Rep. Doc Kumar

Maddy summaryHB 2570, the "Healthy Tennessee Grocery Tax Reform of 2026," changes Tennessee's sales tax rules for food by exempting specific healthy items from taxation. It directly affects grocery shoppers and retailers selling these exempt items, as it removes sales tax from fresh produce, raw meats, eggs, certain grains (like flour and beans), bread, unsweetened cereal, dairy, and 100% fruit/vegetable juice. The bill amends tax code to explicitly exclude these items from taxable "prepared food" (which now includes sugary snacks and sodas), while expanding tax exemptions to cover staples like beans, lentils, and unsweetened cereal. The changes take effect July 1, 2026, aiming to reduce tax burdens on basic, unprocessed food items.

Maddy summaryHB 2575, known as the "Reckless Bullet Prevention Act," makes it a Class A misdemeanor to recklessly discharge a firearm into the air, ground, water, or nearby objects when people are present. It directly affects anyone who discharges a firearm carelessly in public or populated areas, with specific exceptions for law enforcement, military personnel, hunters, and self-defense scenarios. The bill requires all handgun safety courses to include instruction on this new offense starting July 1, 2026, and applies to actions occurring on or after that date. Key exceptions cover official duties, wildlife control, and defense against animal attacks.

Maddy summaryHB 2576 removes an outdated billing requirement in Tennessee law that previously restricted reimbursement for certain medical tests (anatomic pathology services) to only gastroenterologists' billing after July 1, 2014. This technical amendment updates multiple sections of the Tennessee Code (Titles 8, 47, 56, 63, 68, and 71) to eliminate the obsolete reference, which no longer applied to any current billing practices. The change directly affects healthcare providers who bill for these services, removing a redundant rule that was no longer relevant. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment, streamlining billing regulations without creating new requirements or impacting patient care.

Maddy summaryHB 2568, the "Election Integrity Act of 2026," allows candidates in local Tennessee elections (such as county or city offices and school board positions) to challenge election results if they believe errors occurred in the election process. Candidates must file a written challenge with their county election commission within 10 business days of the election, triggering a 15-day county investigation and a 21-day state review by the election commission. The state commission can either certify the election (if errors didn’t change results) or order a special election (if errors likely altered the outcome). This process only affects the specific election being challenged, leaving other races on the ballot unaffected.

Maddy summaryHB 2579 amends Tennessee law to require health insurance companies to provide healthcare providers with 65 days' notice - up from 60 days - before implementing any material changes to their provider manuals or reimbursement policies. This change directly affects healthcare providers who rely on timely notice to adjust billing, care coordination, and practice operations. The bill modifies Tennessee Code Annotated § 56-7-3302(a)(1) to extend the notice period, ensuring providers have slightly more time to prepare for insurer policy updates.

Maddy summaryHB 2578 removes an obsolete requirement that the Tennessee Insurance Commissioner study whether state insurance laws create barriers for companies to cover individuals who used justified force (including deadly force) in self-defense or property protection. The bill deletes language mandating the commissioner to conduct this study and submit a report to the General Assembly by March 1, 2012. This change affects the Commissioner's administrative duties under insurance code sections but does not alter current insurance coverage rules or laws. The bill amends multiple Tennessee Code sections (Titles 4, 8, 56, 63, 68, and 71) related to commerce and insurance.

Maddy summaryHB 2577 removes an outdated requirement from Tennessee law that previously mandated the Department of Commerce and Insurance to conduct a study on Medicare supplement policy premiums for people under 65. This requirement expired in 2015 (five years after May 27, 2010), but remained in the statute book. The bill deletes the obsolete provision to clean up the state code, with no new policy changes or impacts on beneficiaries. It directly affects the department's administrative duties but has no practical effect on current insurance practices or consumers.

Maddy summaryHB 1200, known as "Savanna's Law," creates a public online registry for "persistent domestic violence offenders" in Tennessee. This applies to individuals convicted of domestic violence offenses with at least one prior conviction against a domestic abuse victim, as defined in the bill. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) must maintain the registry using court-provided data (name, date of birth, conviction details, and photos), excluding sensitive information like addresses. The registry becomes accessible online after January 1, 2026, with names automatically removed 2-10 years after the most recent conviction based on prior offense counts.

Maddy summaryHB 1204 revises Tennessee's driving under the influence (DUI) laws. It allows law enforcement officers to assist qualified medical practitioners in using reasonable force to obtain blood samples from drivers suspected of DUI, and increases the maximum sentence for a first-time DUI conviction from one year to one year and six months. The blood sample provision takes effect immediately upon enactment, while the sentencing change will take effect on July 1, 2025. This bill directly affects drivers charged with DUI in Tennessee by altering evidence collection procedures and penalties.

Maddy summaryHB 1199 requires Tennessee school districts operating at least one high school to adopt a policy allowing a junior or senior student to serve as a nonvoting representative on the school board. The bill mandates that students attend all public board meetings (excluding confidential sessions), serve at least one school year, and meet district-established eligibility criteria. School boards must create a fair selection process ensuring all high schools within the district have equal opportunity for student representation. Students may serve up to two consecutive years (junior and senior years) but may be removed for missing more than two meetings. The policy must be implemented for the 2025-2026 school year and beyond.