Rep. Ron Travis

Maddy summaryHB 1868 waives tuition, fees, and related charges for dependent children of law enforcement officers or firefighters who were killed or died from injuries sustained while on duty. It applies to students enrolled full-time at Tennessee public colleges or universities before turning 23, requiring official documentation from the employer confirming the parent's line-of-duty death or injury. The waiver covers tuition, maintenance fees, student activity fees, and required registration costs but does not refund fees already paid. Eligibility continues until the student earns an undergraduate degree, completes 135 semester hours (excluding remedial courses), or attempts 150 semester hours (including remedial courses).

Maddy summaryHB 1724 requires counties, municipalities, and metropolitan governments to approve sludge application from wastewater treatment plants onto agricultural land through a two-thirds vote resolution. It establishes a "tipping fee" per ton of sludge paid by wastewater facilities, with the revenue mandated to fund local wastewater treatment infrastructure. The bill places a moratorium on new or renewed sludge application permits in jurisdictions without such local approval, effective July 2026. This directly affects wastewater treatment operators, local governments, and agricultural landowners using sludge as fertilizer.

Maddy summaryHB 816 limits the number of points assessed against a driver's license for operating a vehicle while the license is canceled, suspended, or revoked to four points. It directly affects drivers who face this specific offense, which occurs when someone drives despite having an invalid license. The bill achieves this by reclassifying such violations as "nonmoving traffic violations" under Tennessee law, which typically carry fewer points than moving violations. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, and is now enacted.

Maddy summaryHB 706 adds 10 new assistant district attorney general positions and 10 new criminal investigator positions across 10 specific Tennessee judicial districts that contain state correctional facilities. These roles are funded by the Department of Correction and focus exclusively on investigating and prosecuting crimes committed within state prisons, including violations of specific prison-related laws. The bill mandates that prison officials grant these prosecutors and investigators full access to prison records, evidence, and facilities upon request. The positions become effective July 1, 2025, and do not restrict existing staffing options for district attorneys.

Maddy summaryHB 463 changes retirement benefits for Tennessee General Assembly members. It requires legislators who joined on or after July 1, 2014, to switch from the hybrid retirement plan to the legacy plan after 10 years of service. The bill also mandates that retired legislators with 10+ years of service receive retiree health benefits starting July 1, 2024. These changes apply to service completed on or after July 1, 2024, and take effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 462 requires Tennessee's retirement board to automatically switch eligible state legislators from the hybrid retirement plan to the legacy plan after they complete 10 years of service in the General Assembly. This applies only to legislators who joined the Assembly on or after July 1, 2014, and affects their retirement benefits for service as lawmakers. The bill mandates the board to provide written notification after the switch and requires the Office of Legislative Administration to alert the board when a legislator reaches the 10-year milestone. The change takes effect July 1, 2025, applying to legislators completing 10 years of service on or after July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis is a commemorative resolution (HJR 289) passed by Tennessee's legislature to mark the 100th anniversary of the 1925 Scopes Trial in Dayton. It honors the trial's historical significance as a pivotal moment in debates over science education, religion, and public policy. The resolution has no legal effect or policy changes - it simply recognizes the event's enduring impact on American cultural and educational discourse. It was signed into law by the Governor in March 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 615 requires trucks over 75 feet long hauling poles, logs, or timber to either use trailers with federally compliant rear safety barriers (extending beyond the load) or be followed by an escort vehicle with a 7-foot-wide, 18-inch-high sign displaying "OVERSIZE LOAD" in 10-inch black letters on yellow. This applies to all such vehicles without special permits and takes effect July 1, 2025. The bill targets commercial trucking companies transporting forestry materials in Tennessee, aiming to enhance traffic safety through specific load-handling requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 1251 amends Tennessee law to allow courts to waive application fees for individuals seeking to restore their citizenship rights after a criminal conviction. Currently, applicants must pay these costs unless a court specifically orders otherwise; this bill changes the default rule to explicitly permit courts to exempt applicants from fees. The bill directly affects people with past convictions who are working to regain full citizenship rights through court processes. It modifies Tennessee Code Sections 40-29-104 (and related sections) to clarify that courts may order fee waivers as part of the application procedure. The change applies to court orders issued after the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryHB 881 removes a requirement that septic system installers pay a renewal fee to keep their licenses active in Tennessee, while maintaining the initial permit fee. It directly affects licensed installers of subsurface sewage disposal systems who currently face this renewal fee. The bill amends Tennessee law to prohibit the department from requiring this renewal fee as a condition for license renewal, though the initial permit fee remains unchanged. The change takes effect July 1, 2025.