Sen. Richard Briggs

Maddy summarySB 1840, known as "Quinton's Law," extends the statute of limitations for wrongful death lawsuits in Tennessee under specific conditions. It adds a three-year deadline for filing such claims if criminal charges are filed within two years by law enforcement, a district attorney, or a grand jury related to the same incident. This change directly affects families seeking civil remedies when criminal proceedings are active for the death. The law applies to causes of action accruing on or after July 1, 2026, and modifies existing time limits for other civil actions in Titles 28, 39, and 40 of Tennessee Code.

Maddy summarySB 1761 amends Tennessee law to extend the required retention period for hemp regulatory records from five to ten years. The bill directly affects the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, which must now maintain all records it creates or receives related to hemp regulation for the longer period. This change modifies Section 43-27-102(c) of the Tennessee Code, specifically updating the record retention timeframe without altering hemp cultivation or licensing rules. The bill is procedural, focusing solely on administrative record-keeping requirements.

Maddy summarySB 1619 requires Tennessee political parties to submit copies of their adopted rules or rule amendments to state election officials (the Secretary of State and Coordinator of Elections) within 15 days of adoption, instead of the current 30-day deadline. This change directly affects all political parties operating in Tennessee, including major parties and minor parties. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2, specifically Section 2-1-114, to shorten the filing timeline. The policy change focuses on accelerating the public availability of party rules by reducing the submission window.

Maddy summarySB 1922 requires all Tennessee state and local government employers (including counties, cities, schools, and agencies) to verify new hires' work authorization using the federal E-Verify program before employment, starting July 1, 2026. It mandates employers to maintain E-Verify documentation for each employee during their employment. Noncompliant local governments face enforcement actions by the Attorney General, including withholding all state funds allocated to them via grants, contracts, or statutes. The bill directly affects public sector employers and aims to ensure compliance with federal work authorization requirements through state-level enforcement.

Maddy summarySB 1691 amends Tennessee law to allow the executive director of the Bureau of Ethics and Campaign Finance or an attorney employed by that bureau to conduct training for bureau members and the Tennessee Ethics Commission. The bill updates two sections of state code (TCA 2-10-214 and 3-6-116) to include these staff members as authorized trainers. This is a procedural change affecting only the internal operations of the ethics oversight body, with no direct impact on voters, candidates, or campaign finance rules.

Maddy summarySB 2591 prohibits county government employees from serving on their county's legislative body (like a commission). It directly affects current and future county employees who might seek such positions. The bill amends state law to disqualify employees from holding these roles, with a temporary exception allowing current employees to finish their terms. It also removes existing exceptions that allowed employees to serve under certain local ordinances and deletes a redundant section. This is a policy change to prevent conflicts of interest between county employees and their governing bodies.

Maddy summarySB 2277 exempts the retail sale of "generic food products" (defined as store-brand foods produced by third parties for grocery retailers) from Tennessee's 4% food sales tax. This directly affects consumers purchasing store-brand generic groceries and the retailers selling them, as these items will no longer incur the tax. The bill amends Tennessee's tax code to create this specific exemption, excluding such products from the standard food tax rate. The change takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 1842 reduces the annual professional privilege tax for attorneys in Tennessee from $400 to $200 per year. This change directly affects licensed attorneys who pay the tax under Tennessee Code §67-4-1702(1) or (2), applying to tax years beginning on or after June 1, 2027. The bill amends Tennessee Code Title 67, Chapter 4, Part 17, to update the tax rate while maintaining the June 1 payment deadline. The policy change simplifies the tax burden for attorneys without altering the filing requirements or other tax categories.

Maddy summarySB 1626 requires Tennessee health insurance plans to cover clinical genetic testing for inherited cancer risks (for individuals with personal or family cancer history) and evidence-based cancer imaging (for high-risk individuals), as recommended by healthcare providers or National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines. This applies to all health insurers in Tennessee, directly affecting patients seeking these specific cancer prevention and early detection services. The law mandates that this coverage must be provided without cost-sharing (no deductibles, copays, or coinsurance). The requirement takes effect for plans issued, amended, or renewed on or after July 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 397 repeals a $400 annual privilege tax for licensed professionals in Tennessee, effective for tax years beginning June 1, 2026, and later. It directly affects individuals licensed in professions subject to this tax, such as lawyers, accountants, and engineers. The bill replaces the current $400 tax rate with a $0 rate for tax years ending after May 31, 2026, while ensuring no tax is due for the 2026-2027 tax period. It does not affect taxes owed for years ending before June 1, 2026.