Rep. William Lamberth

Maddy summaryThis bill is a ceremonial resolution (House Resolution 146) passed by the Tennessee House of Representatives to honor the late Paul Trowbridge Gillespie, Jr., a Memphis community leader and father of Representative John Gillespie. The resolution commemorates his life, highlighting his career in finance, community service (including roles at Memphis University School and ArtsMemphis), military service, and family dedication. It does not create new laws or affect any policies - it is solely a symbolic tribute expressing the House's condolences to his family and recognition of his legacy. The resolution was unanimously adopted by the House on February 4, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 2084 extends the deadline for state scholarship administrators to select beneficiaries and notify the college savings trust fund board. Specifically, it increases the required time from 30 to 45 days before the start of each academic term. This change directly affects state government entities that manage scholarships through educational investment plans. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Section 49-7-826(b) to reflect this 15-day extension.

Maddy summaryHJR 742 is a procedural resolution calling a joint convention of Tennessee's Senate and House of Representatives to hear Governor Bill Lee's State of the State address on February 2, 2026. It sets specific deadlines: requiring the governor to submit the 2026-2027 budget document by close of business on February 2, 2026, and mandating that budget-related legislation be filed by February 9, 2026. This resolution directly affects the General Assembly’s schedule for budget processes, aligning with existing Tennessee law (TCA § 9-4-5105) to formalize timing for the annual budget cycle. As a procedural measure, it does not change policy but establishes procedural deadlines for the state's budget submission.

Maddy summaryHJR 741 is a procedural resolution scheduling a recess for the Tennessee General Assembly. It directs the 2026 regular session to pause at close of business on January 15, 2026, and reconvene at 8:30 a.m. on January 21, 2026, to observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The bill directly affects Tennessee legislators and staff by altering the session calendar. It follows constitutional procedures (Article II, Section 16) and was enacted after passing both chambers and receiving the Governor's approval on January 23, 2026. This is a routine scheduling adjustment with no substantive policy changes.

Maddy summaryHJR 759 is a ceremonial resolution honoring Robert Earl Dudgeon, a Gallatin, Tennessee resident and U.S. Army veteran, on his 90th birthday. The resolution expresses the Tennessee General Assembly’s tribute to Dudgeon for his military service, community involvement, and personal character. As a non-binding commemorative measure, it has no policy impact or direct effect on laws, taxes, or government programs - it simply recognizes Dudgeon’s milestone birthday through legislative acknowledgment. The resolution was unanimously adopted by the House and referred to the Senate for formal presentation.

Maddy summaryHB 1626 changes the quarterly reporting deadlines for bail bondsmen and court clerks in Tennessee. Specifically, it extends the filing dates for reports on bonds issued (by bondsmen) and bonds accepted (by court clerks) from the 25th to the 30th of January, April, July, and October each year. This procedural adjustment affects all licensed bail bondsmen and court clerks statewide who submit these quarterly reports under Tennessee law. The bill does not alter the content or requirements of the reports, only the submission deadlines.

Maddy summaryHB 1636 allows video recordings of child victims interviewed by forensic interviewers to be used as evidence in court. The bill specifically permits this when the interviewer is a Department of Children's Services (DCS) employee who meets certain qualifications and conducts interviews under a qualifying child advocacy center. It amends Tennessee evidence law to establish these requirements for admissibility. The provision expires on July 1, 2031, and applies only to cases involving sexual or physical violence against children. This directly affects court proceedings involving child victims and the evidence standards for DCS-employed interviewers.

Maddy summaryHB 1637 moves the annual reporting deadline for Tennessee's Department of Children's Services from January 31 to February 15. The bill directly affects the Department of Children's Services, requiring it to publish its annual report on department operations and programs by the new date. This is a procedural change to existing reporting requirements under Tennessee law, with no new program provisions or funding impacts. The change takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1638 extends the timeframe for the Tennessee Department of Correction to notify victims about parole hearings. It changes the deadline from 90 to 100 days after a court conviction for inmates eligible for parole consideration. This affects the Department of Correction (which must send notifications) and victim witness coordinators (who receive them). The bill amends Tennessee law to give the Department an extra 10 days for this notification process, effective July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1431 amends Portland's city charter by removing outdated provisions (specifically Article XII) and replacing them with a notice that the section is repealed. The bill requires approval by a two-thirds vote of Portland's city council before it becomes effective. This procedural change updates the city's charter to eliminate obsolete language without creating new policy.