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Tennessee Senate

Steve Southerland

Republican. Senate, district 9.

Emailsen.steve.southerland@capitol.tn.gov
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Official record 1https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/legislatorinfo/member.aspx?district=S9
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Official record 2https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/legislatorinfo/member?district=S9
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Official record 3https://www.capitol.tn.gov/senate/members/s1.html
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Bills they sponsored

44 bills sponsored this session

Unicoi County - Subject to local approval, aligns the county's mineral severance tax with the tax amounts prescribed under state law. - Amends Chapter 213 of the Private Acts of 1982. Companion bill has been assigned PriSB 2719 · this session · introduced Mar 4, 2026
Companion House Bill substituted
Hamblen County - Subject to local approval, abolishes the Hamblen County Road Commission, effective August 31, 2028. - Repeals Chapter 313 of the Private Acts of 1949; as amended. Companion bill has been assigned PrivateSB 2705 · this session · introduced Feb 23, 2026
Companion House Bill substituted
Morristown - Subject to local approval, makes the elections for council members at-large elections; eliminates council wards. - Amends Chapter 103 of the Acts of 1903; as amended and rewrittenSB 2704 · this session · introduced Feb 23, 2026
Passed on Second Consideration, held on desk. Local Bill
Hamblen County - Subject to local approval, updates appointment provisions, qualifications, and compensation for the office of county attorney. - Amends Chapter 677 of the Private Acts of 1949; as amended. Companion billSB 2703 · this session · introduced Feb 23, 2026
Companion House Bill substituted
allocates all revenue generated from the state sales tax on retail sales of recreational vessels, recreational vessel accessories, and wildlife-related outdoor recreational goods to the wildlife resources fund. - Amends SB 2609 · this session · introduced Feb 2, 2026
Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/21/2026
requires a county medical examiner to report certain instances of the natural death of an infant or young person under 20 to the federal Sudden Unexpected Infant Death and Sudden Death in the Young Case Registry; requireSB 2607 · this session · introduced Feb 2, 2026
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Health and Welfare Committee
under certain conditions, requires the department of agriculture to purchase and distribute round hay baling machines to applicants in the hay equipment portion of the Tennessee agricultural enhancement program in lieu oSB 2606 · this session · introduced Feb 2, 2026
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee
increases the period of temporary validity of a service release inspection from 45 days to nine months. - Amends TCA Title 68, Chapter 102SB 2605 · this session · introduced Feb 2, 2026
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Commerce and Labor Committee
requires the department of safety to update the advisory guidelines for best behaviors of drivers during traffic stops developed under present law; requires the updated guidelines to be included in driver education progrSB 2604 · this session · introduced Feb 2, 2026
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Transportation and Safety Committee
exempts the retail sale of food and food ingredients from the sales tax if sold to a person who is 65 or older and a Tennessee resident. - Amends TCA Section 67-6-228SB 2603 · this session · introduced Feb 2, 2026
Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate F,W&M Revenue Subcommittee
authorizes municipalities to annex territory outside of their urban growth boundaries so long as the territory is not within another municipality's urban growth boundary. - Amends TCA Title 6, Chapter 51 and Title 6, ChaSB 2600 · this session · introduced Feb 2, 2026
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate State and Local Government Committee
allows certain school employees to conduct physical searches of students and searches of vehicles, containers, packages, lockers, or other enclosures used for storage by students or visitors in certain circumstances; narSB 2599 · this session · introduced Feb 2, 2026
Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.
expands eligibility for an education freedom scholarship to students who are enrolled in an out-of-district public school. - Amends TCA Title 49SB 2598 · this session · introduced Feb 2, 2026
Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/21/2026
Tennessee Fish & Wildlife Commission - As enacted, authorizes the executive director of the wildlife resources agency to enter into agreements with local law enforcement agencies for the purpose of enforcing wildlife manSB 2597 · this session · introduced Feb 2, 2026
Signed by Governor.
Traffic Safety - As enacted, exempts utility terrain vehicles being operated for agricultural purposes from the restriction that such vehicles are authorized to operate only on certain state highways and county roads witSB 2596 · this session · introduced Feb 2, 2026
Signed by Governor.
Show all 44
Hamblen County - Subject to local approval, moves the election of the county attorney by the county commission from July to September; changes who reviews the compensation of and reimbursement of expenses to the county aSB 2595 · this session · introduced Feb 2, 2026
Passed on Second Consideration, held on desk. Local Bill
Food and Food Products - As enacted, increases from 150 gallons to 835 gallons the annual threshold amount of honey at or above which a honey producer is subject to food manufacturing and inspection requirements. - AmendSB 2602 · this session · introduced Jan 21, 2026
Signed by Governor.
Insurance Companies, Agents, Brokers, Policies - As enacted, increases from $100,000 to $250,000 the retained risk limit for a single risk covered by a policy of insurance issued by a county mutual insurance company. - ASB 2601 · this session · introduced Jan 21, 2026
Signed by Governor.
requires a company offering to sell or install a solar energy system to provide written proof that the utility serving the area where the system is to be installed has a net metering program or otherwise offers net meterSB 1124 · this session · introduced Feb 6, 2025
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Commerce and Labor Committee
requires an insurance company that increases its premiums to give 45 days' notice rather than 30 days' notice of the increase to a customer who has an account paid by bank draft or preauthorized check. - Amends TCA TitleSB 1049 · this session · introduced Feb 5, 2025
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Commerce and Labor Committee
exempts certain motor vehicles from parking fees at airports in this state if the vehicle displays a disabled veteran or military award license plate. - Amends TCA Section 12-10-109 and Title 42SB 987 · this session · introduced Feb 5, 2025
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Transportation and Safety Committee
requires half the revenue collected from recordation taxes be returned to the county in which the real property is located on a recurring basis; applies to transfers of real property on or after July 1, 2025. - Amends TCSB 986 · this session · introduced Feb 5, 2025
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate State and Local Government Committee
enacts the Tennessee bullion depository act; makes gold and silver coinage legal tender; authorizes payment of taxes with gold and silver coinage; makes other changes concerning precious metals. - Amends TCA Title 9; TitSB 985 · this session · introduced Feb 5, 2025
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Commerce and Labor Committee
enacts the "Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act." - Amends TCA Title 8; Title 30; Title 31; Title 32; Title 35; Title 55; Title 66 and Title 67SB 984 · this session · introduced Feb 5, 2025
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee
requires an LEA or public charter school to install, maintain, and use, subject to parental request and approval, a video camera surveillance system in each special education classroom operated by the LEA or public chartSB 972 · this session · introduced Feb 5, 2025
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Education Committee
exempts a prisoner of a county workhouse or jail who is released from custody on work release from wearing an electronic monitoring device if the prisoner was convicted of a non-violent crime and the sheriff has determinSB 971 · this session · introduced Feb 5, 2025
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate State and Local Government Committee
extends from January 1 to 15, the deadline by which the wildlife resources agency must submit to legislative committees with subject matter jurisdiction over natural resources a written report containing the estimated acSB 969 · this session · introduced Feb 5, 2025
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee
requires the Tennessee Aeronautics Commission to study the laws and regulations of other states regarding restrictions on the operation of drones over private property. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 38; Title 39; Title 42;SB 1111 · this session · introduced Feb 4, 2025
Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Transportation and Safety Committee
reduces, from 60 days to 45 days, the time within which, after the end of the calendar year, the commissioner of financial institutions must submit the department's annual report to the governor. - Amends TCA Title 45SB 974 · this session · introduced Feb 4, 2025
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Commerce and Labor Committee
increases, from 10 to 15 business days, the time that the commissioner has after receipt of an application for a certificate of authority or any accompanying documents for organization of a business authorized to conductSB 973 · this session · introduced Feb 4, 2025
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Commerce and Labor Committee
removes the requirement that each year the Tennessee public utility commission submit to the general assembly a report describing the competitive nature of the telecommunications market in this state. - Amends TCA Title SB 983 · this session · introduced Feb 3, 2025
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Commerce and Labor Committee
Water Authorities - As enacted, generally authorizes the board of directors of a municipal energy authority to, as part of the transfer of a water and wastewater system, adopt and assume all or any portion of such regulaSB 970 · this session · introduced Feb 3, 2025
Sponsor(s) Added.
changes the administrative, reporting, oversight, and accountability of the state energy policy council from the state energy policy council to the department of economic and community development and the department of eSB 968 · this session · introduced Feb 3, 2025
Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee
increases, from 30 to 45, the number of days a tenant or household member and a landlord have to agree upon a date to terminate a residential rental or lease agreement, provided the tenant supplies written notice and docSB 967 · this session · introduced Feb 3, 2025
Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Commerce and Labor Committee
expands the period of peacetime military service of a member of the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS) that the member may purchase for creditable service in TCRS. - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 34SB 966 · this session · introduced Feb 3, 2025
Sponsor(s) Added.
Motor Vehicles - As enacted, specifies that a vehicle protection product warrantor applying for renewal is not required to file a copy of a warranty that has already been registered for use; requires such warrantor to prSB 982 · this session · introduced Jan 30, 2025
Companion House Bill substituted
Election Laws - As enacted, authorizes Hamblen County to participate in the convenience voting center pilot project. - Amends TCA Title 2, Chapter 3, Part 3. SB0981 has been assigned Public Chapter Number 384 by the SecrSB 981 · this session · introduced Jan 30, 2025
Signed by Governor.
enacts the "Tennessee Waste to Jobs Act," which requires producers of goods to participate in a responsibility organization for recycling, reuse, and composting of certain packaging material. - Amends TCA Title 4, ChapteSB 269 · this session · introduced Jan 30, 2025
Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee
Surveyors - As enacted, requires a description of real property contained within a deed of conveyance of a property not previously described in a recorded instrument to be prepared by a registered land surveyor; specifieSB 980 · this session · introduced Jan 28, 2025
Signed by Governor.
reduces from 60 to 45 days, the time period following the end of each calendar year during which the commissioner must annually report to the governor. - Amends TCA Title 45SB 977 · this session · introduced Jan 23, 2025
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Commerce and Labor Committee
creates a Class B misdemeanor offense for engaging in harassing behavior against a first responder engaged in official duties under certain circumstances. - Amends TCA Title 39SB 979 · this session · introduced Jan 15, 2025
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee
Statutes and Codification - As enacted, changes all TCA references from "adult day care" to "adult day services." - Amends TCA Section 4-3-1205; Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 18; Title 52, Chapter 8; Section 68-1-904; TitleSB 978 · this session · introduced Jan 15, 2025
Sponsor(s) Added.
urges the department of agriculture to study the effects of the sale and distribution of smokeless nicotine products and other alternative nicotine products to persons under 21; encourages the department to make recommenSB 976 · this session · introduced Jan 15, 2025
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Commerce and Labor Committee
deletes obsolete pilot program to improve parent-teacher engagement that terminated at the end of the 2020-2021 school year. - Amends TCA Title 49SB 975 · this session · introduced Jan 14, 2025
Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Education Committee

How they voted

Show recorded votes
Roster from Open States (the open civic-data project), archived on our side. Bill records from the Tennessee legislature’s own site.