Rep. Antonio Parkinson

Maddy summaryHB 2483 amends Tennessee law to change the deadline by which local education agencies (LEAs) must report charter school authorizer fee data to the state board of education. Specifically, it shifts the required posting date on the state board's website from December 11 to December 15 each year. This bill directly affects LEAs operating charter schools, as they must collect and submit annual data on authorizer fees collected and obligations fulfilled. The change is purely procedural, adjusting a reporting deadline with no new requirements or policy shifts. It has no impact on funding, school operations, or student outcomes.

Maddy summaryHB 2482 changes how funding is distributed to adult high schools operated by nonprofits or for-profits under contract with Tennessee school districts. It requires these providers to report current student enrollment numbers to school boards at least three times yearly (August, December, April), and mandates school boards to adjust funding payments based on these reports (in October, February, June). This replaces the previous system where funding for subsequent years was based solely on the prior year's enrollment without regular updates. The bill applies to contracts entered into, renewed, or amended on or after July 1, 2026, directly affecting contracted adult education providers and local school boards managing these programs.

Maddy summaryHB 2623 extends the time businesses must provide written responses to consumer appeals under Tennessee's Information Protection Act, increasing the deadline from 60 to 65 days. It directly affects consumers who appeal denied requests for their personal data and the businesses (referred to as "controllers") handling those requests. The bill amends Tennessee Code § 47-18-3304(c) to require businesses to explain their decisions in writing within the new 65-day window after receiving an appeal. This is a procedural change to the state's consumer privacy law, with no broader policy shifts.

Maddy summaryHB 650 requires Tennessee sheriffs to accept surrenders of criminal defendants on pretrial release from bail bondsmen or sureties, rather than allowing sheriffs to refuse such surrenders without explanation. The bill mandates this acceptance pending a court hearing to determine if the bail company had "good cause" for the surrender. This directly affects bail bondsmen, sheriffs, and defendants who are out on pretrial release. The key provision replaces the current discretion of sheriffs with a requirement for mandatory acceptance before a court evaluates the reasonableness of the surrender.

Maddy summaryHB 2042 would authorize Tennessee public school districts and charter schools to create programs that reward individuals for reporting illegal guns on school property. The bill permits these programs to be funded using private donations rather than public funds and requires them to be designed to fit each school's specific community needs. It does not mandate that schools adopt such programs but provides a legal framework for those that choose to implement them, ensuring compliance with existing state law. The bill was introduced in 2026 but later withdrawn.

Maddy summaryHB 2040, introduced in Tennessee, would have created a new Class E felony for intentionally threatening a public official or their immediate family (defined as spouse, parent, sibling, child, or adoptive/step relationships). It required the threat to be communicated with knowledge of the target’s official role, intended as harm due to that role, and perceived as threatening by a reasonable person. The bill aimed to directly affect individuals making such threats against public officials or their families, imposing criminal penalties for these communications. However, the bill was withdrawn on February 2, 2026, and did not advance further.

Maddy summaryHB 1808 would have allowed Tennessee's District Attorneys General Conference to cover software licensing fees for district attorney offices within each judicial district. It directly affected local prosecutors' offices by providing a funding mechanism for essential software tools they use daily. The bill proposed amending specific Tennessee Code sections to authorize this conference-funded support, avoiding direct state budget allocations. However, the bill was withdrawn on February 2, 2026, and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 738 amends Tennessee's Tennessee Promise scholarship program to include career-focused schools accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences (NACCAS) as eligible institutions. It requires students seeking this scholarship at a NACCAS school to first confirm there are no available spots in a local Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) for their desired program. The bill directly affects students pursuing career training at NACCAS-accredited institutions, prioritizing TCAT enrollment when available. The changes apply to scholarships for the 2025-2026 academic year and beyond.

Maddy summaryHB 1050 revises Tennessee's nuisance laws by reducing the required notice period for certain nuisance violations from five days to four days under specific provisions (Tennessee Code Annotated Sections 29-3-106(a)(1) and 29-3-106(c)). The bill directly affects local governments and property owners involved in nuisance enforcement actions, as it shortens the timeframe for issuing notices before legal action. Key provisions streamline administrative processes by cutting the notice period by one day, with the changes taking effect on July 1, 2025. The bill does not alter the definition of nuisances or introduce new enforcement mechanisms, focusing solely on procedural timing adjustments.

Maddy summaryHouse Joint Resolution 612 is a symbolic resolution honoring Shelby Shaw, the 2025 Co-Valedictorian of Craigmont High School, for her academic achievements. It expresses the Tennessee General Assembly's commendation of her high school accomplishments, including her exemplary grade point average and extracurricular involvement. The resolution, approved by both chambers and signed by the Governor on April 29, 2025, serves as a formal recognition of her success without creating any legal obligations or policy changes. It directly recognizes Shelby Shaw and celebrates her achievement for her school, family, and community.