Rep. Monty Fritts

Maddy summaryHB 746 requires parents or guardians enrolling students in Tennessee public schools or charter schools to submit one of four specific documents (like a U.S. birth certificate, voter registration, passport, or military ID) upon enrollment, unless they pay an amount equal to the per-pupil state and local funding for that school district. This applies to all students, with exceptions for those who previously provided documents or are school employees. The bill aims to ensure non-Tennessee-citizen students contribute to public school costs while maintaining free education access for residents. It directly affects families enrolling children in public schools, particularly those without the required documentation.

Maddy summaryHB 365 prohibits Tennessee municipalities (or their agencies) from changing tax obligations, fees, or costs for real property owners whose land lies outside city limits without prior approval from the county legislative body where the property is located. It also requires joint economic development boards to proportionally represent the population of all jurisdictions they serve by July 1, 2029, with specific transition rules to achieve this. The bill amends Tennessee law to ensure county oversight of municipal actions affecting out-of-boundary property owners and mandates equitable board membership based on population. Key mechanisms include requiring county approval for tax-related municipal actions and establishing a phased approach for board representation adjustments. This directly affects rural property owners, municipalities, and county governments in Tennessee.

Maddy summaryHB 1011 requires online payment systems (like Venmo or PayPal, but excluding banks and credit unions) to provide users with written notice before freezing their funds. It mandates that notice be given to both the sender and recipient of a transaction, with exceptions for suspected financial exploitation or fraud. Violating this rule would be treated as an unfair or deceptive practice under Tennessee's Consumer Protection Act. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, applying to new or renewed agreements after that date.

Maddy summaryHB 1258 requires Tennessee school districts to notify the state education department when they self-identify as "high performing" under existing law. The department must then publish a public list of these districts on its website. This affects local school boards (which must report their self-declared status) and the state education agency (which must maintain and share the list). The bill creates a new administrative reporting requirement but does not define "high performing" or alter performance standards.

Maddy summaryHB 1179 extends the required notice period for pharmacy audits in Tennessee from two to three weeks. This change directly affects pharmacists and pharmacies, giving them more time to prepare before an initial on-site audit by entities like pharmacy benefits managers, the state, or their agents. The bill amends specific sections of Tennessee law governing pharmacy insurance benefits and audit procedures to implement this longer notice period. The policy change takes effect January 1, 2026, and focuses solely on adjusting the timing of audit notifications.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Tennessee courts to impose the maximum penalty of life imprisonment without parole for specific crimes committed by individuals illegally present in the United States. The enhanced punishment applies when the crime is a violent offense, involves a deadly weapon, or occurs on school property while students or children are present. Additionally, the law requires that arrests and convictions under these specific circumstances be reported to a state council to track potential links to human trafficking. These changes directly affect how penalties are determined for certain offenders and establish a reporting mechanism for law enforcement and state officials.

Maddy summaryThis bill reorganizes the Tennessee State Energy Policy Council by replacing its previous structure with a new seventeen-member body. The council includes representatives from various sectors such as energy production, consumers, higher education, and environmental groups, with appointments made by the governor, legislative leaders, and other officials. Key provisions specify the composition of the council, ensuring representation from industries like nuclear, oil and gas, and renewable energy, while also including a student member and an environmental representative. The legislation aims to create a unified energy policy that balances economic growth with resource management and supports domestic energy development.

Maddy summaryHB 2190 amends Tennessee law to increase the number of members required on the Governor's Executive Council from three to four. This change affects the state's executive branch by altering the composition of the council that advises the governor. The bill does not authorize the deployment of military forces to the southern border, as that description appears to be an error in the provided title text. Instead, it is a procedural update to the state code that took effect on May 21, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the civil service rules for the City of Rockwood by repealing an older 1997 law and replacing it with new regulations. It establishes a five-member Civil Service Board where members are selected through a mix of city appointment and employee election, with term limits preventing anyone from serving more than two consecutive terms. The new law applies to full-time paid city employees, excluding leaders, elected officials, and those on probation or working part-time, while requiring written job descriptions and standardized pay ranges for covered positions. Additionally, the legislation clarifies the process for employee discipline and grievances to ensure decisions require a majority vote from the board.