Rep. William Lamberth

Maddy summaryThis bill officially removes the Tennessee job skills program and its associated funding from state law. The legislation amends numerous sections of the Tennessee Code Annotated to delete the specific legal authority that established and maintained this workforce training initiative. By eliminating these provisions, the state effectively ends the program and stops the allocation of money designated for it. This change is part of broader statutory revisions required to align state laws with the annual budget passed by the legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the State of Tennessee to issue up to $87.7 million in general obligation bonds to fund transportation projects. The funds are designated for the Department of Transportation to build highways, repair and replace bridges, and construct or improve buildings and equipment. Additionally, the law allows the state to borrow an extra 2.5% of the total amount to cover the costs of issuing the bonds. Once sold, the state pledges its full faith and credit to repay the debt with interest over a period of up to 20 years.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes funding for the Tennessee state government for the fiscal years beginning July 1, 2023, and July 1, 2024. It allocates money to cover operating costs, salaries, and services for the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, as well as for state aid, debt service, and emergency needs. The legislation includes specific dollar amounts for various departments, such as funding for the courts, the attorney general's office, and legislative support services. Once signed into law, the bill provides the financial resources necessary to keep state agencies running during the specified fiscal periods.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Tennessee laws to protect businesses that hold permits for entertainment transportation, such as limousines or party buses, from having those permits refused upon renewal or revoked without a specific reason. Under the new rules, any government agency that regulates these services must approve renewal applications for companies that already held valid permits before May 1, 2024. Additionally, if a permit is taken away after that date, the agency must hold an administrative hearing and demonstrate a valid cause for the revocation. The legislation updates various sections of the state code to enforce these protections for existing licensed operators.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the state of Tennessee to cover the costs of court-ordered mental health evaluations and treatment for criminal defendants charged with misdemeanors who are suspected of being mentally incompetent. The law allows judges to order defendants to pay for these services only if they are found to have the financial ability to do so, with payments directed to the court clerk for processing. Additionally, the bill mandates that any inpatient mental health evaluations for these misdemeanor defendants must be completed within thirty days of admission to the facility. These changes take effect on July 1, 2024, and modify existing statutes in the Tennessee Code Annotated.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Tennessee franchise tax laws to allow the state revenue commissioner to issue refunds to taxpayers who paid taxes based on a specific minimum tax base that is no longer in effect. The legislation requires these taxpayers to file a separate claim within three years of the payment date, and it mandates that refunds include interest calculated at a specific federal rate starting 90 days after the claim is received. Additionally, the bill clarifies that refunds cannot be used to pay attorney fees and establishes a reporting requirement for the department of revenue to track the number and total value of these refund claims annually.

Maddy summaryThis enacted bill allows Tennessee counties and cities to choose whether to levy a sales tax on food and food ingredients or to exempt them entirely. Local governments must pass a resolution or ordinance to activate this option, and if they do tax food, the rate must be lower than the standard local sales tax rate. The law updates state code to clarify that these local decisions can override existing tax rules and ensures that such changes are recorded in official tax rate reports.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes it a Class A misdemeanor to knowingly break the rules set by a judge when released on bail. It applies to anyone released under Tennessee's bail conditions and allows police to arrest them without a warrant if they violate those rules. The law also clarifies that breaking bail rules should not be punished twice if the same actions are used to charge someone with another crime. These changes take effect on July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows the Tennessee National Guard to offer retention bonuses of up to $10,000 to enlisted members who possess critical skills, provided funds are available. It also grants state employees serving in the National Guard or reserve components special leave with partial pay when called to active duty for a contingency operation, ensuring they receive enough income to maintain their state benefits. The legislation requires the adjutant general and relevant state commissioners to create specific policies to manage these bonus programs and leave arrangements.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Protecting Children from Social Media Act, requires social media companies to verify the age of users and obtain express parental consent before allowing anyone under 18 to create or maintain an account. The law mandates that platforms provide parents with tools to supervise their children's usage, including the ability to view privacy settings, set daily time limits, and enforce breaks. Additionally, the bill prohibits companies from retaining personal information used for age verification and invalidates any contract clauses that attempt to waive these protections. Enforcement of these rules is handled by the state attorney general, who can investigate violations and seek penalties if a social media company fails to comply with the new requirements.