Sen. Becky Massey

Maddy summarySB 613, a proposed Tennessee bill, would have allowed individuals convicted of driving under the influence (DUI) to have their criminal records expunged after 20 years from completing their sentence, provided they had no other criminal convictions. It required petitioners to pay a $50 fee, with the funds directed to county alcohol, drug, and mental health treatment programs. The bill amended Tennessee expungement law (TCA Title 40, Chapter 32) to extend the waiting period for DUI convictions from 10 to 20 years and added the fee requirement. The bill was introduced on January 31, 2025, but was withdrawn on February 4, 2025, and did not become law.

Maddy summarySJR 22 is a commemorative resolution honoring individuals and organizations that assisted East Tennessee residents during Hurricane Helene's 2024 flooding. It specifically recognizes first responders, healthcare workers, government agencies, volunteers, and community groups who provided aid during the disaster that caused 17 fatalities and widespread damage across 11 counties. The resolution expresses formal gratitude for their "heroic efforts" and humanitarian support without creating new laws or funding mechanisms. As a procedural resolution, it has no direct policy impact and serves solely to acknowledge community resilience and aid.

Maddy summarySB 173 requires Tennessee's Department of Transportation to submit an annual report to specific legislative committees by March 15 each year, starting in 2026. The report must include data on placards issued to manufactured home transporters and details about unsafe or erratic driving incidents reported to the department using the phone number on those placards. This procedural bill directly affects the Department of Transportation and the House and Senate transportation committees by establishing a regular reporting requirement for transparency. It does not change existing laws about manufactured homes but mandates data collection on transporter safety.

Maddy summarySJR 8 is a ceremonial resolution honoring the University of Tennessee Volunteers baseball team for winning the 2024 NCAA Men's College World Series championship. It formally recognizes their historic 60-13 season, first national title in program history, and five players who each hit 20+ home runs. The resolution has no legal effect beyond expressing legislative praise for the team, head coach Tony Vitello, and supporting staff.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Tennessee transportation laws to require officials to report any changes made to project plans alongside their initial reports. It directly affects state agencies responsible for managing highway and bridge construction projects. The key provision adds specific language to ensure that all modifications to project orders are formally documented and communicated. This change aims to improve transparency in how transportation infrastructure projects are adjusted during their development.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes a specific requirement from Tennessee's telemedicine laws that previously mandated an in-person meeting within 16 months before a virtual visit could be considered part of an established doctor-patient relationship. By deleting this rule, the legislation allows healthcare providers to offer telemedicine services to patients without first requiring a face-to-face appointment, thereby expanding access to remote care. The change directly affects doctors, clinics, and patients by simplifying the rules for conducting virtual medical consultations.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Ben Kredich Act, creates a legal presumption that a driver's ability to operate a vehicle was impaired if they received an opioid overdose medication within the last 24 hours. It applies to individuals charged with driving under the influence of controlled substances and requires first responders to inform patients about driving risks after administering such medication. The law also updates a separate deadline for submitting certain documents from fifteen calendar days to fifteen business days. These changes take effect on July 1, 2024, and modify existing state codes related to criminal offenses and administrative procedures.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows charitable nonprofit organizations in Knox County to claim property tax exemptions for replacement homes for the aged that they acquire to replace their existing exempt properties. The law applies specifically to counties with a population between 478,900 and 479,000 based on the 2020 census, which includes Knox County, and permits these organizations to file for exemption up to three years before the application date. Additionally, the bill requires the state to refund any property taxes collected on the replacement property before the law took effect.

Maddy summaryThis enacted law, known as the Protect Tennessee Minors Act, requires websites containing at least 10% of content deemed harmful to minors to verify the age of visitors before they can access that material. The bill defines harmful content as sexually explicit material lacking serious value for minors and mandates that websites use specific methods, such as photo matching or transactional data checks, to confirm users are at least 18 years old. Owners of these sites must retain anonymized records proving they used these verification methods, and failure to comply with these age-verification or data-keeping rules is classified as a Class C felony. The requirements apply to individuals and commercial entities publishing such content online but include exemptions for news-gathering organizations and their employees.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a formal reporting system for financial exploitation of elderly and vulnerable adults in Tennessee. It allows financial service providers and their employees to report suspected abuse to the state's Trustee and Bond Commissioner office. The law also requires the department to display a toll-free hotline for these reports on its website. By amending several state codes, the bill establishes a clear process for institutions to alert authorities when they suspect financial harm against older adults.