The Pace Accelerates as Lawmakers Navigate a Surge of Key Bills
By State Senator Page Walley
March 20, 2026
Last week, our Education Committee completed its business for the year with many key bills advancing in the Senate. We are expected to continue wrapping up committees, with several more committees anticipated to close this week. As the legislature moves closer to adjournment, the General Assembly will turn its attention to budget negotiations as Governor Bill Lee’s administration prepares to introduce his additional request to the original budget proposal.
My legislation passed the Senate to set protections for minors featured in monetized social media content
As the rise of family vloggers and child influencers continues across social media platforms, the Senate passed my legislation last week to establish legal protections for children who appear in monetized content online.
Senate Bill 1469 sets new standards governing when minors can participate in online content creation and ensures children financially benefit from content in which they appear. If a parent or adult includes a minor in a certain amount of monetized content, the bill requires a portion of the revenue to be set aside in a trust for that child.
The bill also ensures minors 14 to 17 creating their own content receive 100% of their earnings. Additionally, it grants those age 14 or older the right to request deletion of online content featuring their likeness.
The bill now heads to the House for further consideration.
Senate passes recycling market reforms to drive economic growth and reduce landfill pressure
Last week, the Senate approved legislation to strengthen Tennessee’s recycling marketplace, positioning the state to better compete for investment while addressing growing landfill capacity challenges. Senate Bill 1793 takes a market-driven approach to improving recycling outcomes without imposing new mandates, taxes, or regulatory burdens.
Tennessee currently ranks near the bottom nationally in recycling, while landfill pressures continue to grow—especially in fast-growing regions like Middle Tennessee.
The legislation strengthens the Office of Cooperative Marketing for Recyclables (OCMR) within the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) by modernizing its role to support a statewide recyclable materials marketplace.
Senate Bill 1793 also establishes a Recycling Market Development and Diversion Advisory Council, a public-private partnership composed of industry leaders, recycling professionals, state agencies, legislators, and local government representatives. The council will evaluate Tennessee’s current recycling landscape, identify opportunities to recruit recycling-related businesses, research best practices from other states, and provide recommendations to strengthen the state’s recycling economy.
This is a pro-growth, pro-business solution that treats recycling as an economic development opportunity—not a regulatory burden. There are no new mandates, no new taxes, and no expansion of regulatory authority. Instead, we’re bringing the right partners to the table—state government, private industry, and local communities—to build a system that works.
Measure to strengthen domestic violence offender registry advances
To build on last year’s Savannah’s Law, which created a public registry of domestic violence offenders, the Judiciary Committee passed Senate Bill 1726. The legislation strengthens the tracking and registration of persistent domestic violence offenders.
Savannah’s Law was an important step in protecting victims and increasing transparency, and this legislation builds on that foundation. By improving how repeat offenders are tracked and ensuring accurate, timely reporting, we are strengthening accountability and helping keep Tennessee families safer.
The measure now heads to the Finance Committee for fiscal review.
Rural Health Transformation effort aims to expand access to pharmacist care
To expand access to affordable and convenient healthcare provided by pharmacists, our Senate Health and Welfare Committee advanced Senate Bill 2242. The bill is part of rural health efforts and gives pharmacists greater authority to issue prescriptions under certain circumstances.
By cutting red tape and making better use of pharmacists, this bill gives families greater access to care, especially in rural areas where healthcare options can be limited. About 90% of Tennesseans live within five miles of a pharmacist, so this provides practical, local solutions that are more convenient and affordable, helping patients get the care they need when they need it. This approach makes our healthcare system work smarter, not harder, and ensures communities across Tennessee have reliable options close to home.
The measure allows pharmacists, in limited cases, to write prescriptions, treat minor ailments, help reduce tobacco and nicotine use, and provide supplies, testing, and examinations for patients with already diagnosed conditions. It also removes unnecessary restrictions that have made it harder for patients to get care.
Pharmacists must keep records of each patient visit for at least 10 years, and the Board of Pharmacy can set rules to carry out the law.
Senate Bill 2242 moves to the Senate floor for final consideration.
As we continue to move towards the real meat of this year’s legislative session, I appreciate your input. Please email me at sen.page.walley@capitol.tn.gov or call my office at 615-741-2368. I look forward to keeping you updated in the coming weeks. Thank you for allowing me to serve as your senator.
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