Rep. Tommy Stinnett

Maddy summaryHJR 844 is a Tennessee House Joint Resolution that formally commends Horace Stephens, a retired Alcoa City Schools math and science teacher, for receiving the Alcoa City Schools Foundation's Legacy of Service Award. The resolution recognizes his 44-year teaching career (1970-2014), during which he taught physics, physical science, and algebra while positively impacting generations of students. This ceremonial resolution does not create new laws or affect policy - it serves solely as a formal expression of legislative appreciation for Stephens' dedication to education. The resolution was passed by both legislative chambers and signed by the Governor on February 11, 2026.

Maddy summaryHJR 747 is a joint resolution passed by the Tennessee General Assembly to honor Charles and Iva Jean Cooper Endsley on their 70th wedding anniversary. The resolution formally congratulates the couple for their marriage since January 8, 1956, highlighting their careers, family life in Friendsville, and their role as an example of commitment. It does not create legal obligations or policy changes - it is a symbolic gesture recognizing their personal milestone. The resolution was unanimously approved by the House (31-0) and transmitted to the Governor for final action.

Maddy summaryHB 368 requires Tennessee public high schools (grades 9-12) to include instruction about the state's safe haven law in their family life curriculum. This law allows mothers to voluntarily surrender unharmed infants without criminal liability. The state board of education must develop guidelines for this instruction, collaborating with the nonprofit A Secret Safe Place for Newborns, and distribute them to all relevant schools before the 2025-2026 school year. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, applying to all subsequent school years.

Maddy summaryHB 140 removes a requirement that human resource agencies in Tennessee must have independent auditors' work reviewed by the state comptroller before making payments. This change directly affects agencies operating under the Human Resource Agency Act of 1973, streamlining their payment process by eliminating the pre-payment review step. The bill amends Tennessee Code Section 13-26-106(b) to delete the specific provision mandating this review. The law took effect after becoming Public Chapter 155 on May 2, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 379 clarifies that professional solicitors for charitable organizations include employees or servants specifically hired by the organization to solicit donations. It removes ambiguous language from Tennessee law that previously excluded such in-house staff or created confusion about who qualifies as a professional solicitor. The bill directly affects charitable organizations and their staff who handle donation requests, ensuring they are covered under existing solicitation regulations. This amendment simplifies the legal definition without creating new requirements or obligations.

Maddy summaryHJR 593 is a resolution honoring the Blount Memorial Foundation and the City of Alcoa for hosting the inaugural Downtown Dash for Breast Cancer 5K event on May 10, 2025. The resolution commends their efforts to raise funds for breast cancer screening services at Prisma Health - Blount Memorial Hospital's Breast Center, with event proceeds specifically intended to purchase a contrast-enhanced mammography machine for early detection. It recognizes the event's role in supporting community health, including the hospital's annual screening of 12,217 individuals. As a symbolic gesture, the resolution does not create new policy or allocate funds.

Maddy summaryHB 676 requires Tennessee's state special schools to provide teachers with the same leave benefits as public school teachers, including eligibility to accumulate and use leave under public school rules and paid family leave. It also mandates that any salary increases for public school teachers must apply equally to state special school teachers, and budgeted funds for public school teacher raises must be matched for state special school staff. The law applies to licensed teachers (excluding school administrators and certain state employees) starting July 1, 2025. It ensures these educators receive equivalent benefits and compensation parity with public school employees.

Maddy summaryHB 980 allows tourism development authorities in Tennessee to petition cities to remove their owned property from municipal boundaries. The authority must submit a map, and the city has 30 days to calculate any debt owed before deannexation takes effect 60 days later. This process cannot create unincorporated areas completely surrounded by city limits. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 6-51-204 and 7-69-101 to establish this deannexation procedure.

Maddy summaryHB 880 requires Tennessee's Department of Education to compile and annually publish a list of all existing teacher training requirements for K-12 educators working in public schools or charter schools. The department must post this list on its website by June 30 each year and submit it to the relevant legislative education committees. This bill does not change current training standards but mandates transparency by centralizing existing requirements in one accessible location. It directly affects the Department of Education and the legislative committees overseeing educator licensure.

Maddy summaryHB 677 requires psychologists and neuropsychologists to securely protect test materials and data from psychological evaluations to maintain test validity. It directly affects patients undergoing evaluations, psychologists, and mental health professionals by restricting access to test materials - only licensed psychologists or trained experts can view them, not patients or third parties. Key provisions ban third-party observers (like family or attorneys) during testing, prohibit audio/video recordings, and allow exceptions only for documented disabilities, language needs, minors with psychologist approval, or trainee supervision. The bill aims to prevent compromised test results that could impact high-stakes decisions like custody cases, medical treatments, or forensic evaluations.