Rep. William Lamberth

Maddy summaryHB 1900 amends Tennessee law to allow victims of certain out-of-state crimes to seek a lifetime order of protection against offenders. It specifically covers individuals convicted in other states of offenses that would qualify as serious crimes (like assault or stalking) if committed in Tennessee. The bill changes where such petitions can be filed: they must now be filed in the county where the respondent lives, or if the respondent isn't a Tennessee resident, in the county where the petitioner lives. This update simplifies the filing process for victims dealing with cross-jurisdictional cases.

Maddy summaryHB 2157 changes the timeframe for notifying retired law enforcement officers about denied firearm permit applications. Specifically, it extends the notice period from 10 calendar days to 10 business days, requiring the state POST commission to provide this notification within the new window. The bill directly affects retired officers who apply for firearm carry permits and are denied. This is a procedural adjustment to the existing notification process, with no new requirements or substantive policy changes. (Bill text: Amends TCA §38-8-123(d)(2) to replace "ten (10) days" with "ten (10) business days.")

Maddy summaryHB 2186 allows counties with metropolitan government (like Nashville-Davidson County) to either charge a lower sales tax rate on food and food ingredients than other goods or fully exempt such sales from local sales tax. Counties must adopt this through a resolution and provide a certified copy to the state revenue department, with the change taking effect only starting October 1, 2026. This bill directly affects metropolitan counties by giving them flexibility in local food sales taxation, while deleting outdated provisions about metropolitan council membership reductions. The policy change is limited to food sales tax treatment and does not alter general sales tax rates for other items.

Maddy summaryHB 2532 increases the maximum number of education freedom scholarships available to eligible Tennessee students from 25,000 to 40,000 for the 2026-2027 school year. It directs the governor to elect Tennessee’s participation in a federal education tax credit program by December 2026 and comply with all future requirements to maintain that participation. The bill amends Tennessee Code to clarify scholarship eligibility for K-12 students and establishes the 40,000 cap as the new maximum limit. These changes directly affect students qualifying for the education freedom scholarship program and the state’s administrative processes for the program.

Maddy summaryHB 2106 would cap annual transfers from Tennessee's lottery for education account to the Tennessee Promise scholarship fund at $10 million per fiscal year, starting in 2025-2026. The bill limits how much lottery revenue can be redirected to the scholarship program, requiring any excess funds beyond a specified reserve to be transferred - but capping this transfer at $10 million yearly. This directly affects the Tennessee Promise scholarship program by controlling its annual funding source from lottery revenues. The change modifies state law to ensure consistent, predictable funding levels for the scholarship initiative without increasing overall state spending.

Maddy summaryHB 2529 requires chancery courts to appoint the Tennessee Commissioner of Commerce and Insurance as a court-appointed manager (receiver or conservator) for defendants found violating the Tennessee Securities Act of 1980, upon the commissioner’s request. This change directly affects securities industry violators and streamlines enforcement by giving the commissioner automatic authority to manage assets in court cases. The bill also modifies statute of limitations for private lawsuits (extending to 5 years from violation) and adds notice requirements for expunging customer dispute records from industry databases. These provisions aim to strengthen regulatory oversight and clarify procedures for handling securities violations.

Maddy summaryHB 1632 amends Tennessee's Drycleaner's Environmental Response Act to clarify program definitions and expand cleanup coverage. It adds "soil gas vapor" (including sub-slab vapor and indoor air) to the types of contamination the drycleaner environmental response fund addresses, and updates definitions for "recently abandoned" facilities, "registered facilities," and "wholesale distribution." The bill also revises registration requirements, requiring drycleaning facilities and wholesale distributors to register annually to access the fund, with non-compliance risking removal. These changes primarily affect drycleaning businesses, wholesale solvent distributors, and the state environmental agency managing the fund.

Maddy summaryHB 1634 allows Tennessee's commissioner of general services to appoint directors and staff at law enforcement training academies as law enforcement officers (subject to standard requirements). It also permits the Department of General Services to operate sales facilities at these academies, selling educational supplies, equipment, and promotional items to fund academy operations. All fees collected must go directly into a special fund for the academy's administration, maintenance, and improvements. This bill affects academy staff who may gain officer status and the academies themselves, which gain a new revenue source for their funding needs.

Maddy summaryHB 1504 establishes a "capitol hill protection zone" around Tennessee's state capitol grounds and 10 surrounding government buildings, including the legislative offices and Supreme Court building. It requires the Commissioner of Safety to ensure these areas are adequately staffed with law enforcement officers who have concurrent authority with local police to arrest, carry firearms, and investigate crimes. Officers assigned must be POST-certified, complete additional training on protest laws and crowd management, and protect state officials, employees, and the public. The law takes effect January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a House Joint Resolution that formally honors and commends Teresa Keen for her retirement. It recognizes her forty-nine years of service to the City of Portland, where she worked as an Assistant to the Mayor under eight different mayors. The resolution acknowledges her contributions to the city and her volunteer work with the Historical Society and other committees. Upon passage, the General Assembly will present a copy of this resolution to Ms. Keen as a gesture of appreciation.