Sen. Jack Johnson

Maddy summarySB 2248 requires the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) and its director to provide written reports to the governor or the governor's designee during emergency conditions, in addition to any existing reporting methods. This directly affects TEMA and its director by mandating documented communication with the governor during crises. The bill amends Tennessee law to clarify that written reports must be submitted alongside other communication channels, ensuring all emergency updates are formally recorded. The change focuses on improving clarity and accountability in emergency management communications without altering substantive emergency response procedures.

Maddy summarySB 2237 requires local governments in Tennessee (municipalities, counties, or metropolitan counties) to review development applications, plans, or site inspections within 30 business days - either approving them or providing a consolidated written list of deficiencies. If deficiencies aren’t resolved after two written reports, the application must be denied with justification, and 50% of fees paid by the developer must be refunded. The bill also mandates that changes to contracts between local governments and developers/contractors must be in writing, and requires releasing financial bonds within 30 days of an independent inspector confirming project completion. These provisions directly affect developers, contractors, and local government agencies handling development projects.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows private parties or events to serve alcohol without a license but prohibits serving to anyone under 21. It requires event organizers to submit proof they took reasonable steps to verify attendees' ages (e.g., ID checks). The law directly affects private event hosts, venues, and organizers who serve alcohol at gatherings. It amends Tennessee’s alcohol regulations to add this age verification requirement for private events.

Maddy summarySB 2229 amends Tennessee's Prevailing Wage Act to require that workers on non-state construction contracts for public highway projects funded by federal or state highway funds receive the prevailing wage rate. This expands the existing requirement (which previously applied only to state contracts) to cover non-state contracts for projects on public highways using public funds. The bill also updates the process for determining prevailing wages by adding "the commissioner's designee" to the development procedure. These changes apply to contracts entered into, amended, or renewed on or after the effective date.

Maddy summarySB 2658 requires local government chief executives (like mayors or county commissioners) to lower all flags at public buildings to half-mast for at least one day whenever a first responder from a local emergency management agency dies in the line of duty. This procedural bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 58-2-126 and related titles to standardize this memorial practice across the state. It directly affects local government officials responsible for flag protocols at public facilities. The bill focuses solely on implementing a specific, respectful gesture for fallen responders, without altering broader policies or funding.

Maddy summarySB 2692 authorizes Tennessee to issue up to $438 million in state bonds to fund infrastructure projects. The funds would be allocated as $311 million to the Department of Finance and Administration for building improvements, equipment, and grants to local governments, and $127 million to the Department of Transportation for highway construction, bridge repairs, and related projects. The bonds would finance existing infrastructure needs like expanding buildings, repairing structures, and building roads, with proceeds distributed to state agencies and local entities. This procedural bill enables funding for current infrastructure priorities but does not create new policies or programs.

Maddy summarySB 2690 is a state budget bill that allocates funding for Tennessee's government operations during fiscal years 2025-2026. It provides specific funding amounts for all state branches, including $78.7 million for legislative operations (covering the General Assembly and support services), $259.2 million for judicial branches (including courts, legal aid, and court support), and $165.7 million for district attorneys' offices. The bill establishes the financial framework for state agencies to cover salaries, maintenance, debt service, and other essential functions without specifying new policy changes. This procedural budget measure directly affects all state departments, courts, and elected officials by determining their available funding for the next two fiscal years.

Maddy summarySB 2224 transfers oversight of land surveyors from the state board of examiners for land surveyors to the state board of examiners for architects and engineers. It removes the registration requirement for interior designers and adjusts how fees from contractor licensing are used, eliminating a specific funding mechanism tied to the Go Build Tennessee Act. The bill affects land surveyors, interior designers, and contractor licensing programs by changing regulatory oversight and fee allocation. These changes streamline occupational licensing by consolidating related boards and removing certain registration and funding requirements.

Maddy summarySB 2614 would allow Tennessee county legislative bodies to set the salary for the director of accounts and budgets in counties operating under the County Purchasing Law of 1957. The bill amends state law to explicitly permit county legislative bodies to establish this compensation level, overriding any conflicting existing provisions. This change directly affects county governments using the County Purchasing Law and the specific county employees holding the director of accounts and budgets position. The bill does not apply to counties not operating under this purchasing law.

Maddy summarySB 2227 removes a reporting requirement for Tennessee's Department of Health regarding remote access to the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) nutrition program. Specifically, it deletes subsection (b) of Tennessee Code Annotated Section 68-1-144, which had mandated a report due December 15, 2022, about remote use of the WIC program. The bill does not change WIC program operations or eligibility; it only eliminates an outdated administrative reporting obligation. This is a procedural change affecting the Department of Health's record-keeping, not the program's service delivery.