Rep. Scott Cepicky

Maddy summaryThis bill honors Mariela Dominguez, a student at Columbia Central High School, for being named the 2026 Boys & Girls Club of South Central Tennessee Youth of the Year. The resolution formally recognizes her achievements and encourages her future success while highlighting the positive impact of the Boys & Girls Clubs on youth development. It does not create new laws or change existing policies but serves as a ceremonial acknowledgment of her accomplishments.

Maddy summaryHB 1960 changes Tennessee's school accountability system by shifting responsibility for selecting interventions for struggling schools from the Department of Education to the State Board of Education. Specifically, it requires the Department to recommend intervention options to the State Board for priority schools in tier three of the progressive tiered intervention system, with the State Board making the final selection and notifying the school. This directly affects priority schools receiving tier three interventions, as the State Board - not the Department - will now choose the required intervention strategy. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 49, Section 49-1-602(b)(2)(J), and takes effect July 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 1497 requires all Tennessee municipalities to hold local elections on the same dates as statewide August primaries or November general elections, instead of separate municipal elections. It makes municipal elections partisan (candidates run under political party labels), standardizes referendum timelines for new municipalities, and ensures election dates align with state election schedules. The bill also specifies that current officials' terms remain unaffected, and new municipal elections must follow the state’s August/November election cycle after initial adoption. These changes apply to all cities and towns in Tennessee through amendments to state election laws.

Maddy summaryHB 912 deletes an obsolete section of Tennessee law that required the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy at the University of Tennessee to conduct a study on the economic feasibility of a statewide energy policy and submit a report to the energy task force by December 15, 2014. The bill removes this outdated requirement from the state code, as the study deadline has long passed and the provision is no longer applicable. This procedural change updates the legal framework without altering any active policy or creating new obligations.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a House Resolution that formally honors the memory of Edward Allen Hickman, a retired educator and public servant from Columbia, Tennessee. It recognizes his forty-two-year career in the Maury County School System, where he served as a teacher, coach, administrator, and Director of Schools, and lists the numerous awards he received for his leadership and athletic coaching. The resolution expresses the legislative body's sympathy to his family and officially records his contributions to the community and his character. As a commemorative measure, the bill does not create new laws or policy changes but serves to acknowledge his life and legacy.

Maddy summaryHB 1194 requires Tennessee's Office of Employment Verification Assistance to create and publish an annual report using existing resources. The report must show the number of employers the office enrolled in E-Verify or checked for work authorization status on their behalf. This bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 50-1-703 and related titles to establish this reporting requirement. The report must be published starting January 1, 2026, and directly affects the state office managing employment verification services.

Maddy summaryHB 1466 requires all Tennessee public schools and charter schools to administer the Presidential Fitness Test annually to assess students' strength, endurance, and flexibility. The test, based on a 2025 federal executive order, must be given without affecting students' grades, and schools must provide reasonable accommodations for students with IEPs or 504 plans. The state education department must notify schools 30 days before testing begins and report participation and results to lawmakers if the test is later revoked. This bill directly affects every K-12 student in Tennessee's public schools and their school districts.

Maddy summaryHB 25 prevents Tennessee public schools from using taxpayer funds to join athletic associations that restrict students who transferred once from competing in sports. It requires these associations to follow open meeting laws and allows closed meetings only for discussing protected privacy information under FERPA. Schools must annually report compliance to the state education department, and athletic associations must undergo annual financial audits by the comptroller. These changes directly affect public schools, athletic associations, and student athletes in Tennessee high schools.

Maddy summaryHJR 979 is a joint resolution honoring Lieutenant Colonel Brian E. Celatka upon his retirement from military service after a 38-year career. It recognizes his specific service, including deployments in Iraq and Qatar with the Tennessee National Guard, leadership roles in combat operations, and his current position as legislative liaison for Governor Bill Lee. The resolution formally expresses the General Assembly's gratitude for his "distinguished service" and "commitment to excellence" without creating any new legal obligations or policy changes. This is a symbolic gesture of recognition, not a substantive legislative action.

Maddy summaryHJR 66 is a resolution encouraging Tennessee school districts to make the free Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) Career Exploration Program available to all high school students. The program provides students with a standardized assessment to explore career options in the military, college, certifications, and civilian fields without cost to schools. It specifically urges local education agencies to participate in the Department of Defense-sponsored program, which helps students understand their aptitudes and potential career paths.