Sen. Paul Rose

Maddy summarySB 398 prohibits state regulatory and health-related boards from excluding individuals or discriminating based on race, color, ethnicity, or national origin. It bans boards from using race-based policies like affirmative action, racial preferences, or quotas in membership decisions and forbids using aggregated racial data for such purposes. The bill creates a private legal remedy allowing individuals to sue boards or their staff for violations, with a minimum $4,000 statutory damages award plus potential compensatory and punitive damages. This applies to all state boards covered under Titles 62 and 63 of Tennessee Code.

Maddy summarySB 378, the "Tennessee Critical Infrastructure Protection Act," prohibits foreign adversaries from accessing or controlling Tennessee's critical infrastructure - including power grids, water systems, telecommunications, and transportation networks - by banning agreements that would allow such access. It directly affects companies and government entities managing these systems, requiring them to certify their access, conduct background checks on employees with infrastructure access, and ban foreign nationals from adversary nations. Exceptions are permitted only if no alternative exists, the contract is pre-approved by the state, and the risk of non-approval outweighs the security threat. The bill establishes new registration requirements, fees, and security protocols to prevent foreign interference in essential state infrastructure.

Maddy summarySB 597 requires Tennessee's health commissioner to annually report by January 15 to the chairs of the House health committee and Senate health and welfare committee on progress toward the state's strategy for adult emergency oral health care. The report must detail how public and private resources are being used to provide this care. This bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 68, and takes effect July 1, 2025. It directly affects the commissioner of health and the specified legislative committees.

Maddy summarySB 934 prohibits public schools and colleges in Tennessee from discriminating against students or employees based on race, ethnicity, religion, disability, or other protected characteristics. It requires institutions to address antisemitic harassment or discrimination identically to racial discrimination, using the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism. The bill mandates that all public K-12 schools and colleges designate a Title VI coordinator to monitor antisemitism, investigate complaints, and report annually to the state legislature. It also clarifies that criticism of Israel is not antisemitic and ensures the law aligns with federal civil rights protections.

Maddy summarySB 935 amends Tennessee law to require the Department of Health to submit quarterly reports on abortion procedures and the disposition of aborted fetal tissue to two specific legislative committee chairs: the Senate Judiciary Committee chair and the House committee overseeing criminal justice. The reports must be filed on January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1 each year. This bill does not change abortion access or procedures but adds a reporting requirement for state health officials to these designated lawmakers. It is a procedural update to existing law (TCA § 39-15-203), focusing solely on transparency about abortion data.

Maddy summarySB 1229 modifies Tennessee's requirement for schools to notify athletic associations about students in foster care. It changes the deadline for local education agencies and public charter schools to submit compliance documentation from January 1 to March 1 each year. The bill also removes the existing requirement for the education department to annually report this information to legislative education committees. These changes affect schools and athletic associations by altering submission timelines and eliminating a reporting obligation. The bill focuses on administrative deadlines and reporting procedures without altering foster care notification rules.

Maddy summarySB 598 extends the annual reporting deadline for local governments with wind energy siting rules from January 1 to February 1, effective for reports due in 2026 and subsequent years. It directly affects Tennessee local governments that have adopted local regulations governing wind energy facility locations. The bill amends specific sections of Tennessee law (Titles 5, 6, 7, 13, 65, and 68) related to energy production to implement this deadline change. This adjustment provides local governments with an additional month to submit their required annual reports on wind energy siting compliance.

Maddy summarySB 570 removes an outdated requirement for the University of Memphis and its research partners in the Memphis Research Consortium to submit annual progress reports to the Tennessee General Assembly. This procedural bill eliminates a redundant administrative task from state law (specifically, Tennessee Code Annotated § 49-8-1401(c)), directly affecting the University of Memphis and its collaborators on the Memphis Research Consortium. The change simplifies reporting obligations without altering any substantive policies or funding.

Maddy summarySB 1126 modifies Tennessee's education law to expand the scope of individuals covered by pronoun-related provisions from "teachers and employees" to include "students" in public schools and local education agencies. It allows individuals to disregard a preferred pronoun if it conflicts with their biological sex and removes references to "students" in favor of "teacher, school employee, or student" throughout the law. The bill also adjusts civil liability protections, stating that someone cannot be held legally liable for refusing to use a pronoun inconsistent with biological sex, or for taking adverse employment or disciplinary action based on such refusal. These changes apply specifically to educational settings under Tennessee law.

Maddy summarySB 395 requires tire installers to properly adjust headlights when installing oversized tires on passenger vehicles or trucks under 10,000 lbs, or face a $250 Class B misdemeanor fine. It also prohibits installing such tires if they cause bumpers or frames to exceed height limits, with the same $250 penalty. The law directly affects businesses or individuals installing tires, mandating headlight adjustments and height compliance. Violations are limited to fines - no jail time or additional penalties are specified. This bill amends Tennessee vehicle safety laws to address risks from improper tire installations.