Rep. Tom Leatherwood

Maddy summaryHB 1780 extends the deadline for Tennessee's Department of Correction to submit its annual report on higher education opportunities for incarcerated individuals. The bill changes the submission date from January 1 to January 15 each year, affecting the department's reporting obligation to specific legislative committees. This procedural adjustment provides additional time for the department to prepare the report before submitting it to the Senate Judiciary and Education Committees and the House Criminal Justice and Education Administration Committees.

Maddy summaryHB 405 amends Tennessee's hotel tax law to require operators to stop collecting tax from guests who stay 30 or more continuous days. Specifically, hotels must remit the tax for the first 30 days to the municipality and cease collecting tax for the remainder of the guest's stay. This directly affects long-term hotel guests (staying 30+ days) and changes how hotels handle tax collection for such stays. The bill modifies Tennessee Code Annotated § 67-4-1404(b) and became law as Public Chapter 364.

Maddy summaryHB 1432 modifies Bartlett, Tennessee’s city charter to limit the mayor and each of the six alderman positions to a maximum of three four-year terms (12 years total). It directly affects current and future mayors and aldermen in Bartlett by restricting re-election opportunities. Key provisions include requiring resignations for officials running for another city office, establishing staggered elections for aldermanic positions, and updating personnel rules to prohibit discrimination based on protected characteristics. Incumbents serving at the time of the law’s effective date may complete their current terms, and the bill requires local approval by Bartlett’s legislative body before taking effect.

Maddy summaryHB 1436 repeals a 2007 state law (Chapter 47 of Private Acts) that established a statewide animal control program for Bartlett, Tennessee. The bill directly affects Bartlett residents and its city government, transferring control of animal services back to local authorities. Key provisions require Bartlett's city council to approve the repeal by a two-thirds vote before it takes effect, with approval certified to the state. If approved, the city would no longer be subject to the state-mandated program. The bill has passed the Tennessee legislature and governor but remains pending local approval.

Maddy summaryHB 197 requires Tennessee's Department of Transportation (DOT) to create a policy for removing personal items used for camping from highway shoulders, bridges, or overpasses. The policy mandates a 72-hour notice period before removal, 90 days of storage for belongings, and coordination with local homeless services to ensure no one is occupying the site. It specifically prohibits DOT from starting cleanup until local governments confirm no occupants are present and requires special handling for items like medications or legal documents. This bill directly affects homeless individuals camping near highways and changes how the DOT manages property removal from public roadways.

Maddy summaryHB 857 amends Tennessee law to require the Office of Open Records Counsel to organize meetings for the Advisory Committee on Open Government. Specifically, it mandates that the Office select a date for the committee's annual meeting if the co-chairs are unable to do so. This procedural change affects the Office of Open Records Counsel and the advisory committee, streamlining their meeting scheduling process. The bill became law as Public Chapter 370 on May 13, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 702 (Tennessee Code Annotated §68-29-122) clarifies that medical laboratories operating their own collection stations do not need an additional license, as long as the laboratory owner retains ownership and oversight of those stations - regardless of where specimens are transported. This directly affects medical laboratory owners who operate collection sites within Tennessee. The key provision removes a prior licensing requirement for these stations, streamlining operations for lab-owned facilities while maintaining board oversight. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, and amends Tennessee’s medical laboratory regulations (Title 68, Chapter 29).

Maddy summaryHJR 80 designates May 2025 as "National Hypertension Month" in Tennessee. The resolution urges healthcare providers, insurers, and TennCare to promote hypertension awareness and support coverage for renal denervation therapies, which treat resistant hypertension. It advocates for policy changes to improve access to innovative treatments but does not create new legal requirements. As a symbolic resolution, it encourages state-level action without mandating specific outcomes.

Maddy summaryHB 647 requires Tennessee's commissioner of health to submit an annual report by January 15 to legislative committees on the progress of the state's strategy for providing adult emergency oral health care. The report must detail how public and private resources are being used to address this care gap. This bill directly affects the commissioner of health (a state official) and the relevant legislative committees overseeing health matters. It does not create new programs or funding but mandates regular updates to lawmakers about existing efforts. The requirement takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 518 extends the annual reporting deadline for local governments that have adopted wind energy facility siting rules from January 1 to February 1 each year. This bill directly affects Tennessee local governments required to submit annual reports on wind energy siting regulations under Tennessee Code. The key provision amends specific sections of Tennessee law (Titles 5, 6, 7, 13, 65, and 68) to update the submission date without changing the reporting requirements or policy substance. The change provides local governments with an additional month to fulfill this administrative obligation.