Rep. John Ragan

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the operating authority of the Tennessee Department of General Services until June 30, 2026. It achieves this by amending state statutes to explicitly include the department in the list of agencies with a sunset provision. The change ensures the department continues to function without interruption for another two years.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a process for the Tennessee Higher Education Commission to temporarily take over the management of state universities if their local governing boards are dissolved under state review laws. Under the new rules, the Commission would assume all powers and duties of the dissolved board at the end of the day in the year the board ceases to exist, while existing contracts and university policies remain unchanged. The legislation includes a conflict of interest provision that allows the Governor to transfer specific duties to another agency if the Commission cannot perform them without a conflict, requiring a written report to the legislature within 30 days. Once a new local board is reconstituted, the Commission must hand over control back to the newly formed board, and all previously adopted rules and policies continue in effect.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public universities in Tennessee to create specific plans that protect their academic research from foreign influence. To achieve this, each institution must appoint a research security officer responsible for handling sensitive information and monitoring potential foreign interference. The law also mandates that these security plans follow federal rules to ensure schools keep their eligibility for government funding. Additionally, the state's university and community college systems can choose to share a single security officer across multiple campuses.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new criminal offense for any organization receiving public funds to knowingly provide meeting spaces or platforms to designated terrorist groups. The law specifically prohibits these publicly funded entities from allowing such groups to use their resources for soliciting support, recruiting members, encouraging violence, or promoting divisive concepts. If violated, the entity faces a Class E felony charge punishable by a fine of up to $3,000 per offense. The legislation amends existing state codes to clarify these restrictions and aligns related legal references to the new provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Tennessee state codes to allow the Department of Correction to submit certain reports electronically. It directly affects the administrative procedures of the state correctional system by adding a specific provision to the relevant statutes. The change removes a requirement for physical submission of reports, streamlining how the department handles official documentation. This legislative update simplifies internal reporting processes without altering the core operations of inmate care or facility management.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the term of the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth until June 30, 2028. It achieves this by amending state laws to officially recognize the commission's creation and update the expiration date in the relevant code sections. The change ensures the group continues to operate without interruption until the new deadline.