Rep. Jody Barrett

Maddy summaryHJR 325 is a ceremonial resolution honoring the Creek Wood High School boys' bowling team (the "Red Hawks") for winning the TSSAA Division I state championship with a perfect 26-0 season record. It specifically commends the team members, coaches (including Head Coach Cassie Wright), and supporters named in the resolution. The resolution has no policy impact - it is purely symbolic, expressing legislative admiration without creating new laws or affecting any programs. This type of resolution is standard for recognizing athletic achievements and does not alter state regulations or funding.

Maddy summaryHJR 54 is a ceremonial resolution honoring Lewis County Sheriff Dwayne Kilpatrick upon his retirement after a 43-year career in law enforcement. It recognizes his 13 years as sheriff (including seven re-elections), his leadership in community programs like the work-release initiative for public projects and the wood program providing heating for low-income residents, and his service to the county. The resolution, passed by the Tennessee General Assembly and signed by the Governor, formally commends his "devotion to the safety and preservation of his community" without creating any new laws or affecting policies. It is purely symbolic recognition of his service.

Maddy summaryHB 607 changes a requirement for Tennessee's Workers' Compensation Advisory Council. The bill shortens the deadline for providing meeting summaries to legislative committees from 10 business days to 10 calendar days, meaning the council must submit summaries within 10 days including weekends and holidays. This directly affects the advisory council and legislative committees overseeing commerce issues. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4 and Title 50, to update this provision.

Maddy summaryHB 868 would ban political committees based outside Tennessee from contributing to influence primary elections for a statewide political party in the state. The bill prohibits out-of-state committees from giving money or other contributions to candidates, other committees, or for any purpose intended to affect primary elections. It defines a primary election as one for the statewide political party (the party controlling both legislative chambers on July 1, 2025), and the law would take effect on that date. This measure targets out-of-state campaign financing without specifying a particular political party.

Maddy summaryHB 697 allows Tennessee virtual schools to administer standardized TCAP tests to their students remotely, provided they follow specific security and monitoring rules. It requires virtual schools to conduct tests during designated windows, use live video proctoring (with a 1:10 student-to-proctor ratio), and prevent students from leaving their testing area. The bill also mandates that schools provide a second device for video monitoring if needed, unless the test platform supports integrated camera monitoring. This applies to all virtual schools operating under Tennessee law and takes effect for the 2026-2027 school year.

Maddy summaryHB 205 designates specific segments of five waterways - including Beaverdam Creek, the Duck River in Hickman County, Lick Creek, Piney River, and Swan Creek - as Class II pastoral river areas under Tennessee law. This adds these defined stretches to the state’s protected natural areas, preserving their scenic and recreational value. The bill amends existing law to include these segments in the Class II classification, replacing a specific reference to the Duck River with broader language covering any river segment. It directly affects the designated river portions and communities along them, focusing on conservation without new regulations or funding. The legislation aims to maintain these areas' natural character as part of Tennessee’s scenic river system.

Maddy summaryHB 137 gives home buyers or borrowers in Tennessee the exclusive right to select the company that handles the closing of a real estate transaction (called a settlement agent). It also allows sellers to hire their own attorney to represent them during closing, and prohibits the settlement agent from charging the seller certain fees without the attorney’s written consent. The law takes effect on July 1, 2025, and applies to all real property transactions in the state. This change ensures buyers control the closing process while giving sellers access to independent legal representation.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes state-level extreme risk protection orders in Tennessee, which are legal orders issued by judges to temporarily remove firearms from individuals deemed to pose a danger to themselves or others. The legislation explicitly prevents any local government, such as cities or counties, from creating their own versions of these orders or enforcing them against residents. It further bars the state from accepting federal or other funding used to enforce such orders and declares any existing federal orders of this type null and void within Tennessee. Additionally, the bill makes it a misdemeanor for anyone, including law enforcement officers, to attempt to enforce a federally issued extreme risk protection order against a Tennessee resident.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows local governments in Tennessee to update their building codes to include specific safety rules for three-family and four-family dwellings. Under the new rules, the state fire marshal cannot require automatic fire sprinklers in these buildings if they are under 5,000 square feet and have walls, floors, and ceilings that meet a two-hour fire-resistance rating. However, the bill also gives local communities the option to pass their own ordinances that do require sprinklers in these types of homes if they choose to do so. The changes take effect on July 1, 2024, and apply to residential structures that fall outside the current scope of the state's standard residential building code.

Maddy summaryThis Tennessee law changes how severe the punishment is for intentionally blocking roads or highways, making it a more serious felony crime instead of a minor misdemeanor. It also allows people who are hurt or lose money because of such a blockage to sue the person who did it for financial compensation. The new rules apply to anyone who deliberately stops traffic on a street or other place used for vehicles, and the changes officially started taking effect on July 1, 2024.