Maddy summaryHB 2616 amends Tennessee's open meetings law to allow governing bodies (like city councils or school boards) to hold confidential executive sessions specifically for interviewing applicants for director-level staff positions. The bill requires that final hiring decisions be made in open meetings with public notice, prohibits public disclosure of unselected applicants' materials upon request, and mandates that minutes list attendees (excluding job applicants). It directly affects local government hiring processes and job applicants seeking director-level roles. The key change clarifies that executive sessions for these interviews do not require public notice, while maintaining transparency for final decisions and applicant confidentiality.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHB 1516 creates a process to prevent budget impasses between city governments and local school systems (LEAs) in Tennessee. If a city council and school board fail to agree on a budget by August 31, the previous year’s budget (meeting minimum state funding requirements) automatically continues. For municipal operations, if a city council misses the fiscal year start deadline, the prior year’s budget continues until a new one is adopted, with strict limits allowing only a three-month extension (with comptroller approval) for extraordinary circumstances. The bill directly affects all Tennessee municipalities with school systems and aims to ensure uninterrupted funding for schools and city services during budget negotiations.
Maddy summaryHB 1659 makes two types of addresses confidential in Tennessee: (1) addresses listed on nominating petitions for judicial candidates (judges, chancellors, district attorneys, and public defenders), and (2) application materials submitted by individuals applying for government jobs. The bill amends Tennessee law to prevent these records from being publicly accessible, removing them from standard public records disclosure requirements. This directly affects judicial candidates and job seekers applying to state or local government positions. The change takes effect upon becoming law, without altering eligibility or hiring standards.
Maddy summaryHJR 727 is a memorial resolution urging the U.S. Congress to pass legislation for the repatriation of thirteen USS Intrepid sailors' remains. The sailors died in 1804 during the Barbary War, and their burial sites in Libya (five in Tripoli's Protestant Cemetery and eight near Tripoli Castle) have faced desecration over centuries. The resolution requests Congress enact measures to exhume the remains, identify them if possible, and reinter them with military honors in a U.S. veterans cemetery or Arlington National Cemetery. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new law but formally asks Congress to act.
Maddy summaryHB 2123 requires new private residence elevators installed after July 1, 2027, to register with Tennessee's Department of Labor within seven days of being activated. It also mandates that new property owners notify the department within 60 days of purchasing a home with such an elevator. The bill modifies existing elevator regulations by defining "private residence" and removing certain inspection requirements that previously applied to these elevators. It directly affects homeowners and property owners installing elevators in single-family or multi-unit residential properties.
Maddy summaryHB 1496 requires Tennessee's Secretary of State to exclude personal mailing addresses and telephone numbers of agency members from annual publications of agency information. This change directly affects agency members by protecting their personal contact details, which the bill designates as confidential. The law amends existing code to mandate this exclusion in the Secretary of State's annual compilation, effective July 1, 2026.
Maddy summaryThis bill is a House Joint Resolution that formally honors Senior Master Sergeant Chad E. Wallace of the Air National Guard on the occasion of his retirement. The resolution acknowledges his more than thirty-five years of service, including leadership roles in cyber operations and emergency communications, as well as his support for presidential inaugurations and disaster response efforts. It expresses gratitude for his contributions to tactical communications and military readiness while wishing him well for his future. The bill is ceremonial in nature and does not create new laws or policy changes.
Maddy summaryThis bill is a House Joint Resolution that formally honors Ronald S. Coffin, a resident of Maryville, Tennessee, for his contributions to the state and community. The resolution recognizes his role as one of the first students to integrate Maryville High School, his military service in the Vietnam War, and his work establishing a local PTSD support group for veterans. It acknowledges his professional career in social work and his long-term dedication to family and church ministries. The bill does not create new laws or policies; instead, it serves as a ceremonial acknowledgment of Coffin's achievements and public service.
Maddy summaryHB 1488 requires Tennessee county legislative bodies (including metropolitan and charter counties) to adopt formal rules for conducting meetings within 90 days of a newly elected body, using a simple majority vote. It mandates that any future changes to these rules must be approved by a two-thirds vote of the body. If the rules don't address a specific issue, the body must follow Robert's Rules of Order as the default procedure. This bill directly affects how county commissions and similar bodies operate, standardizing their internal governance processes.
Maddy summaryHB 1489 would expand Tennessee's cancer presumption law for firefighters to include arson investigators. The bill amends state law to define "firefighter" as specifically covering full-time arson investigators employed by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation or county sheriff's departments. This change means these investigators would automatically qualify for disability benefits if they develop cancer, as their job-related exposure would be presumed to cause it - similar to current firefighter protections. The bill directly affects arson investigators working in these specific state and local law enforcement roles.