Rep. Rush Bricken

Maddy summaryHB 1928 changes Tennessee's subdivision approval process by requiring local planning commissions (or authorized local agencies) to approve new housing development plans *before* submitting them to the state Department of Environment and Conservation for final approval. This directly affects developers and local governments, shifting the initial review step from the state department to local entities. The bill mandates the state department update its website to allow upload of local approval documentation, and takes effect July 1, 2026, for all subdivision permits approved after that date. The change aims to streamline state review by ensuring local compliance first.

Maddy summaryHB 1122 modifies Tennessee law to allow Grundy County (population 13,500-13,550 per 2020 census) to regulate the land application of treated sewage sludge (biosolids) instead of state agencies. The bill amends multiple code sections to transfer authority from state regulators to Grundy County's legislative body for this specific activity. It does not affect other counties or other waste management regulations. The change applies only to biosolids land application, leaving all other solid waste rules unchanged. This is a targeted regulatory shift for one county, not a broad policy change.

Maddy summaryHB 1703 requires business entities - such as corporations, limited liability companies, and partnerships - that own residential rental properties in Tennessee to register those properties with the Secretary of State. Registration must occur by January 1, 2027, or within 60 days of purchase, including details like property addresses, entity contact information, and management contacts. Failure to register on time may result in a $2,000 civil penalty per violation. The collected data will be publicly accessible online to help governments monitor housing compliance. This bill directly affects commercial property owners and aims to improve transparency around rental housing standards.

Maddy summaryHB 1417 extends the current city judge's term in Tullahoma by one year (until August 2026) to align their election with the city's mayor and aldermen elections. After this extension, the city judge will be elected every eight years during the same August municipal elections as the mayor and aldermen, beginning in 2026. The bill modifies existing election timing rules under Chapter 553 of the Acts of 1903 but does not change the judge's qualifications, compensation, or duties. This directly affects Tullahoma's city judge position and municipal election schedule.

Maddy summaryHB 922 amends Tennessee Code Section 47-18-2108(b) to extend a deadline from three to five business days for a specific consumer protection process. The bill directly affects businesses and consumers interacting with consumer protection enforcement procedures. It makes a technical change to the timeline for compliance but does not add new prohibitions or alter the core protections described in the bill's title. The actual text only modifies a procedural deadline, with no substantive changes to consumer fraud definitions or penalties.

Maddy summaryHB 586 modifies how counties handle revenue from property transfer taxes. It increases the commission counties retain for collecting these taxes from 2.4% to 5%, requires 50% of the total collections to go directly to the county general fund, and allocates the remaining funds to specific state programs including wetland acquisition, local parks land, state lands, agricultural conservation, and the state general fund. The bill directly affects county registers (who collect the taxes) and the designated state/local funds. It changes the distribution of existing tax revenue without altering the tax rate itself.

Maddy summaryHB 399, the "Protecting Tennessee Schools and Events Act," creates a state grant program to provide portable walk-through metal detectors to school districts in counties identified as distressed or at-risk by economic metrics. The bill allocates funds to cover the full cost of purchasing, installing, and training staff on these detectors, with grants limited to $16,000 per detector (up to $48,000 per school district). Eligible districts must apply on a first-come, first-served basis by July 1, 2025, and detectors must meet specific standards like IP54 ingress protection and modular design. The program specifically targets security for students and staff during all school hours and after-school events, including athletic competitions and assemblies.

Maddy summaryHJR 292 is a ceremonial resolution honoring Kelly Orr, a fine arts teacher at Tullahoma High School, for being named the 2025 Tennessee Arts Academy Teacher Hero. It directly recognizes her dedication to arts education and peer-nominated excellence in teaching. The resolution formally congratulates her and extends best wishes for her continued success, with no new policies or funding changes. As a procedural memorial, it has no binding effect beyond symbolic recognition.

Maddy summaryHB 135 increases the size of Tennessee's Emergency Communications Board from nine to eleven members. It adds two additional county government representatives (appointed by the Senate speaker) and two additional city government representatives (appointed by the House speaker), replacing the previous structure. The bill also changes the board's quorum requirement from a majority to six members for official actions. This procedural change, effective July 1, 2025, directly affects how county and city officials are appointed to serve on the board.

Maddy summaryHB 603 amends Tennessee's Uniform Commercial Code by changing the deadline for the Secretary of State's annual report on filing office operations from February 1 to January 15. This procedural change directly affects the Secretary of State's office and the governor's office, requiring them to submit the report 16 days earlier each year. The bill makes no substantive policy changes but adjusts an administrative deadline to align with a new reporting schedule. It is a technical amendment with no direct impact on businesses or residents.