Sen. Steve Southerland

Maddy summaryThis resolution honors Melissa Batson, a Greeneville City Schools administrator, for being named Supervisor of the Year by Greeneville City Schools. It recognizes her role as chief human resources officer and her dedication to education, including her work supporting students, teachers, and staff. The Tennessee General Assembly passed the resolution unanimously to formally commend her professional achievements. As a commemorative resolution, it has no legal effect but serves as a public expression of recognition.

Maddy summarySJR 673 is a ceremonial resolution honoring Brandy Rambo, a teacher at Hal Henard Elementary School in Greeneville City Schools, for being selected as the 2026 Teacher of the Year for Pre-K-4 grades. It recognizes her dedication to education, her impact on students, and her professional excellence through symbolic legislative acknowledgment. The resolution has no legal effect or policy changes - it is purely a formal expression of appreciation from the Tennessee General Assembly. The resolution passed unanimously and was signed by both chambers in February 2026.

Maddy summarySJR 674 is a ceremonial resolution honoring Wendy Hansard, a Greeneville Middle School teacher selected as Greeneville City Schools' Teacher of the Year for Grades 5-8. It formally recognizes her dedication, professional excellence, and positive impact on students in the Greeneville City Schools district. The resolution has no binding effect or policy changes - it simply expresses legislative appreciation for her work. It was passed unanimously by both chambers and is now awaiting the Governor's signature.

Maddy summarySJR 680 is a ceremonial resolution honoring Will Johnson, a student at Chuckey-Doak High School in Tennessee, for being named to the All-Region 1-3A Academic Team. It recognizes his academic achievements alongside athletic involvement, stating he "epitomizes all that is good in today's student athlete." The resolution has no policy impact - it is a symbolic gesture of praise from the Tennessee General Assembly with no binding effect or direct impact on laws or regulations. It passed unanimously in both chambers and is now awaiting the Governor's formal acknowledgment.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SJR 671) honors Dr. Lana Luttrell, principal of Tusculum View Elementary School in Greeneville City Schools, for being named Principal of the Year. It recognizes her dedication to student success, academic excellence, and community collaboration in Greeneville. The Tennessee General Assembly unanimously passed the resolution to commend her service and leadership, with both chambers voting 92-0 in favor. As a ceremonial resolution, it does not create new law but formally acknowledges her professional achievements.

Maddy summarySJR 676 is a ceremonial resolution recognizing Jessica Howard for being named the 2025 Silver Angels Champion. It honors her work with Silver Angels, a Tennessee organization providing non-medical in-home care for seniors, and highlights her 2023 and 2025 awards for leadership and embodying the group's core values. The resolution has no policy impact - it solely offers symbolic recognition through a formal commendation by the Tennessee General Assembly. It passed unanimously in both chambers and was transmitted to the governor for signature.

Maddy summarySJR 675 is a commemorative resolution passed by the Tennessee General Assembly to honor Andrew Johnson Bank on its 50th anniversary. The resolution recognizes the bank's founding in 1975, its growth from $10 million in assets to over $600 million, and its community-focused service across four Tennessee counties. It expresses the Assembly's congratulations on the bank's history, expansion to eight locations, and commitment to "Helping Friends is Our Business" without creating any new laws or obligations.

Maddy summarySB 966 expands retirement benefits for Tennessee public employees by allowing them to count peacetime military service toward their retirement credits. It directly affects current and retired members of the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS) who served in the U.S. military after October 15, 1940, during peacetime. The bill establishes a 1:1 credit system (one day of retirement credit for each day of military service) requiring a 9% employee contribution based on earnable compensation at the time of claim or employment termination. This change takes effect July 1, 2025, and modifies existing rules to include previously excluded peacetime service periods.

Maddy summarySB 2704 changes Morristown's city council election system by eliminating ward-based voting and requiring all six council positions to be elected citywide ("at-large") by all voters. It reassigns current council members to numbered seats (1-6) based on their previous ward representation and extends their terms until 2026 or 2028 elections, depending on their last election year. The bill requires approval by a two-thirds vote of Morristown's city council to take effect.

Maddy summarySB 2600 (Tennessee) changes annexation rules by allowing municipalities to annex land outside their current urban growth boundaries, provided the land isn't already within another municipality's boundary. This directly affects local governments and property owners in areas targeted for annexation, removing a prior requirement that annexed territory must be entirely within the municipality's growth boundary. Key provisions amend Tennessee Code sections 6-51-104, 6-51-120, and add new language to 6-58-111, streamlining the process for annexing land in a county's planned growth or rural areas without needing to update a growth plan. The bill takes effect upon becoming law.