Sen. Bobby Harshbarger

Maddy summarySB 1123 establishes a statewide Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) Coordinator position to provide training, oversight, and technical assistance to local sexual assault response teams across Tennessee. The coordinator, employed by the Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence, will ensure local teams comply with standards and access necessary resources. The role requires an annual report to the legislature on program effectiveness, training efforts, and service gaps. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and is funded through state grants to the Tennessee Coalition.

Maddy summarySB 470, the "Protecting Tennessee Schools and Events Act," creates a state grant program to provide portable walk-through metal detectors for school districts in Tennessee’s economically distressed or at-risk counties. The bill funds up to $48,000 per school district (covering three detectors at $16,000 each) for purchase, installation, and staff training, specifically targeting districts lacking resources for security equipment. Detectors must meet portability standards (modular design, IP54 rating) and be used during school hours and after-school events like athletic competitions. The program, administered by the Tennessee Department of Education, aims to address safety resource gaps in vulnerable communities through a pilot initiative starting July 2025.

Maddy summarySB 2578 designates the residential burn building at the Tennessee Fire Services and Codes Enforcement Academy as the "Charles 'Charlie' J. Lewis Residential Burn Building" to honor his service to the firefighting community. The bill requires the academy to install signs or markers identifying the building with this name using existing resources. This is a commemorative measure with no new funding or policy changes, solely recognizing an individual's legacy within the state's firefighting community.

Maddy summarySB 2018 amends Tennessee law to streamline how retirement system records are handled in legal cases. It requires the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS) to provide copies of member records within 14 days of a legal request, instead of original documents, accompanied by a custodian's affidavit verifying accuracy. These copies and affidavits are then admissible as evidence in court, reducing the need for staff to personally testify unless a genuine dispute arises about record accuracy. The bill directly affects TCRS employees, retirees, and individuals involved in legal disputes over retirement benefits.

Maddy summarySB 350 prohibits Tennessee landlords from banning tenants from lawfully possessing, carrying, or storing firearms, firearm parts, or ammunition in their leased homes, apartments, or businesses, or in vehicles parked on landlord-controlled property. It directly affects tenants and landlords statewide, requiring lease agreements to comply with this rule starting July 1, 2025, with existing leases needing amendment by July 1, 2026. The bill voids any lease terms conflicting with this prohibition after July 1, 2025, and allows tenants to sue landlords for damages if they violate the law. It applies to all residential leases governed by Tennessee Code Annotated Title 66.

Maddy summarySJR 592 designates March 12, 2026, as "Be the One to End Suicide Day" in Tennessee to honor the American Legion's suicide prevention initiatives. The resolution urges public and private entities across Tennessee's 95 counties to hold annual suicide prevention training, promote the 988 suicide hotline, and display awareness messaging. It is a ceremonial resolution focused on raising awareness, not creating new laws or funding.

Maddy summarySB 1721 requires state executive branch employees (such as department staff or governors' liaisons) to swear under oath that their testimony before legislative committees or their submitted fiscal documentation is truthful. If false statements are suspected, committee chairs or fiscal directors must notify legislative leaders, who may refer cases to district attorneys for potential perjury charges (classified as a Class C misdemeanor). The bill applies to all state departments and committees handling legislative measures or fiscal notes, directly affecting how executive branch staff provide information to lawmakers. It amends Tennessee Code Sections 3-3-121, 39-16-702, and related titles to establish this requirement and enforcement process. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 2035 requires air medical communication specialists working for certain Tennessee flight programs to obtain certification within six months of starting their job. Specifically, they must be certified by either the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS) or the International Association of Medical Transport Communication Specialists. This applies to flight programs accredited by CAMTS under its current or future standards, or those using the IATCS certification pathway. The bill creates a new requirement for these specialists' qualifications, directly affecting accredited air medical transport programs in Tennessee. It takes effect upon becoming law.

Maddy summarySB 1680 amends Tennessee law to require the Division of Property Assessments to supervise and direct all county reappraisal and revaluation programs. This change directly affects county assessors and local governments responsible for property valuation. The bill replaces the previous language with a clearer mandate for the division's oversight role, removing any restriction related to state funding costs. The key provision shifts authority to ensure consistent statewide property valuation practices.

Maddy summarySB 739 extends the consumer cancellation period for unsolicited products or services from 30 to 45 days. It directly affects Tennessee residents who receive unexpected bills for subscriptions, memberships, or products purchased via negotiable instruments (like checks) without prior consent. The bill amends Tennessee Code § 47-18-123(a) to give consumers more time to cancel or return items after receiving their first bill. This change applies to transactions initiated through unsolicited offers, providing a 15-day extension for cancellation rights. The bill is currently pending before the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee.