Rep. William Lamberth

Maddy summaryHB 122 amends Tennessee law to designate the Tennessee Advanced Communications Network (TACN) as the specific division within the Department of Safety responsible for operating, maintaining, and overseeing the statewide P25 interoperable communications system. The bill authorizes the Department of Safety to collect fees and assessments for the system's maintenance, use, and improvement - beyond existing fees for system access. All collected funds must be used exclusively for the system's maintenance, use, and improvement, as specified by department rules. This change clarifies administrative responsibility and funding mechanisms for emergency communications infrastructure used by law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Maddy summaryHB 1312 expands paid bereavement leave for specific Tennessee state employees. It directly affects state officers and employees listed in Tennessee Code sections 8-30-102(a), (b)(2)-(11), and (b)(13). The bill grants: 3 days for siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, foster parents, or parents-in-law; 5 days for parents or stepparents; and 10 days for spouses, children, or stepchildren. These changes replace previous leave policies and take effect upon becoming law.

Maddy summaryHB 105 modifies Tennessee's child care improvement pilot program by removing the requirement that funding must go exclusively to nonprofit organizations. This change allows for-profit child care agencies to now apply for and receive state grants to establish or improve their facilities. The bill directly affects child care agencies seeking state funding under this specific program, expanding eligibility beyond nonprofits. The key provision amends Tennessee Code Annotated Section 71-3-520(a) to eliminate the reference to "nonprofit organizations," making the funding accessible to a broader range of providers. The change took effect on March 28, 2025, after Governor approval.

Maddy summaryHB 119 changes which Tennessee state official issues a certificate proving drivers have met financial responsibility requirements. Currently, the Commissioner of Safety handles this, but the bill shifts the duty to the Commissioner of Revenue. Drivers who need to show they've paid a required cash deposit or filed a bond (as mandated by the 1977 Financial Responsibility Law) will now submit documentation to the revenue office instead of safety. This administrative change takes effect January 1, 2026, affecting all drivers requiring proof of financial responsibility for vehicle registration or accident claims.

Maddy summaryHB 128 amends Tennessee's workers' compensation laws primarily by changing qualifications for judges on the workers' compensation appeals board. It raises the minimum age for appointment from 30 to 35 years and increases allowable reappointments from two to three additional terms. The bill also extends a deadline for certain injury claims from June 30, 2025, to June 30, 2030, and adds burial costs to covered medical expenses. These changes directly affect individuals seeking appointment or reappointment to the appeals board and adjust procedural timelines for claimants. The bill became effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 297 clarifies ownership continuity for agricultural, forest, or open space land owned by two people under specific joint ownership types (tenancy by entireties or joint tenancy with right of survivorship). It states that when one owner dies or divorces, the property is deemed to retain its original ownership status if the remaining owner keeps it through survivorship rights or if a divorce court awards it to one owner. This applies only to properties already classified under Tennessee's 1976 Agricultural, Forest and Open Space Land Act. The law amends Tennessee Code Sections 67-5-1005, 67-5-1006, and 67-5-1007 to implement this change. It took effect April 3, 2025, after being signed by the Governor.

Maddy summaryHB 120 creates two new criminal offenses in Tennessee: intentionally obstructing officers from entering, leaving, or moving within areas where they protect vulnerable individuals, and refusing to vacate restricted zones when ordered for safety. It directly affects anyone who interferes with the Division of Protective Services (including highway patrol and law enforcement officers) while they are safeguarding people under their protection. Violating these provisions is a Class A misdemeanor, but becomes a Class E felony if the person posed a threat to the protected individual. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, and applies to all locations where protective services are actively engaged.

Maddy summaryHB 321 requires all Tennessee state executive branch agencies to accept electronic document submissions instead of fax transmissions. It defines "electronic transmission" as digital communication that can be printed (e.g., email, online portals) and removes all references to "fax," "facsimile," or "email" from over 30 sections of state law. This change affects state agencies handling paperwork and individuals or businesses submitting documents to them, streamlining processes by standardizing digital submissions. The law takes effect January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 106 exempts certain child care programs from Tennessee's licensing requirements, directly affecting providers like home schools, after-school programs, and religious institutions. The bill creates new exemption categories, including home schools, after-school programs serving fewer than five children for less than three hours daily, and religious "Parents' Day Out" programs meeting specific criteria. It also adds requirements for exempt programs, such as registration with the state, maintaining attendance records, and adhering to time limits (e.g., no more than 12 hours weekly for "Parents' Day Out"). The law, signed by the Governor on April 3, 2025, and effective July 1, 2025, streamlines regulations for qualifying providers without requiring a license.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Section 65-6-133 to change the authority responsible for commissioning railroad police officers. It replaces references to the "governor" with the "commissioner of safety" in the process railroad companies must follow to appoint officers. The change affects railroad companies seeking to commission police officers and updates the designated official in state law. The bill became effective March 28, 2025, after being signed by the Governor.