Rep. Rick Eldridge

Maddy summaryHB 2640 repeals all historical legislation (from 1949 to 2023) governing Hamblen County's Highway Department and abolishes the Hamblen County Road Commission effective August 31, 2028. It replaces the commission with an elected Road Superintendent position, to be chosen by county voters every four years starting in 2028, who will manage road maintenance and construction under state highway law. The bill requires a two-thirds vote of Hamblen County's legislative body for approval before implementation. This change directly affects county road governance, ending the commission's structure while creating a new elected role for road management.

Maddy summaryHB 2642 creates an elected position for Hamblen County Attorney, replacing the previous appointment system. The county commission will now annually elect the attorney at its September meeting. The bill sets a $1,200 annual base salary (paid monthly) and allows additional reasonable compensation for legal services performed for the county, subject to county financial policies. It requires a two-thirds vote approval from Hamblen County's legislative body to take effect. This bill directly affects Hamblen County's governance structure and its county attorney's compensation.

Maddy summaryHB 1652 requires Tennessee's Alcohol Beverage Commission to create an annual report listing individuals convicted of alcohol-related offenses involving vaporizing devices. The report must be submitted each December 1 to the chairs of the Senate's State & Local Government Committee and the House committee overseeing alcohol consumption on premises. The first report, due December 1, 2026, will cover all such convictions since the law's effective date, with subsequent reports covering the previous year's data. This bill directly affects the Alcohol Beverage Commission (which must compile the report) and the specified legislative committees (which will receive it), with no direct impact on the public or businesses beyond the reporting requirement.

Maddy summaryHB 1677, the "Military Families Licensing Recognition Act," streamlines occupational licensing for military-connected individuals in Tennessee. It allows active or retired military members, spouses, and dependents to obtain a Tennessee license in their occupation if they hold a current license from another state or the military with similar scope, meet education/experience requirements, and have no disqualifying records. Licensing boards must issue licenses within 10 business days after applicants verify their qualifications under penalty of perjury. The bill does not override state licensing laws, make licenses valid in other states, or affect court-regulated professions.

Maddy summaryHB 1987 requires Tennessee's alcoholic beverage commission to automatically reinstate licenses or permits suspended for refusing to provide business records to the revenue commissioner. It directly affects alcohol wholesalers and retailers who previously faced suspension when not submitting required books, papers, or records within five business days. The bill mandates that once these documents are provided, the license must be reinstated within five business days, with the commissioner notifying the commission. This changes the current process by removing discretion for reinstatement after the documents are submitted. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 57, Section 57-6-202.

Maddy summaryHB 1834, the "Tennessee Religious Freedom Act," would allow local school boards in Tennessee to open public meetings with a prayer led by a board member, provided no attendee is required to participate and no one is harassed or coerced into joining. The bill amends Tennessee law to explicitly permit this practice, directly affecting school board meeting procedures across the state. Key provisions require prayers to be non-coercive (no mandatory participation) and free from harassment, aligning with recent Supreme Court interpretations on religious expression in public settings. The law would take effect July 1, 2026, if passed.

Maddy summaryHB 1826 increases the maximum amount a county mutual insurance company in Tennessee can cover for a single risk from $100,000 to $250,000 without needing to share that risk with other insurers. This change directly affects county mutual insurance companies, which are local, non-profit insurers serving Tennessee communities. The bill amends two sections of Tennessee law (Title 56, Chapter 22) to update the dollar amount, and it will take effect on July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution honors Kaycee Mae Pratt, a 2026 graduate of Grainger High School, for her academic achievements and acceptance to Vanderbilt University. The bill formally recognizes her high school accomplishments, including a 5.0 grade point average, extensive volunteer work, and leadership in various community and school organizations. It also acknowledges her philanthropic efforts, such as founding the nonprofit Kaycee's CandyLab to support military children and donating over $20,000 to various causes. The resolution serves as a public commendation of her contributions to her community and her potential for future success in higher education.

Maddy summaryHB 2641 changes Morristown's city council election system by replacing ward-based elections with citywide at-large elections. It eliminates council wards, requiring all voters to elect all six council members (identified as Seats 1-6) and the mayor in single citywide races, rather than district-specific votes. The bill includes a transition period: current council members representing specific wards (based on their last election dates in 2021 or 2023) will retain their seats until new elections in 2026 or 2028, after which all seats will be elected citywide. The law requires approval by Morristown's legislative body to take effect.

Maddy summaryHB 1676 adds Claiborne, Union, and Grainger counties to the North East Tennessee Railroad Authority, expanding its membership from three to six counties (Anderson, Campbell, Scott, Claiborne, Union, and Grainger). The bill updates the authority's structure to ensure railroad service continuity and economic benefits across all six counties. It revises membership rules, requiring at least four counties to join via a two-thirds vote of their local governing bodies. This change formally extends the authority's jurisdiction to include the three newly added counties.