Votes at a glance: Senate Judiciary advances confirmations, two bills and budgets to calendar/finance

The Senate Judiciary Committee on Feb. 11 recorded several formal actions that advance nominations and bills to the next legislative steps.

Confirmed and advanced: - Judge Kyle Hixson — confirmed to the Tennessee Supreme Court (committee vote recorded as 8 ayes, 1 abstention) and moved to committee calendar. - Chancellor Steve Maroney — confirmed to the Tennessee Court of Appeals, Western Section (9 ayes) and moved to calendar.

Bills advanced to calendar: - Senate Bill 14-95 (sponsor: Senator Hale): would add manufacturers to the list eligible for release by the attorney general for opioid settlement claims; sponsor estimated an additional $2,600,000 if enacted; committee recorded the motion and sent the bill to calendar (8 ayes). - Senate Bill 16-40 (sponsor: Senator Jackson): expands eligibility in the Safe Home Program to include adult siblings and clarifies qualifying orders; the committee approved the bill and sent it to calendar (8 ayes).

Budgets forwarded to finance: - Attorney General and Reporter's budget (approved by committee and sent to finance, 8 ayes). - Administrative Office of the Courts' FY27 budget request (approved by committee and sent to finance, 8 ayes). The AOC also requested a $39,625,000 nonrecurring appropriation and $2,109,000 recurring for 18 positions specifically to finish a statewide court technology solution.

Why it matters: The confirmations, bills and budget actions move items to their next procedural step in the legislature; the AOC supplemental request and opioid funding updates carry fiscal implications.

Sources: Committee roll calls and sponsor explanations recorded during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.