Rep. Jason Zachary

Maddy summaryHB 143 expands Tennessee's Class C felony charge for aggravated assault against first responders to include knowingly possessing specific fentanyl-related substances (fentanyl, carfentanil, remifentanil, alfentanil, thiafentanil, or analogues) in a way that reasonably exposes first responders to those substances during official duties. This directly affects individuals who possess these drugs in circumstances where exposure could cause serious injury or death to a first responder. The bill defines "expose" as direct contact via touch, ingestion, or inhalation and sets a mandatory $15,000 fine plus a 90-day minimum jail term with no early release. It takes effect July 1, 2025, and applies to cases where the first responder suffers serious injury or death due to the exposure.

Maddy summaryHB 31 allows Tennessee county governments to post required public notices online on their official websites instead of publishing them in a newspaper of general circulation. This change applies to all notices mandated by law, such as meeting schedules or property sales notices, as long as the online posting meets all existing requirements (including timing and content). The bill directly affects county governments by giving them a new, cost-effective publishing option while ensuring public access remains consistent with current standards. It does not alter the content or timing requirements for notices, only the medium of publication. The bill was introduced in 2025 but withdrawn before committee action.

Maddy summaryHB 1070, introduced as the "Tennessee Health SNAP Act," proposes requiring the Tennessee Department of Human Resources to seek a federal waiver from the USDA to prohibit SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits from being used to buy candy and soft drinks. The bill would mandate that any waiver request include public health justification, a plan for retailer system updates, recipient education on healthy alternatives, and tracking mechanisms for spending and health outcomes. If approved, the restriction would apply to SNAP users in Tennessee, excluding milk-based drinks and beverages with over 50% juice. The bill was filed on February 5, 2025, but withdrawn the next day and never advanced.

Maddy summaryHB 815 requires Tennessee's Department of Safety to report by January 1, 2026, to the Senate Transportation and Safety Committee and the relevant House committee on how driver license application and renewal fees cover specific costs (processing, reinstatements, IT upgrades, and system maintenance). The bill does not change fee amounts or create new requirements for drivers; it only mandates a transparency report on existing fee usage. This procedural bill directly affects the Department of Safety (as the reporting entity) and the legislative committees (as recipients of the report). The bill was introduced in February 2025 but was withdrawn the same day and reassigned to a committee.

Maddy summaryHB 472 prohibits state regulatory and health-related boards from excluding individuals from membership based on race, color, ethnicity, or national origin. It bans boards from using race-based policies (like quotas or preferences) to determine membership composition and prohibits considering race in appointments. The bill creates a private right to sue boards, officers, or employees for violations, allowing recovery of actual damages, punitive damages for intentional discrimination, and a minimum $4,000 statutory penalty. This applies directly to state boards under Titles 62 and 63 of Tennessee Code, affecting both board members and applicants seeking appointment.

Maddy summaryHB 376 prohibits state regulatory and health-related boards from excluding individuals or operating based on race, color, ethnicity, or national origin. It bans race-based policies (including affirmative action or quotas) for board composition and prohibits using racial data to determine membership. The bill creates a private legal right to sue boards and their staff for violations, with minimum $4,000 statutory damages plus potential compensatory or punitive damages. The bill was introduced in Tennessee on January 27, 2025, but was withdrawn on February 3, 2025, and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 144 requires Tennessee hospitals that accept Medicaid to ask patients about their citizenship status during registration (with options for "citizen," "lawfully present," or "not lawfully present") and to submit quarterly reports to the state health department on admission and emergency department visit numbers by these categories. The health department must then submit an annual report to state leaders by July 1, 2026, detailing uncompensated care costs for non-lawfully present patients and related impacts on hospital funding and services. This bill directly affects Medicaid-participating hospitals and state health officials, mandating new data collection and reporting without requiring disclosure of personal patient information. The law aims to track healthcare utilization patterns and financial burdens related to immigration status, with implementation set for July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new criminal offense called abortion trafficking of a minor, which applies to adults who recruit, hide, transport, or provide abortion-inducing drugs to pregnant minors under 18 for the purpose of having an illegal abortion. The law explicitly excludes parents and legal guardians from being charged under these provisions and states that a minor's consent is not a defense against prosecution. Additionally, the bill establishes a civil lawsuit mechanism that allows the biological mother, father, or guardian of the minor to sue for wrongful death, economic damages, and other financial penalties if an abortion occurs as a result of the trafficking.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a process allowing local law enforcement to request a second opinion from the state Attorney General when a local district attorney declines to prosecute serious crimes like human trafficking or organized crime. If the local district attorney refuses to allow the state to take over the case, the state Attorney General can ask a state court to appoint a temporary district attorney to handle the prosecution. The law also requires local district attorneys to fully cooperate with the state Attorney General during these multi-jurisdictional investigations and prosecutions.