Sen. Bill Powers

Maddy summarySB 2450 allows Tennessee local governments (like cities and counties) to publish certain public notices online instead of in newspapers, starting July 1, 2027. Local governments must first adopt a policy and pass an ordinance detailing how electronic notices will be posted, ensuring they are free, accessible to all, and meet security and retention standards. The bill requires electronic notices to be available across common platforms without barriers, while maintaining newspaper publication for notices specifically mandated by law to be printed. Third-party websites hosting these notices may charge a reasonable fee for the service.

Maddy summarySB 2410 establishes Tennessee's Community Workforce Housing Innovation Pilot Program, administered by the Tennessee Housing Development Agency. The program provides loans for constructing or rehabilitating housing affordable to families earning no more than 150% of the area median income (adjusted for household size), prioritizing projects setting aside at least 80% of units for workforce housing and 50% specifically for essential services personnel (like teachers, first responders, and healthcare workers). It requires applicants to form public-private partnerships, meet minimum funding contribution thresholds (10% of costs or $2 million), and demonstrates innovative design or regulatory incentives. The agency must fund at least one project in each of Tennessee’s three grand divisions (East, Middle, West) by March 2027, with interest forgiveness available for projects meeting affordability and set-aside targets.

Maddy summaryTennessee's SB 1667 increases penalties for drivers without auto insurance. It raises the first-time coverage failure fee from $25 to $500 and imposes a $1,500 fee for a second or subsequent failure within three years, requiring registration suspension or revocation. The bill also bars uninsured drivers from claiming non-economic damages (like pain and suffering) in lawsuits arising from vehicle use. Fees collected are distributed to county clerks, the Department of Safety, and a dedicated uninsured motorist fund.

Maddy summarySB 1668 authorizes Tennessee municipalities and metropolitan governments to adopt tiered monetary penalties for repeat violations of the same local ordinance by the same person or business within a 12-month period. This bill amends state law (TCA Sections 6-54-306, 6-54-308, and 7-3-507) to allow local governments to create escalating fines through their own ordinances, without requiring state-level specification of penalty amounts. The policy change would take effect on July 1, 2026, applying to violations occurring on or after that date. It directly affects local governments seeking to strengthen enforcement and individuals/businesses with repeated ordinance violations.

Maddy summarySB 2442 extends the deadline for Tennessee municipalities to hold public hearings on petitions for central business improvement districts, changing the timeframe from 45 to 60 days. This affects local governments that receive valid petitions to establish these districts, which fund area-specific services like cleaning or marketing. The bill amends Tennessee Code Section 7-84-513 to implement this change, with no other policy provisions.

Maddy summarySB 2441 requires Tennessee's education commissioner to mandate the closure of virtual schools that consistently underperform, specifically those with "significantly below expectations" student achievement for three consecutive years (measured by TVAAS) or ranking in the bottom 10% of schools. It prohibits the same nonprofit or for-profit provider from operating any new virtual school in Tennessee for five years if their existing virtual school is closed due to poor academic performance. The bill also mandates that schools notify parents in writing within one week of closure, provide enrollment alternatives within 30 days, and ensure student records are transferred properly. These provisions directly affect virtual school operators, local education agencies, and students enrolled in underperforming virtual schools. The policy aims to enforce accountability for virtual school performance through mandatory closures and provider restrictions.

Maddy summarySB 1670 updates Tennessee state law to recognize the U.S. Space Force as a distinct military branch by adding it to existing definitions across multiple statutes. The bill amends 15 sections of the Tennessee Code - including provisions related to military personnel, veterans' benefits, and uniformed service - to explicitly include "space force" alongside other branches like the Army, Navy, and Air Force. This change ensures state agencies and programs (such as those handling military leave, vehicle registration for service members, and benefits eligibility) now formally encompass Space Force personnel. The bill does not alter rights or create new programs but aligns Tennessee's legal references with the federal establishment of the Space Force as a separate military branch.

Maddy summarySB 2447 would allow graduates of ABET ETAC-accredited four-year engineering technology programs to become licensed engineers in Tennessee, provided they meet specific requirements. To qualify, applicants must have at least eight years of progressive engineering experience under a licensed engineer, submit three professional references from licensed engineers in the state, and pass two exams administered by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (FE and PE). The bill amends Tennessee’s engineering registration laws (TCA Title 4 and Title 62, Chapter 2, Part 4) to create this pathway, directly affecting engineering technology graduates seeking licensure. It does not change existing requirements for traditional engineering degree holders.

Maddy summarySB 1817 ensures military-connected students in Tennessee can maintain educational continuity. It requires Local Education Agencies (LEAs) to accept enrollment documentation within 60 days of a student’s first enrollment or one year from a service member’s duty start, whichever is later. The bill mandates LEAs to uphold existing special education plans (like IEPs or 504 plans) when students enroll and allows high school students (grades 11-12) to remain in their school until graduation if their parent relocates due to military orders. This directly affects dependent children of service members and the schools serving them across Tennessee.

Maddy summarySB 1816 amends Tennessee Code § 57-3-101 to explicitly include "bottling distilled spirits" under the definition of "manufacture" for alcohol licensing purposes. This change directly affects businesses that bottle distilled spirits (like whiskey or vodka) by requiring them to obtain a manufacturing license, rather than a separate bottling permit. The bill updates the legal definition so that bottling is treated as part of the manufacturing process, aligning licensing requirements with distilling and brewing activities. It does not create new taxes or restrictions but clarifies regulatory oversight for bottled spirits. The bill is currently pending in the Senate State and Local Government Committee.