Rep. Gary Hicks

Maddy summaryHB 2444 removes a term limit restriction for members serving on Tennessee's State Energy Policy Council. Specifically, it deletes subsection (d) of Tennessee Code Annotated § 68-204-105, which previously limited how many terms council members could serve. This change directly affects current and future council members by allowing them to serve unlimited terms. The bill proposes a procedural adjustment to council membership rules without altering energy policy substance.

Maddy summaryHB 1908 allocates state funds for Tennessee's 2025-2026 budget, covering all state government operations including legislative, executive, and judicial branches. It specifically sets aside money from the Department of Transportation to fund highway or bridge memorials honoring service members killed in action, as designated by future legislation (per TN Code §54-1-133). The bill also acknowledges that memorial designations may result in lost revenue that would have been collected otherwise. This ensures funding exists when such memorials are approved, without altering existing rules for naming highways or bridges.

Maddy summaryHB 1863 requires Tennessee's Higher Education Commission (THEC) to report on past funding shortfalls for state scholarship programs. Specifically, THEC must document every fiscal year since 2004 when lottery revenue was insufficient to fully fund scholarships under Title 49, Chapter 4, Part 9, including instances where scholarship amounts were reduced or the general shortfall reserve was used to cover gaps. The report, due by October 1, 2027, will cover all years from 2004 through 2026. This bill does not change current funding rules but mandates a historical review for transparency.

Maddy summaryHB 1402 is a procedural bill that removes outdated references to 1977 from Tennessee's budget documentation requirements. It amends state code to delete mandatory inclusion of a personal income statement for calendar year 1977 and actual appropriations for fiscal year 1977-1978, updating the language to require only current fiscal year and latest completed calendar year data. This change affects how budget documents are structured but does not alter budgeting processes or funding levels. The bill is purely administrative, updating obsolete language with no substantive policy impact. It was introduced on February 10, 2025, and referred to committee.

Maddy summaryHB 1404 sets aside state funds from the Department of Transportation to cover costs for highway or bridge memorials honoring service members killed in action, as designated by bills passed during Tennessee's 2025 legislative session. It specifically allocates money for any bill or resolution naming an interstate, U.S. highway, or state highway as a memorial route or designating a bridge on those routes for fallen service members, per existing law (TCA §54-1-133). The bill also acknowledges potential revenue loss from future bills that reduce state revenue without increasing spending. It applies to the 2024-2025 fiscal years and takes effect upon enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 1401 changes how nursing home care grant payments are distributed in Tennessee. It requires that payments under the grant assistance program be made either monthly or quarterly directly to nursing home residents (or their legally authorized representatives), rather than to the facilities. This ensures residents receive funds directly for their care, with payments specified as nonassignable and payable only to the individual. The bill amends multiple Tennessee Code sections to implement this change, effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1403 authorizes Tennessee to issue up to $30 million in state bonds for specific capital projects. It allows the state funding board to sell bonds to fund equipment, building construction (including existing structures), highway projects, bridge repairs, and grants to local governments or industrial development corporations. Proceeds must be allocated to Tennessee's higher education institutions for capital improvements, with up to 2.5% of the total for bond issuance costs. The bonds are direct state obligations backed by the state's taxing power, and funds can only be spent on projects explicitly authorized by the bill.

Maddy summaryHB 726 amends Tennessee law to extend the deadline for property assessors to determine if real property was destroyed or damaged by a qualified disaster. Specifically, it changes the required timeframe from 35 to 40 days after January 28, 2025, allowing property owners more time to qualify for direct payments from the state comptroller. This change directly affects property owners in areas impacted by disasters who seek state disaster relief payments. The bill became effective May 21, 2025, after being signed by the Governor.

Maddy summaryHB 479 creates the "Tennessee National Guard Servicemember's Medical Readiness Act," establishing a state reimbursement program for eligible Tennessee National Guard members. It directly affects Guard members who pay premiums for TRICARE Reserve Select or TRICARE Dental coverage, allowing the state to reimburse them for those premiums if not already covered by federal funds. The program requires members to apply through the military department's guidelines, with reimbursement ceasing if federal assistance covers the same costs. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, and requires separate state funding appropriations to operate.

Maddy summaryHB 482 adds prostate cancer, breast cancer, and pancreatic cancer to the list of conditions for which Tennessee firefighters automatically qualify for compensation (a "presumption") if diagnosed, unless medical evidence proves the cancer existed before employment. It directly affects full-time Tennessee firefighters diagnosed with these cancers after July 1, 2025. The key provision requires firefighters seeking this presumption to obtain a cancer screening exam after July 1, 2025, showing no prior evidence of these cancers. This bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated § 7-51-201 to expand the presumption list and establish the pre-screening requirement.