contractor regulations) to replace phrases like "names and pronouns" with "names, pronouns, and honorifics." This change means state entities cannot mandate the use of specific honorifics, just as they cannot mandate preferred names or pronouns. The law affects all public education staff, state workers, and state contractors in Tennessee.

Maddy summarySB 1952 requires Tennessee local governments (such as cities or counties) to comply with court orders regarding "unlawful sanctuary policies" within 120 days of the court's ruling. It amends Tennessee Code § 7-68-104(d) by removing a reference to a 90-day compliance period, establishing the new 120-day deadline. The bill does not create new immigration policies but mandates local governments to follow court decisions on existing sanctuary-related issues. This is pending legislation and has not yet become law.

Maddy summarySB 1225 requires businesses selling smoking paraphernalia (like pipes or vapor products) to prominently display a sign showing the legal age for purchasing these items. This replaces an older warning sign requirement that was permitted before April 22, 1994, and aligns with the Prevention of Youth Access to Tobacco, Smoking Hemp, and Vapor Products Act. The law applies to all retail locations distributing such products in Tennessee and takes effect on July 1, 2025. It directly affects businesses selling smoking-related items by mandating a specific, updated signage requirement.

Maddy summarySB 936 declares Tennessee's policy that "there are only two sexes, a biological male and a biological female," inserting this statement into multiple sections of state law (Tennessee Code Annotated Titles 1, 3-8). The bill does not create new regulations or funding but establishes this policy position within state government codes. It directly affects how state agencies and laws reference biological sex, though it does not change existing services or requirements for individuals. The bill is a policy declaration, not a substantive law altering public programs or individual rights.

Maddy summarySB 1741, the "Charlie Kirk Act," requires Tennessee's public universities to adopt and post two specific statements on their websites. First, it mandates that each institution incorporate the University of Chicago's free expression policy into its bylaws, including its core principles about protecting debate even when ideas are offensive. Second, it requires adoption of the 1967 University of Chicago Kalven Report on universities' role in political action, emphasizing that institutions should not take collective political positions. The bill applies directly to all public higher education institutions in Tennessee and imposes legal remedies (like injunctions) for noncompliance.

Maddy summarySB 1989 protects parents and legal guardians who raise children consistent with their biological sex - such as using gender-specific pronouns or making medical decisions based on biological sex - from being penalized in child welfare or custody cases. It specifically prohibits courts from treating such actions as child abuse, neglect, or grounds for removing a child, and bars these decisions from being considered negative factors in custody determinations. The bill amends Tennessee laws covering child welfare (TCA Title 37), criminal penalties (TCA Title 39), and family court procedures (TCA Title 36). It does not restrict other lawful parental decisions or override existing child protection laws.

Maddy summarySB 1663, titled the "Recognizing Judea and Samaria Act," is a symbolic resolution that declares Tennessee's recognition of Judea and Samaria as the historically accurate names for the region. The bill states findings that emphasize the biblical and historical significance of the area to Jewish identity, including references to religious texts and historical events. It does not create new laws, impose requirements, or affect any individuals or entities, as it is purely declarative. The resolution aims to affirm the state's position on the region's naming and historical context without altering policy or legal obligations.