Sen. Becky Massey

Maddy summarySB 2613 requires convention center authorities in Tennessee to submit an annual financial audit to the municipality that authorized their organization by January 1 each year. This bill directly affects convention center authorities and the local governments that granted them permission to operate. The key provision amends Tennessee law to mandate this annual audit filing, replacing the previous requirement with a specific January 1 deadline. The change applies to all convention center authorities operating under Tennessee Code Annotated Title 7, Chapter 89. The bill focuses on transparency by requiring municipalities to receive these audits annually.

Maddy summarySB 1926 amends Tennessee law to allow the Board of Dentistry to provide its annual report to interested parties in electronic format instead of only physical copies. This change directly affects dental professionals, patients, and other stakeholders who access these reports. The bill modifies Section 63-5-106 of the Tennessee Code by adding that "Copies of the annual report may be provided in electronic format." It does not alter dental practice standards or create new regulations, only updating the reporting method for transparency. The bill is procedural and focuses solely on administrative accessibility.

Maddy summarySB 1692, the "Military Families Licensing Recognition Act," allows Tennessee to issue occupational licenses to active or retired military members and their spouses/dependents who hold valid licenses in another state or the military. It requires applicants to confirm they held a license in good standing for at least one year, meet education/experience standards, and have no disqualifying criminal records or pending complaints. Licensing boards must issue licenses within 10 business days after verifying the applicant’s claims under penalty of perjury. The law does not override state regulations or allow out-of-state work under interstate compacts, and licenses are valid only within Tennessee.

Maddy summarySB 1773 expands Tennessee's safe surrender options for newborns by adding 24-hour ambulance stations to the list of facilities where parents can anonymously leave infants without legal consequences. It updates existing law to include ambulance stations, police stations, emergency communications centers, and licensed nursing homes that maintain continuous 24-hour staffing by licensed providers. This change gives parents more accessible locations beyond hospitals and fire stations to safely surrender infants. The bill requires all listed facilities to have licensed staff available around the clock to accept surrenders.

Maddy summarySB 1493 creates a Class A felony offense for knowingly training AI systems that encourage suicide, criminal homicide, or develop emotional relationships with users. It specifically prohibits AI chatbots from simulating human appearance/voice, acting as a mental health professional, or prompting users to isolate from family or share sensitive information. The bill directly affects AI developers and companies creating chatbots that meet its definitions, excluding standard customer service bots, video game features, and basic voice assistants. Violators face criminal penalties and civil lawsuits allowing victims to seek $150,000 in liquidated damages or actual harm compensation.

Maddy summarySB 1921 requires Tennessee’s Department of Human Resources to annually transfer up to 30% of its TANF rainy-day fund to the child care and development fund (CCDF). This transfer must cover eligible families enrolled in the Smart Steps child care program who cannot access care due to insufficient CCDF funding. The bill also mandates the department to publicly report annual balances and expenditures for both the TANF and CCDF programs. It prohibits using these funds to replace existing child care funding and requires adherence to federal limits on transfers.

Maddy summarySB 2361 changes Tennessee's requirement for the Department of Education's Office of Early Learning to report on pre-kindergarten programs from annually to once every three years. The bill modifies reporting requirements in state code to mandate a triennial report covering the number, location, and types of pre-K providers, along with the number of at-risk children served. This directly affects the Office of Early Learning, reducing its reporting burden from yearly to every three years. The report must still be published online and sent to the governor and legislature, but the frequency of submission is the key change.

Maddy summarySB 1726 amends Tennessee law to extend the deadline for court clerks to forward certified copies of domestic violence convictions to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) from seven calendar days to seven business days. This change, specified in Section 40-39-402(d)(2) of the Tennessee Code Annotated, excludes weekends and holidays from the timeline. It directly affects court clerks who process these documents and the TBI, which uses the information for tracking domestic violence cases. The amendment provides a more practical deadline for clerks while maintaining timely reporting requirements.

Maddy summarySB 1492 requires Tennessee's Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (TACIR) to study all state crime stoppers programs. The study must examine data collection, funding stability, community partnerships, and law enforcement collaboration across all programs. TACIR will then recommend improvements, including better statewide coordination, increased public engagement, stronger community-law enforcement trust, and consistent program standards. The bill does not change existing laws but mandates a report to legislative committees by 2026, aiming to enhance program effectiveness.

Maddy summarySB 326 requires Tennessee's Department of Human Services to prominently display the toll-free phone number for reporting abuse, neglect, or exploitation of elderly or vulnerable adults on the homepage of its official website. This change ensures citizens can easily find the reporting number without navigating through multiple website pages. The bill amends several sections of Tennessee law (Titles 8, 38, 39, 45, 68, and 71) to mandate this website update. The policy directly affects the department's website management and improves public access to critical reporting resources.