Rep. Joe Towns

Maddy summaryThis bill is a House Joint Resolution that formally recognizes and congratulates the Nashville Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., on its 100th anniversary. The resolution highlights the chapter's history, noting it was chartered in 1926 and has provided a century of service through leadership development, education, and community support. It lists the names of the chapter's past and current leaders to honor their stewardship of the organization. The measure is purely ceremonial and does not change any laws or policies.

Maddy summaryHB 2059 would reduce Tennessee's state sales tax rate on food and food ingredients from 4% to 2%, effective July 1, 2026. This change directly affects grocery stores, restaurants, and other businesses selling food items, as well as consumers purchasing food products. The bill amends Tennessee Code (Title 67, Chapter 6) to lower the tax rate, meaning businesses would collect and remit less tax on qualifying food items. If enacted, this policy change would decrease the tax burden for shoppers on everyday food purchases.

Maddy summaryHB 2063 requires Tennessee's Senate and House speakers to set the same number of allowable conferences (or conference days) for legislators from each chamber to claim expense and mileage reimbursements. This bill amends state law to ensure equal treatment between Senate and House members when attending meetings related to legislative duties, such as conferences, workshops, or state business gatherings. It does not change the total reimbursement amount but standardizes the maximum number of approved events per chamber. The policy affects all Tennessee state legislators who seek reimbursement for travel related to official legislative activities.

Maddy summaryHB 2062 raises Tennessee's legal threshold for marijuana possession that triggers a Class A misdemeanor from 1/2 ounce to 5 ounces. For first-time possession of less than 5 ounces, the penalty would be a $500 fine; repeat offenses would incur a $1,000 fine. This bill directly affects individuals possessing marijuana between 1/2 ounce and 5 ounces, which previously faced misdemeanor charges at the lower threshold. The changes, effective July 1, 2026, apply to Tennessee Code Annotated § 39-17-418 and § 39-17-417.

Maddy summaryHB 931 amends Tennessee law to create a legal presumption that a homeowner acted in self-defense when using force likely to cause death or serious injury against an armed intruder. This presumption applies specifically when the intruder is unlawfully on the property (but outside the main home structure) and armed with a deadly weapon. The bill directly affects homeowners who use force against such intruders, shifting the burden to prosecutors to disprove self-defense in these scenarios. It does not change general self-defense rules but adds this specific presumption for armed intruders on property outside the home's enclosed structure.

Maddy summaryHB 2057 requires Tennessee social media platforms to delete all personal information linked to a user's account when that account is deleted. This applies to data collected directly through the account by the account holder or other users, but excludes de-identified data and publicly available information. The law preserves existing data deletion rules under Tennessee's Information Protection Act (TIPA) for users who don't delete accounts, and allows lawsuits for violations with potential damages, attorney fees, and injunctions. The bill takes effect January 1, 2027, impacting both social media companies operating in Tennessee and their users who delete accounts.

Maddy summaryHB 2056 requires Tennessee's cosmetology and barber licensing boards to replace applicants' Social Security Numbers (SSNs) with unique student identification numbers on all public-facing documents, such as hourly report forms and registration applications. This change directly affects cosmetology and barber students, instructors, and applicants who track instructional hours before taking exams or receiving licenses. The bill mandates that boards use these student IDs instead of SSNs for public reports until applicants complete their certification or licensing process. The policy change aims to reduce public exposure of SSNs while maintaining internal use of SSNs for administrative purposes.

Maddy summaryHB 2060 prohibits Tennessee banks, credit unions, and savings associations from converting consumer funds into digital money like cryptocurrency without the customer's explicit written consent. It directly affects consumers whose money is held by these financial institutions, requiring banks to obtain prior authorization before using digital currencies. Violating this rule could result in fines up to $1,000 per violation or civil lawsuits where affected customers may recover actual damages, punitive damages, and legal fees. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 2061 requires data centers in Tennessee with over 20 megawatts of power capacity to register with the Public Utility Commission (PUC) by January 1, 2027. Electric and water utilities serving these registered data centers must report monthly usage and service rates to the PUC. The PUC will compile and publish this data on its website, showing each data center’s energy consumption and utility rates. This bill directly affects large data center operators and their utility providers by creating a public reporting system for resource use.

Maddy summaryHB 2058 requires Tennessee's Department of Transportation to study the feasibility of building a new third bridge across the Mississippi River connecting to Arkansas, including related highway infrastructure. The study must be completed by February 1, 2027, with a report detailing findings, funding sources (federal/state/local), and development timelines. This bill directly affects Tennessee's transportation planning and the potential future connection between Tennessee and Arkansas. The legislation mandates the study but does not authorize construction or funding, focusing solely on gathering data for future decisions.