Rep. Gino Bulso

Maddy summaryHB 315 creates "covenant marriage" in Tennessee as a voluntary option for couples who commit to a lifelong marital relationship. To enter a covenant marriage, couples must complete premarital counseling emphasizing lifelong commitment, sign a specific declaration (including a written promise to preserve marriage), and file it with the county clerk. Divorce is only permitted if one spouse proves the other committed a "complete and total breach" of the marital covenant, unlike regular divorce which has broader grounds. This applies to new marriages starting July 1, 2025, and existing marriages that later choose to convert to covenant status.

Maddy summaryHB 1479 designates November 2nd of each year as "James K. Polk Day" in Tennessee to honor the 11th U.S. President, who was born on that date and served as Tennessee's governor and president. The bill adds this observance to Tennessee's official calendar of special days under state law. It directly affects Tennessee residents and state institutions by establishing an annual commemoration of Polk's historical contributions. The bill contains no funding, regulatory changes, or policy impacts - only a ceremonial designation.

Maddy summaryHB 1481 would designate the third Sunday in June each year as "Fathers' Day" in Tennessee, amending Tennessee Code Annotated Title 15, Chapter 2. This bill directly affects all Tennessee residents by adding a state-recognized day to honor fathers' roles in families. The key provision simply adds this specific date to the state's list of official days of special observance, aligning with the national standard. The bill is procedural and does not create new obligations or funding. It remains pending before the State & Local Government Committee.

Maddy summaryHB 1528 amends Tennessee wrongful death law to expand who can file such claims and adjust spouse abandonment rules. It adds unborn children (from fertilization, not just in utero) to the definition of "person" eligible for wrongful death claims, directly affecting families seeking compensation for prenatal loss. The bill also extends the time period for presuming a surviving spouse abandoned the deceased from two to three years before a wrongful death claim can proceed. These changes, effective July 1, 2026, would impact wrongful death cases involving prenatal injuries and spouse abandonment disputes under Tennessee Code Annotated Title 20 and Section 63-6-1102.

Maddy summaryHB 5 would increase maximum compensation limits for injured plaintiffs in civil lawsuits in Tennessee. It raises the cap for standard noneconomic damages from $750,000 to $1.5 million and for catastrophic injuries from $1 million to $2 million under Tennessee Code Annotated Section 29-39-102. This change directly affects individuals who win civil cases involving personal injury or loss, providing higher potential awards for non-monetary harms like pain and suffering. The bill applies to lawsuits filed on or after July 1, 2025, if enacted.

Maddy summaryHB 476 increases financial requirements for insurance companies providing workers' compensation coverage in Tennessee. It raises the mandatory bond amount from $50,000 to $100,000 and the alternative deposit amount from $100,000 to $200,000 with the Labor Commissioner. These changes apply specifically to insurers operating in Tennessee's workers' compensation market and take effect January 1, 2026. The bill amends Tennessee Code sections related to insurance regulation (Title 50, Section 50-6-404).

Maddy summaryHB 1925, the "One America Act," requires non-lawfully present individuals who have lived in Tennessee for over 30 days to register with the Tennessee Department of Safety and undergo an interview. If approved, they receive a one-year visa allowing lawful re-entry to the U.S. and Tennessee; after one year with no criminal offenses, they may apply for permanent resident status. Those denied eligibility must leave the U.S. within 30 days. The bill amends Tennessee Code Titles 4, 8, and 39 but remains pending in committee with no voting record yet.

Maddy summaryHB 2254 allows Tennessee's Attorney General to submit the annual consumer affairs report electronically instead of in paper form. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 47-18-5002(3) and related titles to permit electronic submission of this report. It directly affects the Attorney General's office (which prepares the report) and the General Assembly (which receives it). This is a procedural change with no impact on consumer protection laws or regulations.

Maddy summaryHB 1475 limits when Tennessee courts can exclude evidence in criminal cases. It prohibits excluding evidence unless it was obtained through deliberate, reckless, or grossly negligent conduct violating the Fourth Amendment, or recurring/systemic negligence, and refusing to exclude it would contradict a clear U.S. Supreme Court ruling. The bill also creates an immediate appeal for prosecutors to the Tennessee Supreme Court when a judge suppresses evidence, requiring the court to expedite the review. This aligns Tennessee's evidence rules strictly with federal standards, preventing state courts from imposing stricter exclusion rules than those set by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Maddy summaryHR 158 is a procedural resolution that formally approves amendments to Tennessee's Rules of Appellate Procedure, which were proposed by the Tennessee Supreme Court on January 14, 2026. It does not create new law but completes the required legislative approval process for the court's updated rules governing appeals procedures. The resolution directly affects Tennessee appellate courts, lawyers, and individuals involved in state appellate cases by implementing these revised procedural rules. This bill simply ratifies the Supreme Court's changes without altering substantive legal standards or creating new obligations.