Tennessee Senate Bill SJR0955

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/18/26
• Engrossed: 3/26/26
• Enrolled: 4/7/26
• Passed: 4/16/26

Caption

A RESOLUTION to recognize and honor Debbie Stephens for her years of dedicated service to the General Assembly.

Summary

SJR0955 is a simple joint resolution honoring Debbie Stephens for her years of service to the Tennessee General Assembly. The resolution recounts her work as a legislative assistant since 2011, including service to former Representative and Senator Mark Pody and, beginning in January 2025, to Senator Dawn White. It presents her as a valued and dependable staff member whose work has supported legislators and the institution as a whole. The resolution also highlights Ms. Stephens’s personal background and community involvement, including her long career in private industry, her ownership of Depot Junction Café in Watertown, and her service in church, chamber of commerce, fair-related, and charitable activities. It further notes her family, hobbies, and recognition as Ms. Wilson County Senior Tennessee, using these details to frame the tribute as both professional and personal recognition.

Impact

This resolution does not change state law, create new programs, or amend any statutes. Its legal effect is limited to formally expressing the Senate and House’s appreciation and directing that an appropriate copy be prepared for presentation. The practical impact is ceremonial, serving to recognize an individual employee of the General Assembly and preserve that recognition in the legislative record.

Sentiment

The sentiment around the bill is unanimously positive. The floor votes were overwhelmingly favorable, with 33 yeas and 0 nays on the motion to adopt and 94 yeas and 0 nays on third consideration passage on the consent calendar. The bill’s language is entirely laudatory, and the available record shows no opposition or controversy.

Contention

There is no apparent substantive contention surrounding SJR0955. Because it is a commemorative resolution honoring a legislative employee, it does not appear to have generated policy debate, committee disagreement, or partisan division. Any discussion would likely have been limited to the appropriateness of the tribute itself, and the unanimous votes indicate broad agreement.