Sen. Steve Southerland

Maddy summaryThis bill is a Senate Joint Resolution that formally honors Tammy Leonard, a teacher at Fairview-Marguerite Elementary School in Hamblen County, for being selected as the February 2026 Teacher of the Month. The resolution recognizes her dedication to education and her positive influence on students, describing her as an inspirational educator who motivates learners to achieve their full potential. The document serves as an official commendation from the Tennessee General Assembly, acknowledging her professional excellence and commitment to public service. No new laws or policies are created by this measure; it functions solely as a ceremonial recognition of an individual's achievements.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a Senate Joint Resolution that formally honors the Gatlinburg-Pittman Junior High School Lady Highlanders girls' basketball team for winning the 2025-2026 TMSAA Class AA state championship. The resolution recognizes the team's 30-3 season, their 15-game winning streak, and their victories in district, regional, and sectional tournaments before defeating E.O. Coffman in the state final. It also acknowledges the coaching leadership of Alex Bowers and the support provided by the team's families and community members. This measure serves as a commemorative tribute rather than establishing new policies or regulations.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Joint Resolution honors the Erwin Utilities Authority in Unicoi County for receiving the 2025 Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence Level 4 Award. The resolution formally recognizes the utility's commitment to superior service and operational excellence as demonstrated through the nationally recognized Baldrige Excellence Framework. It does not change laws or create new policies but serves as a ceremonial acknowledgment of the organization's achievements in safety, efficiency, and community service.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a Senate Joint Resolution that formally honors and congratulates Jamar Livingston, a basketball player at Walters State Community College, for being named to the All-TCCAA First Team. The resolution recognizes his athletic achievements, including ranking fourth in the conference in points per game, and acknowledges his character as a student athlete. It does not create any new laws or change existing policies but serves as a ceremonial gesture to celebrate his accomplishments. The resolution will be presented to Livingston as a formal commendation from the Tennessee General Assembly.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a Senate Joint Resolution that formally honors and commends the South Greene High School yearbook staff for their recent awards at the Tennessee High School Press Association ceremony. The resolution recognizes the team's achievements, including their yearbook being named an All-Tennessee Yearbook and winning third place for Best Yearbook Overall, as well as individual honors for several students. It serves as an official acknowledgment of the students' work in photography, writing, design, and storytelling, expressing the General Assembly's pride in their accomplishments.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a Senate Joint Resolution that formally honors and congratulates Wyatt Epley, an 11-year-old student athlete from Newport Grammar School, for winning the Tennessee AAU wrestling championship in the 12-and-under, 140-pound weight class. The resolution recognizes Epley's athletic achievements, including his gold medal performance at the Williamson County Ag Expo Park, and acknowledges the support of his family during his competition journey. As a commemorative measure, the General Assembly extends official congratulations and wishes for Epley's future success without creating any new laws or policy changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a Senate Joint Resolution that formally honors Jasmin Coleman, head coach of the Walters State Community College women's basketball team, for being named the 2025-2026 TCCAA Coach of the Year. The resolution recognizes her fifth award in six years, noting that her team achieved a perfect 20-0 record in regular season play, marking the first time the program has finished unblemished since 2018-2019. The document serves as a ceremonial acknowledgment of her leadership and contributions to the program rather than establishing new laws or policy requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill honors Maliyah Glasper of Gatlinburg-Pittman High School for being named the 2026 TSSAA Class 2A Miss Basketball. The resolution recognizes her outstanding performance, academic record, and character as a student athlete during the 2025-2026 season. It formally congratulates her on receiving this statewide award and wishes her continued success in her basketball career at Tennessee Technological University. The measure is a ceremonial recognition with no policy changes or budgetary impact.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a Senate Joint Resolution that formally congratulates the Walters State Community College women's basketball team on winning the TCCAA/Region 7 Championship. The resolution honors the team's achievement by recognizing their perfect 20-0 regular season record and their advancement to the NJCAA Division I Basketball Tournament for the second consecutive year. It specifically acknowledges standout performances by several players, including Nyjah Gibbs, Terryauna Griffin, and Malon Smith, who led the team to victory with an 85-42 win over Columbia State. The measure serves as a ceremonial tribute from the Tennessee General Assembly to the student athletes and does not create any new laws or funding.

Maddy summarySB 2599 would allow trained school employees (designated by the principal and completing specific training) to conduct physical searches of students or searches of vehicles, lockers, or other storage areas in schools under certain circumstances. It changes the requirement for notifying parents about threats by limiting it to only credible threats of violence or disruptive behavior that the school district determines through its assessment process - not all reported threats. School districts must notify parents within 48 hours for these credible threats and report quarterly on how many such threats required notification. The bill also clarifies that reports to school resource officers alone don’t count as credible threat determinations requiring notification.