Rep. Dave Wright

Maddy summaryHB 766 adds a 5% penalty to overdue property taxes in Tennessee. The penalty money will fund tax relief for elderly low-income homeowners, disabled homeowners, disabled veterans, and widows of disabled veterans. The penalty is calculated only on the base amount of overdue taxes (excluding interest or other penalties). This change takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 617, nicknamed "Tucker's Law," designates October as "Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month" in all Tennessee public schools and requires schools to provide age-appropriate, research-based instruction about fentanyl abuse prevention and drug poisoning awareness to students in grades 6-12. The bill mandates that this instruction cover suicide prevention, fentanyl abuse risks, local resource access, and broader substance use education. It applies to all local education agencies and public charter schools, with implementation required starting July 1, 2025. The law specifies that instruction may be delivered by qualified entities like health agencies, schools, or mental health professionals.

Maddy summaryHB 512 amends Tennessee law to extend the term length for members of historic zoning commissions from five years to six years. This change directly affects individuals appointed to these commissions, as future appointees will serve six-year terms instead of five. The bill updates Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 13, Chapter 7, Part 4, while maintaining the existing staggered appointment structure to ensure at least one member's term expires annually. Current commission members' terms remain unchanged and will expire as originally scheduled. The bill focuses solely on adjusting term lengths without altering zoning policies or procedures.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows charitable nonprofit organizations in Knox County that replace their existing licensed homes for the aged with new properties to claim property tax exemptions. The law permits these organizations to apply for the exemption up to three years before filing, covering the period from when construction begins or the property is used for exempt purposes. If the organization paid taxes on the new property before the law took effect, the bill requires those taxes to be refunded. This change specifically applies to nonprofits operating licensed residential facilities for the elderly within the county or its municipalities.

Maddy summaryThis law clarifies how Tennessee regulates small homes for the aged by dividing them into two categories based on the number of unrelated residents they house. Homes with three or fewer residents are now classified as tier 1 and are licensed and regulated by the Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, while homes with four or more residents are classified as tier 2 and fall under the authority of the Health Facilities Commission. The legislation also updates rules regarding medication administration, allowing unlicensed staff to administer drugs in tier 1 homes but requiring a licensed medical professional in tier 2 homes. Additionally, tier 2 homes must meet specific fire safety standards set by the commission, which includes input from certified fire safety experts and local zoning approvals.