Rep. William Lamberth

Maddy summaryHB 108 changes Tennessee's state employee pay schedule by replacing the requirement for "semimonthly" pay with a new standard: pay periods must occur "no less than twice per month," as determined by the commissioner of finance and administration. This directly affects all state employees by removing fixed semimonthly pay dates (e.g., 1st and 15th) and allowing the commissioner flexibility to set biweekly or other schedules meeting the minimum two-pay-periods-per-month requirement. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated § 8-23-202 to remove the word "semimonthly" and clarify the pay frequency standard. It became effective March 28, 2025, after being signed by the Governor.

Maddy summaryHB 56 allows Tennessee county legislative bodies to remove appointed county board or commission members with a two-thirds vote, provided the removal is recommended by the appointing authority and the member receives at least five business days' notice before the vote. It directly affects individuals serving on appointed county boards (like planning or zoning commissions) but does not apply to members appointed to fill vacancies in the state legislature. The bill requires county legislatures to follow this specific process for removals, overriding any conflicting charter or local law. This change became effective April 3, 2025, after Governor's signature.

Maddy summaryHB 102 lowers the age at which adopted individuals can access their adoption records from 21 to 18 years old in Tennessee. The bill directly affects adopted persons aged 18 or older (or emancipated minors), allowing them to request sealed adoption records without parental consent. Key provisions include updating multiple Tennessee Code sections (e.g., 36-1-127, 36-1-134) to reflect the new age threshold, while maintaining exceptions for abuse investigations, departmental cases, and records involving biological parents who were victims of rape/incest. The law also clarifies that adoptive parents of minors under 18 may access records for their child, and requires notifications to individuals aged 18+ or their legal representatives. It becomes effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1341 creates a process for individuals to challenge when their name or address was filed with Tennessee's Secretary of State without their consent. To file a complaint, individuals must provide specific details about the document and their relationship to the business involved, and the Secretary must review it within 30 business days. If the Secretary finds the filing was unauthorized (based on clear evidence), they can void the document, though no refund will be issued for the original filing cost. This law directly affects individuals whose personal information was included in business filings without permission and the Secretary of State's office, which administers the complaint process.

Maddy summaryHB 107 modifies Tennessee's welfare program by removing specific requirements from personal responsibility plans for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients. It eliminates the need for parents or caretakers to include school attendance, immunizations, and health checks for children in their plans, and removes a 20% payment reduction penalty for failing to meet other plan obligations. The bill directly affects parents or caretakers receiving TANF benefits, simplifying their compliance requirements. Key provisions now focus only on child support cooperation (with exceptions for "good cause") and work-related activities, without mandating school or health-related plan components. This change takes effect as of March 28, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 191 makes it a Class B misdemeanor to knowingly point a laser pointer or laser device at someone driving a car, boat, aircraft, or any motor vehicle. This law directly affects individuals who intentionally use such devices to distract or endanger drivers. The bill creates a new criminal offense with penalties including fines or jail time for violations occurring on or after July 1, 2025. It applies statewide to all motor vehicles and was signed into law by the governor on March 28, 2025.

Maddy summaryHR 73 is a Tennessee House Resolution approving 29 specific annual charitable fundraising events for 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(19) nonprofit organizations during July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. The resolution authorizes these pre-approved events - primarily raffles and reverse raffles - across 10 Tennessee counties, including events like the "HAMMER AND HEART RAFFLE" in Anderson County and the "ST JUDE DREAM HOME GIVEAWAY" in Davidson County. It operates under existing state law (Tennessee Nonprofit Gaming Law) and Constitution Article XI, Section 5, which requires legislative approval for such events. The resolution does not create new rules but formally authorizes these already-approved events for the upcoming year.

Maddy summaryThis House Joint Resolution (HJR 186) confirms Governor Bill Lee's appointment of DeWitt Booth to the University of Tennessee Southern Advisory Board. It directly affects Booth, who will serve a term until June 30, 2028, as required by Tennessee law (TCA § 49-9-501). The resolution follows standard procedure for governor-appointed advisory board members, which mandates General Assembly confirmation. No new policy or program is created - this is a routine procedural step to validate the appointment.

Maddy summaryHB 104 updates Tennessee's legal references to align terminology across multiple statutes. It changes "intellectual and developmental disabilities" to "disability and aging" in over a dozen code sections and renames the "Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities" to the "Department of Disability and Aging." The bill specifically revises record retention requirements (Section 12), mandating that service records for adults be kept for 10 years after services end, and records for minors for 10 years after they reach age 18. These changes primarily correct outdated references and streamline administrative processes for the department and its contracted providers.

Maddy summaryHB 111 amends Tennessee's maternal health screening law to require standard blood tests during pregnancy to include hepatitis C antibody (anti-HCV) testing, with automatic follow-up testing for HCV RNA if the antibody test is reactive. This directly affects all pregnant women in Tennessee receiving routine prenatal care, as it adds hepatitis C screening to the existing mandatory tests for syphilis, rubella, and hepatitis B. The key provision mandates that laboratories performing these standard serological tests must automatically conduct the HCV RNA test when anti-HCV is positive, streamlining the detection of active hepatitis C infection. The bill aims to improve early identification of hepatitis C in pregnant individuals to support timely treatment and maternal health outcomes.