Rep. Caleb Hemmer

Maddy summaryHJR 725 is a ceremonial resolution honoring Strategic Hospitality Group for three of its Nashville restaurants - Bastion, Locust, and The Catbird Seat - becoming the first in Nashville and the American South to receive Michelin stars in 2024. The resolution recognizes the restaurants' historic achievement, highlighting their culinary excellence as measured by the Michelin Guide's criteria, and commends the hospitality group's leadership in elevating Tennessee's dining landscape.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (HJR 724), not a policy bill. It formally honors Clay Jackson, a Nashville resident, for being awarded Japan's Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays - their highest civilian honor for international cultural contributions. The resolution recognizes his decades of work promoting Japanese culture in Tennessee, particularly as co-chair of the Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival Advisory Committee and through community initiatives like cherry tree plantings. It was unanimously passed by both legislative chambers in early 2026.

Maddy summaryHouse Joint Resolution 708 is a symbolic resolution passed by the Tennessee General Assembly to formally commend Vincent Ruiz, an eighth-grade student from Nashville, for winning the 2025 National Marbles Tournament. It recognizes his achievement as the third player in the tournament's 102-year history to win in their first year of competition, after self-teaching the game through online resources. The resolution highlights his 68-2 record in 70 tournament games and celebrates his role as a community ambassador. This resolution does not create new laws or policies - it serves solely as a ceremonial tribute to Ruiz's accomplishment.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (HJR 798), not a policy bill. It honors Dave Owens, a turkey caller from Cherokee, Alabama, for winning the 2025 NWTF Grand National Calling Championship - the "Super Bowl" of competitive turkey calling. The resolution recognizes his championship victory, his conservation work with Turkeys for Tomorrow, and his media project (Pinhoti Project) promoting ethical hunting. It contains no policy changes, funding, or legal obligations - it simply expresses the Tennessee General Assembly's admiration. As a procedural resolution, it directly affects only Dave Owens through symbolic recognition.

Maddy summaryHB 2484 requires all Tennessee elementary and secondary schools to prominently display the Department of Children's Services' toll-free child abuse and neglect reporting phone number on their school websites. This applies directly to every public and private K-12 school in the state, mandating a visible online posting by July 1, 2026. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 49 to establish this specific posting requirement as a new provision for school websites.

Maddy summaryHB 24 amends Tennessee's game and fish laws to reclassify hunting on another's land without permission from a Class C misdemeanor to a Class B misdemeanor. This change directly affects hunters who trespass on private property, making the offense more serious under the law. The bill standardizes maximum fines for multiple wildlife violations at $500 (e.g., Section 70-2-205, 70-2-213), though it specifies fines only - not jail time - for the basic trespass offense. Key provisions include updating Section 70-4-106 to define the Class B misdemeanor penalty when wildlife is removed from private land. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, applying to offenses committed after that date.

Maddy summaryThis resolution honors the 10th anniversary of the Barbara J. Mapp Aviary Education Center at Radnor Lake State Park, recognizing its role in wildlife education and public access. It acknowledges the facility's features, including its wheelchair-accessible boardwalk, housing of seven non-releasable birds of prey (like bald eagles and hawks), and annual staff training for wildlife care. As a ceremonial resolution, it has no policy or funding impact - it solely expresses legislative recognition of the facility's decade-long service. The resolution was passed by both chambers and signed by the Governor in May 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 81 amends Tennessee law to require local education agencies (LEAs) to transfer a student's full academic and disciplinary records to a new school within three business days of receiving a transfer request. This change directly affects students moving between schools, ensuring their records - including any disciplinary history - are promptly shared with the receiving school. The bill updates existing statute (TCA Title 49) by shortening the previous transfer timeline, specifying the three-day deadline must be met "within three (3) days of the transfer date." It applies to all student transfers, aiming to streamline record handling without altering school disciplinary policies. The bill became law on May 2, 2025, as Public Chapter 156.

Maddy summaryHJR 632 is a ceremonial resolution honoring the band Coldplay for their musical achievements, cultural impact, and philanthropy. It recognizes their over 100 million album sales, Grammy Awards, charitable work (including donating 10% of profits to causes and £2.1 million to environmental efforts in 2021), and upcoming Nashville concert. The resolution has no legal effect or policy changes - it is a symbolic gesture by the Tennessee General Assembly to acknowledge Coldplay’s contributions. It was passed by both chambers and signed by the Governor on April 29, 2025.

Maddy summaryHJR 630 is a ceremonial resolution commending Tricia Herzfeld for her service on the Davidson County Election Commission. It formally recognizes her 11 years of work (2013-2025) and her legal advocacy in areas like civil rights, election law, and discrimination cases. The resolution has no policy impact - it is purely honorific, with no new laws, funding, or obligations created. It was passed by both legislative chambers and signed by the Governor on April 29, 2025, as a symbolic gesture of appreciation.