Rep. William Lamberth

Maddy summaryHB 123 revises Tennessee's process for filing liens against property owners to cover reclamation costs for abandoned coal mining lands. It requires the commissioner to notify property owners of proposed liens, amounts, and their right to avoid liens before filing. Property owners who did not consent to or control the mining operation, or who pay the lien amount before filing, cannot have liens placed against their property. This directly affects landowners whose properties were used for mining but who were not involved in the operations. The bill updates Section 59-8-302 of Tennessee Code to make the lien process more transparent and provide clear pathways for owners to avoid financial liability.

Maddy summaryHB 1303 standardizes the expiration date for most agricultural licenses in Tennessee to June 30 of each licensing cycle, replacing prior requirements that licenses expire on July 1. It directly affects agricultural license holders, including those for milk sampling/testing, liming materials, and other regulated activities under the Department of Agriculture. Key provisions include changing renewal deadlines to require applications by July 1 and removing references to July 1 expiration dates across multiple statutes. The bill excludes forestry licenses from this change and became effective April 11, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 126 revises Tennessee's state natural areas by updating acreage descriptions for existing protected lands and designating four new natural areas. It increases protected acreage for sites like Barnett's Woods (from 40 to 156 acres) and adds new areas including Clifty Creek Gorge (89 acres protecting the federally threatened Virginia spirea), Rocky Hill (1 acre safeguarding the endangered running glade clover), Union Grove (59 acres preserving the Tennessee trillium), and Versailles Knob (40 acres protecting Braun's Rockcress). The bill directly affects conservation efforts by expanding legal protections for specific endangered species and habitats across Morgan, Rutherford, and Hamblen counties. Enacted on April 11, 2025, it formalizes these land designations without introducing new funding or regulatory requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 604 changes the application process for the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission by requiring applicants to submit materials in three copies (triplicate) instead of two (duplicate), as specified in TCA Section 57-4-201(b)(1). This procedural adjustment affects businesses or individuals seeking licenses or permits from the commission, who must now provide three copies of their application. The bill, signed into law on April 11, 2025, took effect immediately and has no impact on alcohol regulations or enforcement. It is a straightforward administrative change with no substantive policy implications.

Maddy summaryHB 1316 prohibits the use of digital driver licenses or digital photo IDs for voter identification purposes in Tennessee. The bill amends state law to require physical driver licenses for voting verification, while regulating data handling for digital license systems: it bans geolocation tracking, limits data retention to three days, and restricts biometric data collection (like facial scans) to only verifying identity against a physical license photo. These provisions directly affect Tennessee residents using digital driver licenses for non-voting purposes. The law, effective April 24, 2025, also mandates explicit user consent for biometric data and prohibits selling or sharing such data beyond law enforcement needs.

Maddy summaryThis is a procedural resolution confirming Governor Bill Lee's appointment of Rick Spell to the University of Tennessee Health Science Center Advisory Board. It does not create new policy but follows Tennessee law (TCA § 49-9-501) requiring the General Assembly to confirm such governor appointments. Rick Spell, a University of Memphis graduate and current Memphis Athletic Foundation president, will serve on the board until June 30, 2028. The resolution solely formalizes this appointment without altering any substantive duties or funding for the board.

Maddy summaryThis resolution confirms Governor Bill Lee's appointment of Todd Womack to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) advisory board, as required by Tennessee law. It directly affects UTC governance by adding Womack - a UTC alum (graduated 1995) and current UTC Foundation Board member - to the board for a term ending June 30, 2028. The bill does not create new policy but formally ratifies a governor's appointment under existing state law.

Maddy summaryHJR 198 is a procedural resolution confirming Governor Bill Lee's appointment of Annie Dockery to the English Language Arts Standards Recommendation Committee. It directly affects only Ms. Dockery, who will serve on the committee until December 31, 2025, as required by Tennessee law (TCA § 49-1-312). The resolution has no policy provisions - it simply follows the statutory requirement for legislative confirmation of this committee appointment. This is a routine confirmation process with no broader impact on education policy or funding.

Maddy summaryHJR 195 is a procedural resolution confirming Governor Bill Lee’s appointment of Lynn Richardson to the Tennessee Ethics Commission. It requires the General Assembly to formally approve her appointment, as mandated by Tennessee law (TCA § 3-6-103), which necessitates a two-thirds vote in both legislative chambers. The resolution directly affects Richardson, who will serve on the Ethics Commission until December 31, 2028, following her confirmation. This is a routine confirmation process, not a policy change, and does not alter existing ethics laws or regulations.

Maddy summaryHR 110 is a House Resolution authorizing 12 specific 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(19) nonprofit organizations in Tennessee to hold one annual fundraising event each during the 2025-2026 fiscal year (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). The resolution approves pre-vetted events like raffles, dinners, and car shows for groups including Boys & Girls Clubs, Children’s Hospital, and Veterans' organizations across 10 counties. It complies with Tennessee’s constitutional requirement (Article XI, Section 5) and Nonprofit Gaming Law, which mandates legislative approval for such events. The resolution does not create new rules but formally authorizes the listed organizations’ existing approved plans.