Rep. Ed Butler

Maddy summaryHB 384 creates a recall process for city council members and school board officials in Tennessee. It requires petitions signed by at least 20% of registered voters in the official’s district to initiate a recall, with allowed reasons including misconduct, felony convictions, or lack of confidence. The bill specifies that petitions must be filed with election officials, prohibits duplicate or false signatures, and prevents recalls within two years of a prior election. This process applies to municipal legislative bodies and school boards, adding a new mechanism for voter removal beyond existing methods.

Maddy summaryThis bill, HB 1807, was enacted to change the deadline for state fire marshal inspections of new construction or building renovations from 72 hours to 10 business days. The law directly affects building owners, contractors, and state agencies by requiring the fire marshal to schedule these specific inspections within the new, longer timeframe. By extending the time allowed to complete the inspection, the bill aims to provide more flexibility for scheduling while still ensuring that state officials conduct the necessary safety reviews. The change applies to various building codes across multiple titles in the Tennessee Code Annotated and took effect on July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the penalty for indecent exposure to a Class E felony when the offense occurs while the person is confined in a penal institution and is intended to abuse, torment, harass, or embarrass a guard or staff member. It mandates a minimum sentence of 14 days in jail that must be served consecutively to any other sentence the offender is currently serving. Additionally, if a person is convicted of multiple violations of this specific offense, each sentence must be served one after the other rather than at the same time.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Tennessee's tax laws to clarify how sales and use tax exemptions apply to individuals claiming damages from natural disasters. Specifically, it updates the legal language to allow the tax exemption to be signed by either the claimant or their authorized representative, such as a lawyer or family member. The change ensures that people affected by disasters can more easily access tax relief without needing to be physically present to sign official documents. This adjustment simplifies the administrative process for both taxpayers and tax authorities while maintaining the original intent of providing financial relief after natural events.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the deadline for health care facilities in Tennessee to submit required reports, changing the date from March 1 to January 15. The change directly affects hospitals and other health care organizations regulated under multiple state codes. By moving the deadline earlier, the legislation ensures that these facilities provide updated information to regulators by mid-January instead of the end of winter. The act takes effect immediately upon becoming law.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Ethan Wade Walls Act, allows the surviving spouse or estate of a deceased commercial freight vehicle owner to receive a refund for the unused portion of registration fees. To qualify, the deceased must have owned or operated a freight motor vehicle for commercial purposes, and the refund is limited to a maximum of three vehicles. The process requires the surrender of the vehicle's registration and license plate along with a copy of the death certificate, after which the state department must issue the prorated refund within thirty days. The law applies retroactively to deaths occurring on or after June 1, 2023.