Rep. Andrew Farmer

Maddy summaryHB 2496 updates Tennessee's tourism tax rules to include large mixed-use developments with performance venues (2,500+ seats) as eligible projects. It allows cities or public authorities in tourism development zones to use existing sales tax revenue - previously allocated for qualifying facilities - for these new types of projects, provided they meet a $300 million investment threshold. The bill specifically expands the definition of "qualified public use facility" in tourism financing law to cover such venues and their surrounding commercial/residential spaces. This directly affects municipalities managing tourism zones that have already secured sales tax allocations under existing law.

Maddy summaryHB 1966 requires Tennessee's Department of Children's Services to create a statewide, county-level quality assurance program by July 2027. The program must measure outcomes like child safety, permanency, and well-being - not just compliance - with each county needing a dedicated quality assurance coordinator. The commissioner must publish annual county performance grades online and submit quarterly progress reports to lawmakers starting in 2026. This directly affects county child welfare offices and the state department by shifting focus from procedural checks to data-driven service improvements.

Maddy summaryHB 684 requires Tennessee's Department of Human Services to annually identify federal waivers needed to overcome rules slowing food assistance processing, submit these waiver requests by October 31 each year, and report on their status by December 31. The bill directly affects the state agency managing food assistance and the people applying for benefits by streamlining how federal barriers are addressed. Key provisions include mandatory annual waiver applications to the federal government and detailed annual reports to legislative committees on waiver progress and recommendations for state law changes. This creates a structured process for the department to address regulatory hurdles in delivering food assistance benefits more efficiently.

Maddy summaryHB 1970, the "Tennessee Real Estate Consumer Fraud Protection Act," requires key changes to real estate transactions. It mandates that title insurance premiums be split equally between buyers and sellers (Section 3), requires foreign title insurers to maintain a Tennessee office while liable (Section 2), and requires deeds for real property conveyances to be prepared by licensed Tennessee attorneys with their license number included (Section 5). The bill also requires non-resident property purchasers to designate a Tennessee agent for legal service (Section 4). These provisions take effect July 1, 2026, directly affecting buyers, sellers, title insurers, non-resident purchasers, and real estate attorneys.

Maddy summaryHB 1968 amends Tennessee law to add Alvogen, Inc., Apotex Corp., and Zydus Pharmaceuticals (USA) Inc. to the list of companies that may be released by the attorney general from pending or future opioid-related claims. The bill updates two sections of Tennessee Code (Title 20 and Title 33) by replacing "Purdue Pharma L.P." with the new list of companies. This change directly affects the attorney general's authority to release these specific pharmaceutical manufacturers from opioid litigation. The bill does not create new claims or funding but modifies the legal criteria for releasing certain entities from existing or future lawsuits.

Maddy summaryHB 483 would extend the deadline for Tennessee district attorneys general to submit annual funding reports from 90 to 120 days after each fiscal year ends. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 8, Section 8-7-103(5), to change this reporting requirement. This procedural adjustment directly affects district attorneys general and the office of the executive director for the district attorneys general conference, which receives these reports. The change provides additional time for preparation but does not alter the content or purpose of the reports.

Maddy summaryHB 656 requires Tennessee's education commissioner to annually publish on the state education department's website the number of waivers granted to school districts (local education agencies) that allow them to exceed average class size limits for funding "grow your own" teacher recruitment programs. The commissioner must post this data by June 1 each year, starting in 2025, to provide transparency about waiver usage. This bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Titles 4 and 49, to establish this reporting requirement. The policy change directly affects school districts receiving such waivers and aims to clarify how these waivers support teacher training initiatives.

Maddy summaryHB 2495 increases the required notice period for real estate wholesalers from three to five business days. Specifically, it amends Tennessee law to require buyers engaging in property wholesaling to provide sellers with at least five business days' notice before transferring their interest in a property. This change directly affects real estate buyers who assign their purchase rights to another buyer before closing. The bill modifies Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 66, Section 66-4-403(a)(1)(B), to extend the notice timeframe without altering other transaction requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 2429 requires unmarried parents in juvenile court cases involving custody or parenting schedules to complete a mandatory 4-hour parent education seminar before final court orders. The seminar must cover child well-being, co-parenting skills, conflict reduction, and adverse childhood experiences, and cannot be attended by minors. Parents pay the fee unless indigent (with court waiver), and must submit proof of completion to the court. The bill applies to cases where parentage is established or custody is modified, and courts may waive the requirement for safety concerns or impracticality, but noncompliance may factor into custody decisions.

Maddy summaryHB 2078, the "Parental Rights Protection Act," requires courts to hold a quick court review within 15 days if a criminal defendant's bond restricts their contact with, custody of, or visitation with a minor child (who isn't a victim of the crime). The government must prove, with clear evidence, that a serious threat to the child exists, less restrictive options won't work, and the restriction is truly in the child's best interest. If the court doesn't hold the review on time, the bond condition automatically cancels. The bill also presumes that parental contact is generally in a child's best interest. This directly affects criminal defendants in Tennessee facing bond conditions involving their children.