Sen. Paul Rose

Maddy summarySJR 353 is a ceremonial resolution honoring Dr. John Combs, superintendent of Tipton County Schools, for being named the 2025 Tennessee Coordinated School Health Superintendent of the Year by the Tennessee Department of Education. It recognizes his decades of service in education, including roles as superintendent since 2018, and his work advancing school health initiatives that support students' physical, emotional, and social well-being. The resolution, signed into law by the Governor on April 24, 2025, has no binding policy impact - it is purely a formal expression of commendation with no direct effect on legislation, funding, or regulations.

Maddy summarySB 374 requires Tennessee's Department of Children's Services to study the need for a new juvenile detention facility in the western Grand Division to address detention and treatment needs for local youth. The study must be completed by January 1, 2026, with findings and recommendations reported to specific legislative committees. This bill does not fund or mandate construction but directs the department to assess facility requirements. It affects juvenile justice operations in western Tennessee and the state's juvenile detention system. The bill amends multiple Tennessee Code sections related to juvenile justice but focuses solely on the study process.

Maddy summarySB 371 requires Tennessee law enforcement agencies to collect a biological specimen for DNA analysis from certain convicted offenders within 30 days of sentencing (or before release if incarceration is shorter than 30 days). It also mandates that agencies submit DNA from offenders who die in custody and were previously convicted of qualifying offenses, regardless of conviction date. This applies to individuals sentenced for felonies or specific misdemeanors, with specimens sent to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for analysis. The law, effective July 1, 2025, expands existing DNA collection protocols to cover both active and deceased offenders.

Maddy summarySB 600 allows Tennessee courts to distribute the "discharge from conditions of release" form electronically to law enforcement agencies instead of by mail. This affects courts (which must send the form when defendants are released from pretrial conditions) and law enforcement agencies (which receive it). The bill updates court procedures by authorizing electronic distribution through the administrative office of the courts, as specified in multiple code sections. It makes no substantive changes to release conditions or legal standards.

Maddy summarySB 504 names the desk at House chamber seat number 60 as the "Legislative Desk of Representative John J. Deberry, Jr." and requires the House chief clerk to install a commemorative plaque on that desk. The bill directly affects the Tennessee House of Representatives chamber by permanently recognizing a former representative's service. It does not change laws or policies but creates a physical tribute through naming and a plaque. This is a procedural, commemorative measure with no substantive policy impact.

Maddy summarySB 1252 modifies Tennessee school policies regarding pronoun usage in public schools and school districts. It expands the definition of individuals covered to include students alongside teachers and staff, stating that preferred pronouns may be disregarded if inconsistent with a person’s biological sex. The bill adjusts civil liability protections and adverse action rules, specifying that schools are not liable for refusing to use a preferred pronoun when it conflicts with biological sex. This directly affects students, teachers, and school employees in Tennessee public schools.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 44 honors Zelma Hall, the oldest living woman World War II veteran in Tennessee, on the occasion of her 108th birthday. The resolution recognizes her service in the U.S. Army during World War II (constructing beds for pilots at Aberdeen Proving Grounds), her subsequent careers as a cosmetologist and nurse, and her lifelong fostering of over 500 children. This symbolic resolution, adopted by the Tennessee Senate, celebrates her contributions without creating any legal obligations or policy changes.

Maddy summarySB 1443 amends local law for the Town of Mason, Tennessee, shifting certain duties from the mayor to an appointed town administrator. The bill requires the town board to appoint an administrator who will manage day-to-day operations, recommend service improvements, oversee employees, and handle property maintenance - tasks previously performed by the mayor. It also clarifies that ordinances no longer require the mayor’s signature to take effect and specifies that the mayor retains voting rights as a board member. The bill requires Mason’s legislative body to approve it by a two-thirds vote before taking effect. This is a procedural change to local government structure, directly affecting Mason’s town administration and governance process.

Maddy summarySB 372 is a procedural bill that requests the Tennessee Human Rights Commission to study whether healthcare providers face discrimination for refusing certain services (like abortion or contraception) based on religious, moral, or ethical beliefs. It does not change existing laws but directs the Commission to include findings from this study in its annual report. The bill directly affects healthcare providers who decline specific services for personal beliefs, though it does not impose new requirements on them. The bill was introduced in 2025 but later withdrawn and recalled from committee.

Maddy summarySB 4 (Senate Bill 4) requires the Tennessee Supreme Court to allocate annual funds for a security detail to transport and accompany the Chief Justice during all official state business. This bill directly affects the Chief Justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court by mandating security coverage for their official travel and duties. The key provision amends Tennessee Code Annotated Sections 16-3-103 and 17 (via Title 16 and Title 17) to include this security expense in the court's annual budget. The bill was introduced in November 2024, passed initial Senate readings in January 2025, but was withdrawn on February 13, 2025, and did not become law.