Rep. David Hawk

Maddy summaryHB 927 clarifies that certain health insurance benefits (like dental or vision coverage, called "excepted benefits") do not need to be included in standard health insurance plans unless state law explicitly requires them. This affects health insurance providers and policyholders in Tennessee by removing an obligation to cover these specific benefits as part of standard coverage. The bill specifies that excepted benefits are exempt from requirements to cover specific people, providers, treatments, or conditions unless mandated by law. It applies to new or renewed insurance policies on or after July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 962 allows Tennessee cities, towns, counties, and metropolitan governments to create local boards that regulate hemp-derived cannabinoid product (HDCP) retailers. These boards can require retailers to obtain annual permits ($250 per location) and establish local sales rules that don’t conflict with state law. The bill directly affects HDCP retailers (who must apply for permits) and local governments (which can create enforcement boards). Local law enforcement may enforce these regulations, with penalties including $1,000 fines per violation for unpermitted operations. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 43-27-301 through 43-27-305 and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHJR 122 is a resolution directing Tennessee's Department of Health to study anesthesia staffing challenges across all facilities providing anesthesia services in the state. The study will assess the number and distribution of anesthesia providers (including physician anesthesiologists and certified nurse anesthetists), evaluate training infrastructure, identify recruitment/retention barriers, and analyze factors like reimbursement and staffing models. It requires input from stakeholders like the Tennessee Society of Anesthesiologists and a report with recommendations by January 2026. The resolution does not change current laws but aims to inform future policy decisions about anesthesia workforce needs.

Maddy summaryHB 1006 amends Tennessee law to expand who is prohibited from serving on a state university governing board. It now bars individuals who hold a position on the governing board of *any* higher education institution (not just public ones) from serving on a state university board. The bill also requires immediate vacating of any state board seat held by someone serving on another institution's board as of the law's effective date, with the appointing authority filling the vacancy for the remaining term. This directly affects current and future state university board members who also serve on boards of other colleges or universities.

Maddy summaryHB 963 redirects all state sales tax revenue from new and used motor vehicles and tires that exceeds a base amount to the state highway fund, starting July 1, 2025. The base amount is defined as the revenue collected in the previous fiscal year for these items, with any incremental increase sent to the highway fund annually. The bill specifically excludes revenue from two existing tax increases already allocated for education (from 1992 and 2002). This change ensures ongoing highway funding from vehicle and tire sales growth without affecting current education-related tax allocations.

Maddy summaryHB 970, titled the "Tennessee Healthcare Quality and Access Act of 2025," modifies Tennessee's certificate of need (CON) requirements for healthcare facilities. It requires state approval before new construction, bed increases (especially in nursing homes), bed relocations, or facility moves, with exemptions allowed if 95% of patients remain in the same zip codes and access for underserved groups isn’t reduced. The bill mandates public notice via newspaper publication for proposed projects and establishes a process for simultaneous review of competing applications. It directly affects hospitals, nursing homes, and healthcare providers seeking to expand, relocate, or change services in Tennessee.

Maddy summaryHB 1167 requires hospitals operating under a "certificate of public advantage" (a legal framework for hospital systems) to reconstitute their governing boards by May 1, 2025. The governor must appoint nine board members who are confirmed by the legislature, with strict rules prohibiting hospital employees, contractors, or individuals with financial conflicts from serving. Boards must meet public meeting requirements, and failure to appoint members by the deadline will cause the hospital system's certificate of public advantage to expire. This bill directly affects multi-hospital systems in Tennessee that hold these certificates, changing how their leadership is selected and governed.

Maddy summaryHB 966 creates two new state treasury accounts to redirect excess lottery funds: a "K-12 lottery capital outlay special account" for school facility projects and an "early learning program account" for pre-K programs. Any lottery funds exceeding $250 million annually are split equally between these accounts, with funds required to supplement - not replace - existing education funding. The comptroller will administer grant programs for local schools to use these funds for capital projects (like building repairs) or pre-K program expenses. The accounts carry forward unspent funds and interest annually, ensuring continuous support for K-12 facilities and early education.

Maddy summaryHB 967 requires payment card networks in Tennessee to exclude state and local taxes and fees (like sales tax or hotel occupancy tax) from the transaction amount used to calculate interchange fees for credit and debit card payments. This directly affects merchants and sellers who accept electronic payments, as it reduces the fees they pay to payment networks on taxed transactions. The bill mandates that networks either deduct tax amounts from interchange fees at settlement or provide proportional rebates. The policy change takes effect July 1, 2025, and includes a $1,000 civil penalty for non-compliance.

Maddy summaryHB 1041 establishes a fixed schedule for Tennessee's biennial September legislative sessions, requiring the General Assembly to convene on the Tuesday after Labor Day in odd-numbered years and adjourn by September 30. It limits the September session to considering 99 pre-filed bills (with specific exemptions for local, memorial, and procedural resolutions) and requires members to submit their bills by the third Thursday in August. The bill clarifies that September sessions do not count as regular sessions for appointments or confirmations and updates campaign finance rules to exclude these sessions from fundraising restrictions. This procedural bill primarily affects legislators and the legislative process, not specific constituents.