Sen. London Lamar

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (not a law) honoring Betina Hunt, a Memphis-based community leader, on Women's Day on the Hill. It recognizes her work founding the You First Community Foundation (which supports justice-impacted women and addresses period poverty), her businesses (BU Beauty & Apparel, Premier Bookkeeping), and her advocacy for menstrual health policies. The resolution has no policy impact - it simply expresses the Tennessee Senate’s appreciation for her contributions to Tennessee. It passed unanimously (32-0) and was signed by the Senate Speaker on March 4, 2025.

Maddy summarySJR 84 is a ceremonial resolution honoring Leadership Preparatory Charter School in Memphis for receiving the 2024 Charter Champion Award for School of the Year from the Tennessee Charter School Center. It recognizes the school's academic success, particularly for economically disadvantaged students, noting its data-driven approach and performance above state averages in English and math. The resolution does not create new laws, policies, or funding - it solely offers formal commendation to the school's administration, faculty, staff, and students. This symbolic recognition was passed by both legislative chambers and signed by the governor in March 2025.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 23 is a ceremonial resolution honoring Dr. Carol Rawls Johnson Dean, a retired education leader and former Interim President of LeMoyne-Owen College, on Women's Day on the Hill. It recognizes her decades-long career as a teacher, principal, superintendent, and national education advocate - including awards like Minnesota Superintendent of the Year and the Richard R. Green Award. The resolution has no policy impact; it is purely symbolic, celebrating her contributions to education in Tennessee and nationally. The Senate unanimously adopted it (32-0) and signed it into formal recognition.

Maddy summarySB 1254 requires the Tennessee state to negotiate in good faith for the purchase of the Cotton Museum in Memphis, pending approval by the state building commission. If approved, management and control of the museum would transfer to the state museum system, specifically under the Douglas Henry state museum commission and the Tennessee Historical Commission. The bill does not authorize funding for this purchase - it requires separate legislative appropriations. This legislation directly affects the Cotton Museum in Memphis and state agencies managing historic sites, with the goal of integrating the museum into the state's official museum network by July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 524 would have increased the base annual salary for Tennessee General Assembly members to $48,999 starting with the 115th General Assembly, raised annual office expenses to $2,000, and boosted per diem reimbursement by 25%. It also established a mechanism to adjust future salaries based on average state employee pay increases, effective after the 2026 election. The bill was introduced in 2025 but withdrawn on February 20, 2025, before becoming law. It directly affected all state legislators serving in the General Assembly.

Maddy summarySB 1118, which was withdrawn on February 20, 2025, would have amended Tennessee law to lower the minimum age for free tuition at state colleges and universities from 65 to 62 years. It also expanded the list of institutions where disabled individuals and certain age groups cannot audit or enroll without fees to include law schools and veterinary schools. The bill applied to the 2025-2026 academic year and beyond, amending Tennessee Code Annotated Title 49, Section 49-7-113. As withdrawn, it did not become law.

Maddy summarySB 1117, which was withdrawn on February 20, 2025, would have required Tennessee court clerks to compile and submit monthly reports of all criminal fines and fees assessed by their courts. The reports would have included specific details like case numbers, amounts, payment status, and defendant demographics. The Administrative Office of the Courts would have been mandated to create a public database and searchable website compiling these reports, plus provide annual summaries to state leaders. This bill aimed to increase transparency around criminal justice financial obligations but did not advance beyond committee referral.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial Senate resolution (SR 15), not a bill with policy changes. It formally recognizes Dr. Nakeisha Owens-Griffin for her 27+ years of service in Tennessee education, including roles as a teacher, adjunct professor, and education consultant. The resolution specifically highlights her work supporting foster youth through initiatives like Operation Sleep and Snacks, her advocacy for equitable resources, and her leadership in community organizations. Passed unanimously (32-0) by the Tennessee Senate on February 20, 2025, it has no legal effect but serves as a formal expression of appreciation.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 14 formally recognizes the Alpha Alpha Gamma Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority for its community service since 2018. The resolution highlights the chapter's work providing food to children in Memphis schools, supporting seniors through its "Blankets and Blessings" program, participating in environmental initiatives like the Tennessee Adopt-A-Highway Program, and registering over 82 voters in Shelby County. This ceremonial resolution does not create new laws or policies but serves as a formal acknowledgment of the sorority's contributions to community well-being and civic engagement. It was unanimously adopted by the Tennessee Senate on February 20, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1093 would extend the termination date for Tennessee's doula services advisory committee from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 2027. This procedural bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 63, Section 63-15-104(f), to update the committee's expiration date without changing any substantive health care policies. The committee, which advises on doula services and maternal health, would continue its work for an additional year under this extension. The change affects only the committee's operational timeline and does not alter funding, regulations, or public health programs.