Rep. Ryan Williams

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution honors Maureen O'Neil, the valedictorian of the 2026 graduating class at Upperman High School, for her outstanding academic achievements. The bill formally commends her high grade point average and participation in extracurricular activities while expressing the General Assembly's best wishes for her future. Upon passage, a copy of the resolution will be prepared for presentation to Ms. O'Neil without the official House or Senate designations.

Maddy summaryHB 1952 expands the scope of practice for Tennessee optometrists by allowing them to perform certain surgical procedures for eye conditions, subject to board approval and specific training. The bill permits optometrists to conduct minor surgeries like eyelid lesion removals, abscess drainage, or simple laceration repairs (e.g., excising small non-cancerous growths or repairing small eyelid cuts), but explicitly prohibits procedures such as cataract surgery, LASIK, corneal transplants, or retina operations. It requires optometrists using local anesthetics for these procedures to meet board certification standards and provide proof of training. This change directly affects licensed optometrists in Tennessee, enabling them to provide more comprehensive primary eye care within defined limits.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a House Joint Resolution that formally commends Eleanor Anne Schiller for her service as a legislative intern. It recognizes her work assisting Representative Ryan Williams and the House Finance Subcommittee during the 2026 session of the Tennessee General Assembly. The resolution highlights her academic achievements and leadership roles on campus, noting her contributions to coordinating constituent groups and managing witness requests. Ultimately, the bill serves to honor her performance and wishes her well for future endeavors.

Maddy summaryHB 1176 changes Tennessee's annexation process by replacing the requirement for a public referendum with a new property owner consent standard. It specifies that annexation can proceed without a vote if two-thirds of property owners in the area consent in writing, those consenting own more than half the territory, and the annexation involves nine or fewer parcels. This directly affects property owners in areas being considered for city annexation, as their written consent becomes the primary requirement instead of a public vote. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Section 6-51-104 to remove the previous exception allowing annexations without referendums, streamlining the process for smaller-scale city expansions.

Maddy summaryHB 2253 prohibits juveniles adjudicated delinquent for conduct that would be "threatening to commit an act of mass violence" if committed by an adult from purchasing or possessing firearms until age 25. It also requires federally licensed firearm sellers to verify buyers are not prohibited under court orders or state law. The bill increases penalties for sexual exploitation of minors by raising felony classifications: possession of 50+ images becomes a Class B felony (100+ is Class A), and distribution of 25+ images becomes a Class A felony. These changes amend Tennessee’s criminal code in Titles 37 and 39, effective July 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 2326 amends Tennessee law to require the state treasurer to transfer 10% of the investment income earned by the state pooled investment fund each fiscal year to the state highway fund, by June 30 annually. This policy change directly affects the state treasurer's annual financial management and the funding available for highway projects. The key mechanism is a mandatory annual transfer of earnings, not principal, from the investment fund to the highway fund. The bill does not alter existing funding levels for other state programs but redirects a portion of investment returns toward transportation infrastructure. (This is a substantive funding bill, not procedural.)

Maddy summaryHB 2046 directs the first $150 million in health insurance tax revenue (starting July 2026) to access federal matching funds for specific healthcare providers. It will reimburse physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants who provide services like office visits, women’s health care, or anesthesia under TennCare. Reimbursement will cover up to 110% of Medicare rates for these services. This applies to TennCare payments for care provided on or after July 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1171 amends Tennessee tax law to require the commissioner of revenue to include the office of legislative budget analysis as a recipient of the annual report on franchise and excise tax credits. This procedural change directly affects the office of legislative budget analysis (which will now receive the report) and the commissioner of revenue (who must distribute it to this new recipient). The key mechanism adds "and the office of legislative budget analysis" to the existing distribution list under Tennessee Code Section 67-4-2109, ensuring the office receives the same report previously sent only to finance committees. The bill does not alter tax credit rules or amounts but expands access to legislative budget analysis data.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes amending Tennessee's constitution to allow local school boards to approve lotteries run by nonprofit school support organizations. It would require that net lottery revenue be directed to school districts for educational or extracurricular programs, removing the current constitutional ban on such lotteries. The amendment specifically targets funding for schools, ensuring proceeds support classroom and activity needs rather than general district budgets. This change would directly affect school districts, nonprofit school groups, and local education agencies in Tennessee.

Maddy summaryHB 2427, the "Tennessee Transactional Gold and Silver Act," allows physical gold and silver to be used as legal tender for private transactions and, if accepted, for paying state and local taxes or fees. The bill creates a system where the state treasurer can authorize a secure bullion depository and an electronic payment platform to facilitate gold/silver transactions, while exempting these transactions from state and local taxes. It defines "transactional gold and silver" as physical bullion (like certified coins or bars) backed by stored metal, requiring mutual agreement between parties for use in payments. The law does not compel businesses or government to accept gold/silver, and it explicitly prohibits using the system for surveillance or social scoring.