Maddy summaryThis Tennessee House Resolution formally honors Stanley Gordon Jones II for his contributions to the community and state. It serves as a commemorative acknowledgment of his professional and personal achievements rather than establishing new laws or regulations.
Maddy summaryHB 1189 updates Tennessee law by renaming "handgun carry permits" to "firearm carry permits" across multiple statutes. The bill directly affects permit holders by allowing them to carry any legally owned firearm (not just handguns) under their permit. Key provisions replace "handgun" with "firearm" in 37 sections of Tennessee Code, including definitions, permit validity, and restrictions. The change takes effect July 1, 2025, for permits issued prior to that date. This is a technical terminology update, not a new policy on gun ownership or carry.
Maddy summaryHB 2472 amends Tennessee's criminal code to redefine "criminally negligent conduct" for negligent homicide charges. It specifically includes failing to assist someone who is unconscious or needs medical care *if* the person knows or should know the condition resulted from controlled substance use. This directly affects individuals who witness drug-related medical emergencies but do not provide aid. The bill expands the legal definition of negligent homicide to cover these situations, effective July 1, 2026, without changing existing penalties. The amendment applies only to cases where drug use caused the medical emergency.
Maddy summaryHB 2513 requires certain tourism-related organizations under Tennessee's Department of Tourist Development to submit their annual audit reports to the legislative librarian, in addition to the governor and general assembly. This bill amends multiple sections of Tennessee Code (including Titles 2, 4, 5, and others) to update the reporting requirement. It directly affects organizations that prepare annual audits for the department, ensuring the legislative librarian receives these reports. The change is procedural, adding a new recipient for transparency without altering the content or purpose of the audits. The bill does not create new policy or financial obligations.
Maddy summaryHB 1983 sets a maximum hardwater level of 180 mg/L (measured as calcium carbonate) for public water systems in Tennessee. It requires systems receiving state funds for major upgrades (costing $25,000+) after July 1, 2026, to comply with this standard upon completion. Systems affected by seasonal runoff (e.g., snowmelt) may temporarily exceed the limit if they notify authorities within 10 days, provide documentation, and submit a remediation plan - though exemptions cannot exceed 120 days annually without approval. All affected systems must monitor and report hardwater levels in annual water quality reports. This bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 68, Chapter 221, Part 7, and takes effect July 1, 2026.
Maddy summaryHB 1301 revives civil lawsuits for sexual assault that were legally closed due to expired time limits, specifically for victims who were 18 or older when the assault occurred. It allows these cases to be filed between six months and two years after July 1, 2025. The bill amends Tennessee laws (Titles 28, 39, and 40) to cover defined offenses like rape, sexual battery, and incest. This change applies only to cases barred by statute of limitations before July 1, 2025, and does not affect cases involving minors.
Maddy summaryHB 2512 requires Tennessee to elect participation in a federal tax credit program that allows individuals to claim tax benefits for contributions to scholarship granting organizations (SGOs). The bill directs the Tennessee Department of Education to annually publish a list of qualifying SGOs operating in the state, certify the state's authority to submit this list to the federal government, and accept submissions from SGOs year-round. This administrative action enables Tennessee residents to access the federal tax credit for scholarship donations, directly affecting SGOs meeting federal requirements and taxpayers who contribute to them. The bill does not change tax rates or create new state funding but aligns Tennessee with federal program participation for scholarship contributions.
Maddy summaryHB 809 shields pesticide manufacturers and sellers from civil lawsuits related to labeling, provided the pesticide had an EPA-approved label under federal law (FIFRA) at the time of sale. It specifically protects them from claims about labeling issues, including failure-to-warn lawsuits, if the label was compliant with federal requirements when sold. The protection does not apply if the pesticide was manufactured or sold in violation of state law or FIFRA. This bill amends Tennessee’s pesticide regulations (TCA Title 43, Chapter 8) to align with federal labeling standards.
Maddy summaryHB 324 limits the governor's emergency powers by amending Tennessee law to prohibit executive orders, proclamations, or rules from "contravening, suspending, or conflicting with a provision of the Tennessee Constitution" (TCA § 58-2-107(a)(2)). It also restricts the governor from suspending "procedural provisions" of laws, orders, rules, or regulations during emergencies, requiring strict compliance with procedural requirements unless strict adherence would prevent necessary emergency action (TCA § 58-2-107(e)(1)). This directly affects the governor's authority to issue emergency directives under TCA Title 4 and Title 58, Chapter 2. The bill ensures emergency actions cannot override constitutional requirements or bypass standard procedural safeguards for state business.
Maddy summaryHB 802 amends Tennessee law to expand the definition of "state employee" to include soil and water conservation district board members, staff, agents, and designated volunteer program participants. This change applies solely to specific legal provisions under Titles 8 and 9 regarding defense protections and related benefits. It directly affects conservation district personnel and volunteers by clarifying their eligibility for existing state employee protections. The bill makes a technical clarification to ensure these groups qualify under defined legal frameworks without creating new programs or benefits.
