Rep. Jason Zachary

Maddy summaryHB 2140 creates a registry within the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) for individuals convicted of specific retail theft crimes, including those using masks, fake license plates, or anti-theft devices to commit offenses. The registry will include personal details like name, date of birth, conviction date, and offense type, maintained by TBI for law enforcement access only. It automatically removes names after 10 years from the most recent conviction unless a court orders expungement or death is verified. This applies to convictions under Tennessee Code Sections 39-14-113 (organized retail theft) and 39-14-146 (related offenses).

Maddy summaryHB 1706 would make it a serious misdemeanor for someone without legal immigration status to operate a commercial motor vehicle in Tennessee. It also requires law enforcement to notify federal immigration authorities when arresting such individuals and holds employers strictly liable for injuries caused by undocumented drivers operating commercial vehicles. The bill creates civil penalties of at least $1 million for employers or state officials who knowingly allow or issue licenses to undocumented drivers, and allows private citizens to file lawsuits on behalf of the state (known as "qui tam" actions). This bill directly affects undocumented immigrants working in commercial driving, employers, and state licensing officials, with no provisions for enforcement or implementation details yet.

Maddy summaryHB 1872 would create a new civil lawsuit option for individuals (or their parents/guardians for minors) who consented to certain medical procedures due to coercion by a healthcare professional. Specifically, it targets procedures related to gender identity (like puberty blockers or hormones) when consent was obtained through coercion, not voluntary choice. The bill sets a strict 18-year deadline to file such lawsuits, starting from the procedure date or when the injury was discovered. This bill does not change existing medical standards but adds a legal remedy for alleged coercion in specific gender-related healthcare contexts. (Note: The bill is pending in committee and not yet law.)

Maddy summaryHB 2194 requires Tennessee's public universities (including the University of Tennessee system) to create policies that clearly separate faculty tenure decisions from disciplinary actions. It mandates that institutions ensure tenure cannot be used as punishment, disciplinary procedures must treat tenured and non-tenured faculty equally, and all disciplinary actions must follow due process. The bill also affirms university leadership's authority to discipline faculty for cause while protecting academic independence. These policies must be implemented by July 1, 2026, and posted online.

Maddy summaryHB 2141 makes certain records related to college athletics confidential in Tennessee. It prohibits public disclosure of commercial contracts for intercollegiate athletics programs until July 2033 and extends the existing ban on disclosing game/player integrity records until July 2026. The bill explicitly states that confidentiality doesn't create legal claims for individuals, only allowing businesses to seek relief if disclosure harms their economic advantage. This applies directly to Tennessee's public universities operating athletics programs, affecting how they handle sensitive contract details and competitive game information.

Maddy summaryHB 1898, the "Artificial Intelligence Public Safety and Child Protection Transparency Act," requires large AI developers to implement safety measures for high-risk systems. It directly affects "frontier developers" (those training AI models using over 10^26 computing operations) and "large chatbot providers" (services with over 1 million monthly users likely accessed by minors). Key provisions mandate documented "child safety plans" to prevent harm to minors, reporting of "critical safety incidents" (like model leaks or AI causing mass harm), and defining "catastrophic risks" (e.g., AI aiding weapons creation or enabling severe cyberattacks). The law focuses on transparency and risk mitigation for AI systems posing significant public safety or child protection threats.

Maddy summaryHB 1873 requires Tennessee counties, cities, towns, and special taxing districts to hold a voter referendum before raising property taxes if the increase would cause total tax revenue to exceed inflation plus 2% in one year or inflation plus 6% over three years. Local governments must first secure a two-thirds vote from their governing body to call a referendum, which would be held at a regular November election, and then obtain majority voter approval for the tax hike. Exceptions include taxes for bond payments, state treasury actions, and utility rates. The law, effective July 1, 2026, aims to limit property tax increases without direct voter input.

Maddy summaryHB 1791 expands when the Tennessee state government may appeal certain court decisions before final judgment. It specifically allows the state to appeal as of right in five situations: when courts grant or modify injunctions against the state, deny immunity claims (sovereign or qualified), or deny motions to dismiss cases challenging the constitutionality of state laws, executive orders, or administrative rules. This change directly affects the state as a legal party and state officials in civil litigation. The bill modifies Tennessee's appeal procedures by adding these specific scenarios to the state's right to seek immediate review of interlocutory court orders.

Maddy summaryHB 1513 requires political advertisements using deepfakes - fake audio or video impersonating a candidate engaging in speech or actions they never actually did - to include specific disclaimers. For audio ads, the disclaimer must appear at the start and end; for video ads, it must display in large text throughout. Political advertisers (including broadcasters and producers) who fail to add these disclaimers face Class C misdemeanor penalties, and candidates harmed by such ads can seek damages and legal relief. The law applies to ads distributed within 120 days of an election if the candidate isn’t an incumbent.

Maddy summaryHB 471 requires individuals acting as agents for governments of China, Russia, North Korea, or Iran to register with the Tennessee Ethics Commission. It also mandates registration for political organizations receiving funding from these foreign entities. Registration involves disclosing detailed information about the agent's business, funding sources, and political activities. The law aims to increase transparency about foreign influence in Tennessee politics, specifically for activities related to state policies or elections.