Rep. Mark Cochran

Maddy summaryHJR 963 is a ceremonial resolution honoring Dr. Julie Aderhold Goodin, a longtime McMinn County educator and community leader who died in 2025. It commemorates her career as a teacher, coach, and later as McMinn County's first female Director of Schools, highlighting her educational achievements and service. The resolution expresses the General Assembly's condolences to her family and formally recognizes her legacy. As a memorial resolution, it has no legal effect or policy impact - it is purely symbolic.

Maddy summaryHB 2016 requires employers who make mental health evaluations a condition of employment to provide employees and job applicants with reasonable access to the results of those evaluations, including reports from mental health professionals. Employers must grant this access during normal business hours, and employees denied access can sue for a court order to obtain the results. If an employee wins such a lawsuit, they are entitled to recover court costs and attorney fees. The bill applies to both current employees and prospective hires, covering evaluations required for hiring or continued employment. It specifically targets employers who condition employment on submitting to mental health assessments.

Maddy summaryHB 1793 creates Tennessee's "Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act," allowing property owners to automatically transfer real estate to designated beneficiaries upon their death. It directly affects Tennessee homeowners who wish to bypass probate for their real property by creating a simple, revocable "transfer on death deed" that must be recorded with the county register of deeds before the owner's death. Key provisions include: the deed must state the transfer occurs upon death, requires no consideration or beneficiary acceptance during the owner's life, and does not affect the owner's rights to sell or mortgage the property while living. The law ensures the property transfers directly to the named beneficiary without court involvement, while preserving the owner's control during their lifetime and not impacting eligibility for public assistance.

Maddy summaryHB 2280 removes an outdated requirement for Tennessee's public universities. It deletes a provision that previously forced each institution's governing board to submit a report by July 1, 2025, on how they implemented research security policies to legislative education committee chairs. This bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 49-7-188 and related provisions, eliminating a procedural task that is no longer necessary. The change directly affects public universities by reducing administrative reporting obligations.

Maddy summaryHB 2015 requires the Tennessee Department of Education to publicly post a standardized form for reporting student allergies on its website. This directly affects schools, parents, and students who use the form to document allergies. The bill amends existing law (TCA Title 49, Section 49-1-208) to mandate this online availability, replacing a previous sentence with the specific requirement. The change takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1270 prohibits Tennessee public schools, school districts (LEAs), and their staff from requiring students or employees to provide or use preferred pronouns. It also prevents schools from disciplining individuals for refusing to use preferred pronouns or for using legal names/pronouns consistent with a person’s sex. The bill requires teachers to obtain parental consent before using a name or pronoun inconsistent with a minor student’s sex, and it allows students, staff, or parents to sue schools for violations. These provisions apply directly to all public school students, teachers, and employees in Tennessee.

Maddy summaryHB 675 amends Tennessee education law to change how teachers and principals are evaluated. It requires 60% of their evaluations to be based on student achievement data - 35% from growth measures like the state’s TVAAS system and 25% from other approved metrics, with teachers/principals agreeing on the specific measures used. The bill directly affects all public school teachers and principals in Tennessee, impacting decisions about their promotion, retention, and compensation. Key mechanisms include rules for challenging evaluation accuracy, using alternative growth models for non-tested subjects, and ensuring evaluations align with teaching assignments. (Note: The bill’s title mentions an advisory committee, but the actual provisions focus on evaluation rules, not committee creation.)

Maddy summaryHB 547 requires court clerks in Tennessee to add a $12.50 fee to every misdemeanor and felony cost bill. The collected funds must be paid to the county government (or the district attorney general’s office in multi-county districts) to support public safety services, with the district attorney general having sole discretion over how to use the money. The bill takes effect only after a two-thirds vote by the county legislative body, and district attorneys must submit annual reports detailing fund usage. It does not apply to non-moving traffic violations and is supplemental to existing funding for district attorneys.

Maddy summaryHB 550, the "Fairness in Benefits Act," requires public employers participating in Tennessee's state retirement system to allow private retirement providers to share information about their alternative retirement plans (like 401(k) or 403(b) plans) with employees during non-work hours on employer premises. It specifically mandates that these private plans must meet IRS standards for qualified retirement plans. The law directly affects public employees in Tennessee's state retirement system and their employers, enabling them to access details about private retirement options alongside their current benefits. Signed into law on May 2, 2025, it updates Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 8, Chapter 36, Part 1.

Maddy summaryThis House Joint Resolution (HJR 545) is a ceremonial resolution honoring Karina Bystry, a student-athlete from Central High School in McMinn County, for being named TSSAA Class 2A Miss Basketball. It recognizes her achievements as the school's all-time leading scorer (2,689 points), her 964-point single-season record (second in TSSAA history), academic excellence, and her team's 119-20 win record during her four-year career. The resolution has no policy impact - it simply expresses the Tennessee General Assembly's formal recognition of her accomplishments.