Rep. Tom Leatherwood

Maddy summaryHB 520 would increase the maximum time employees in Tennessee can take off work to vote from three hours to four hours. This change directly affects workers who need time off during voting hours, particularly during elections. The bill amends multiple sections of Tennessee's election code (Titles 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8) to update this voting time allowance. It does not alter voting eligibility or election procedures beyond extending the permitted work absence duration. The bill is currently pending committee review after being introduced in early 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 517 changes the annual reporting deadline for Tennessee's Health Facilities Commission. Specifically, it delays the submission of the commission's report on nursing home inspections and enforcement activities from February 1 to July 1 each year. The report must still be submitted to the governor, the House chief clerk, and the Senate chief clerk. This procedural adjustment affects only the commission's reporting schedule, with no changes to inspection standards or nursing home regulations.

Maddy summaryHB 196 raises the maximum fine for transferring property using a general warranty deed while knowing about existing liens and intending to defraud from $3,000 to $4,000. This change applies to Tennessee law in Titles 8, 39, 62, and 66, specifically targeting real estate fraud cases. The bill directly affects individuals who commit this offense and the courts that set penalties for such crimes. It increases the potential financial penalty without altering the felony classification of the crime.

Maddy summaryThis law updates Tennessee's adoption and foster care rules to clarify how parental rights are terminated and define who counts as a putative father. It requires courts to calculate abandonment timeframes from the date a supplemental petition is filed and sets specific criteria for biological fathers to claim paternity, such as registering with a state database or openly living with the child. The bill also allows licensed agencies to charge reasonable fees for legal services, counseling, and living expenses related to pregnancy and birth, while mandating that unlicensed entities hire local professionals to serve families within the state. These changes directly impact birth parents, adoptive families, child-placing agencies, and attorneys involved in adoption proceedings.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "Healthcare Provider Advertising Law" to regulate how licensed medical professionals in Tennessee promote their services to the public. It requires that any advertisement featuring a practitioner's name must clearly and prominently display their specific profession or license type in a readable font. The law prohibits the use of deceptive or misleading information regarding a provider's skills, training, or credentials, while explicitly exempting simple office signs and exterior building signage that existed before January 1, 2025. Practitioners who violate these advertising standards may face disciplinary action from their respective licensing boards.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Tennessee laws regarding the issuance of new birth certificates for children born through adoption, legitimation, or paternity orders. It requires courts and attorneys to submit specific adoption documents to the state's vital records division to trigger the creation of a new certificate reflecting the adoptive parents' names and residence. The legislation also clarifies that original birth certificates must be removed from public files and replaced with new ones, while prohibiting the issuance of new certificates in cases where the original record already shows a legitimate birth to married parents. Additionally, the bill establishes procedures for reporting foreign adoptions and ensures that new certificates are prepared only when supported by a valid court order.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Tennessee Wellness Law, requires healthcare practitioners to provide their full name and license type in writing to patients during their first office visit. The law directly affects doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals who must now disclose this information to ensure patients know who is treating them. By amending several sections of the state's health code, the measure formalizes this communication requirement as a standard part of patient care. Once enacted, the change becomes effective immediately to improve transparency between medical providers and their patients.