Rep. Dave Wright

Maddy summaryThis Tennessee House Joint Resolution honors AT&T's 150th anniversary by commemorating the company's founding and the first telephone call made by Alexander Graham Bell in 1876. The resolution expresses appreciation for AT&T's historical role in advancing telecommunications and its ongoing contributions to connectivity, broadband infrastructure, and economic opportunity in Tennessee. It does not create new laws or regulations but serves as a formal recognition of the company's legacy and impact on communication technology.

Maddy summaryHB 618 prohibits individuals from holding multiple elected local government offices in Tennessee simultaneously, affecting current and future local officials. It allows those already holding multiple local offices to retain them until their terms expire (grandfathering), but does not apply to roles in a political party's state executive committee. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 2 and 8 to establish this rule, with the law taking effect upon enactment. This is a policy change directly limiting dual-office holding for local elected positions.

Maddy summaryHJR 1028 is a ceremonial resolution honoring Carol Mitchell, head softball coach at Gibbs High School in Tennessee, for being named the 2025 National Softball Coach of the Year by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). It recognizes her 32-season coaching career, during which she achieved 1,103 wins (the most in Tennessee high school history), led her team to seven state championships, and received multiple coaching awards including the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association's 2025 Coach of the Year. The resolution serves as a symbolic gesture of appreciation from the Tennessee General Assembly without creating any new laws or obligations. It directly affects no individuals or entities beyond celebrating Coach Mitchell's achievements.

Maddy summaryHB 1680 imposes a 3-cent-per-kilowatt-hour tax on electricity sold for charging electric vehicles at public charging stations in Tennessee, starting January 1, 2027. It requires operators of charging stations with at least 20 kilowatts capacity (electric vehicle power dealers) to register with the state, collect the tax, and report monthly usage. Revenue from the tax and a $30 registration fee will fund local road repairs, bridge improvements, or public transportation projects in the county or municipality where the station is located. The bill also mandates charging stations to display accurate usage measurements and total prices including tax. This directly affects EV charging station operators and local governments receiving the tax revenue.

Maddy summaryHB 2161 amends Tennessee's eminent domain law to explicitly include sidewalks, public greenways, bicycle lanes, pedestrian ways, and slope development associated with public transportation infrastructure (like roads, highways, and bridges) as qualifying under "public use." This change directly affects property owners whose land could be taken for these specific infrastructure features and government entities seeking to acquire land for such projects. The bill updates Tennessee Code Annotated Section 29-17-102 to add these items to the legal definition of "public use" for eminent domain. The amendment clarifies that these elements are now explicitly considered part of public transportation projects, making it easier for authorities to use eminent domain for these purposes.

Maddy summaryHB 744 prohibits organizations or entities receiving Tennessee state financial assistance for programs or activities from denying benefits, excluding participants, or discriminating against eligible individuals based on race, color, religion, or national origin. This applies directly to state-funded programs, such as those providing services or support through state grants. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, to establish this non-discrimination requirement as a condition for receiving state funds. It creates a clear policy change requiring state-funded programs to operate without bias against protected characteristics.

Maddy summaryHB 735 amends Tennessee law to prevent a development project's "vesting period" (the timeframe during which approved permits remain valid) from expiring while a lawsuit challenges the permit. This affects developers and property owners whose permits face legal challenges, as it stops the vesting period from counting down during litigation. The bill requires that the vesting period be "tolled" (paused) for the duration of any pending court case about the permit. It applies to permits under Tennessee Code Annotated Sections 13-3-413 and 13-4-310, effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 152 allows county and city legislative members in Tennessee to join meetings remotely via video or web conference for specific reasons: family/medical emergencies, military service, or inclement weather. Local governments must first adopt this policy with a two-thirds vote, and members can use electronic participation for no more than two meetings per year. The bill requires all such meetings to remain publicly accessible in real-time with audio/video streaming, recordings posted within two business days, and limits electronic attendance to 20% of the body (capped at three members) per meeting.

Maddy summaryHB 1071 amends Tennessee law to expand the definition of "memorial" under heritage protection to explicitly include official city or county government seals that feature historic imagery. This change directly affects local governments whose seals depict historic conflicts, figures, events, or organizations, ensuring these seals qualify for the same preservation protections as other historical artifacts. The key provision replaces "artwork, flag" with "artwork, seal, flag" in the legal definition, broadening the scope of items covered under Tennessee heritage preservation statutes. The bill does not create new protections but clarifies that existing safeguards apply to these official seals.

Maddy summaryHB 765 requires that 10% of excess proceeds from delinquent property tax sales in Tennessee be allocated to provide tax relief for specific homeowners. It directly affects elderly low-income residents, disabled individuals, disabled veterans, and widows of disabled veterans. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 67, Chapter 5, by adding a new provision directing these funds to a dedicated tax relief program under "part 7" of the chapter. The law would take effect on July 1, 2025, if passed.