Capitol Hill Update 4/25/2025

To the Citizens of Senate District 15

The 2025 Session of the 114th General Assembly adjourned on Tuesday, April 22nd. The General Assembly will reconvene at 12:00 noon on Tuesday, January 13, 2026.

This was a tremendously successful and efficient legislative session. Not only did we continue our tradition of passing a fiscally responsible balanced budget, we also made great strides on boosting our state’s infrastructure, increasing our commitment to public safety and demagnetizing our state from the scourge of illegal immigration. Building upon a special session focused on education and immigration, our state made it clear this session that Tennessee is leading the way in a nation committed to greatness.

I’m incredibly grateful to everyone from Senate District 15 who reached out to share their perspectives on various bills throughout this session. Your input guided my decisions and helped ensure your voice was heard in the Senate chamber.

While the legislative session has ended, my work on your behalf continues. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office with any questions, concerns, or ideas. It’s an honor to represent you in the Tennessee Senate.

All My Best,

Paul

LEGISLATIVE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 2025 SESSION:

Strong Public Schools

  • Increased investments in K-12 education by $439 million, including teacher pay raises and infrastructure improvements

Illegal Immigration

  • Created the Centralized Immigration Enforcement Division, within the Department of Safety, to coordinate with federal and local governments to implement immigration policies
  • Established the Immigration Enforcement Grant Program to aid local law enforcement
  • Created a felony offense for smuggling and trafficking illegal immigrants
  • Increased accountability for organizations housing criminal illegal immigrants

Agriculture

  • Established $25 million Farmland Preservation Fund landowners to put property in conservation easement
  • Dismantled DEI and Restored Merit-Based Systems
    Prohibited public and private colleges in Tennessee from using race or national origin to make admissions or scholarship decisions
  • Ended race-based selection for membership of state boards
  • Prohibited state and local governments and public universities from having DEI departments or hiring practices

Caring for Communities and Infrastructure

  • Added $1 Billion to the road fund to help address the $30 billion backlog
  • Redirected tire sales tax revenues from General Fund to TDOT
  • Provided $516 million for Hurricane Helene recovery to individuals and local governments

Public Safety

  • Protected private property rights
  • Cracked down on organized retail crime
  • Raised penalty for exposing children to fentanyl
  • Strengthened penalties for sexual abuse

Protecting Children and Families

  • Strengthened several penalties related to child abuse
  • Improved the adoption and foster care system
  • Enhanced protections and rights for children in DCS custody
  • Established a domestic violence registry
  • Cracked down on AI-generated child pornography

Pro-Life

  • Targeted illegal distribution of abortion pills
  • Established pro-life protections for mothers facing serious pregnancy complications

Health

  • Expanded prenatal screenings to protect mothers and babies
  • Required medical examinations of deceased mass shooters to test for psychotropic drugs