Rep. Monty Fritts

Maddy summaryHB 2314 changes the deadline for county boards to notify applicants about adult-oriented establishment license applications from 10 calendar days to 10 business days after receiving investigation results. This adjustment excludes weekends and public holidays, making the timeline more practical for business operations. The bill directly affects applicants seeking licenses for adult-oriented establishments and the county boards that process these applications. It is a procedural change that modifies notification timing without altering licensing criteria or standards.

Maddy summaryHB 1717 repeals a 2007 law that changed Roane County's chief executive title from "County Mayor" to "County Executive," aligning it with Tennessee's general law used in most counties. The bill directly affects Roane County officials and requires a two-thirds vote approval by the county's legislative body to take effect. If approved, the county would revert to using "County Mayor" for its chief executive, resolving confusion when coordinating with other counties that use that title under state law.

Maddy summaryHB 562 prohibits state or local governments from declaring lawful businesses or occupations "non-essential" during emergencies (or at any time) through orders, rules, or regulations. It directly affects businesses operating legally under Tennessee law, ensuring they cannot be unjustly shut down based solely on such classifications. The bill allows harmed businesses to sue for actual damages or a court declaration of rights, with prevailing parties awarded legal fees. This law applies to all state emergencies starting July 1, 2025, but does not prevent restrictions for violations of state or federal law.

Maddy summaryHB 1792 exempts from Tennessee's state sales and use tax the retail purchase of food and food ingredients that qualify for vouchers under the federal WIC program (Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children). This directly affects WIC participants and grocery stores selling WIC-eligible items, removing the sales tax on those specific foods at checkout. The exemption applies to all foods covered by the WIC program under federal law (42 U.S.C. § 1786), excluding other food items not WIC-eligible. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 67, Chapter 6.

Maddy summaryHB 2514 revises Tennessee's firearms laws by removing the offense of carrying a firearm "with intent to go armed" in K-12 schools, school buses, and university properties (when posted). It prohibits carrying firearms in K-12 schools/buses if the person intends to go armed, while eliminating similar restrictions for universities and colleges. The bill also rewrites rules around handgun possession while intoxicated, adds new definitions for "firearm" and "deadly force," and creates a legal presumption that threatening deadly force to defend property against unlawful entry is justified. It establishes immunity from prosecution for using justified force, including displaying weapons, unless the person knew the individual was a law enforcement officer or caused injury to an innocent bystander. These changes directly affect individuals carrying firearms in schools, campuses, or during property disputes.

Maddy summaryHB 1737 modifies Tennessee's firearm laws by removing specific criminal penalties related to firearm possession. It eliminates offenses for individuals convicted of stalking or DUI in certain circumstances (previously barred from carrying firearms), as well as for people under 25 who were adjudicated delinquent for certain juvenile offenses. The bill also removes the criminal prohibition against possessing or carrying weapons in public parks, playgrounds, and recreational areas. These changes amend multiple sections of Tennessee Code Annotated, including Title 39 (criminal procedure), Title 16 (criminal justice), and others, to update firearm possession restrictions.

Maddy summaryHB 723 amends Tennessee law to change the deadline by which the fiscal review committee must report inflation-adjusted criminal fine ranges. Instead of reporting by January 15, the committee must now submit its annual report by February 15, using the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Price Index data to calculate compounded cost-of-living adjustments for statutory fines. This bill affects all criminal offense classifications covered under Tennessee’s criminal codes (Titles 16, 36-40, 49, 55, and 65) by establishing a standardized process for periodically updating fine amounts to reflect inflation. The change only modifies the reporting timeline and calculation method - no current fine amounts are altered. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 2321 allows physicians performing abortions in Tennessee to submit required health reports electronically to the commissioner of health, instead of on paper. This bill directly affects healthcare providers who must file these reports and the health department that receives them. The key change amends multiple sections of Tennessee law (Titles 36-41, 55, 62-63, and 71) to permit digital submission, streamlining the reporting process. It does not change abortion access or medical standards - it only updates how physicians submit mandated administrative reports. The bill is procedural, focusing solely on modernizing the reporting method.

Maddy summaryHB 2419 requires municipalities to obtain county legislative body approval before annexing land, mandating they submit a financial impact study (covering infrastructure, schools, and county costs) and a statement proving service capacity (water, roads, police, etc.). Counties must review these documents within 60 days and vote on approval; if they fail to act within 90 days, the annexation is automatically denied. The bill excludes single, contiguous lots of five acres or less from these requirements. It aims to ensure counties can assess fiscal impacts before annexations occur, protecting county taxpayers and services.

Maddy summaryHB 747 reassigns the administrative, reporting, oversight, and accountability duties of Tennessee's State Energy Policy Council from the council itself to the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development and the Department of Environment and Conservation. The bill requires the council to produce an initial report by July 1, 2026, detailing energy source goals, current capabilities, and assessments of future energy systems. It also mandates that future reports be published at least every two years, distributed to relevant legislative committees, and posted online. This change directly affects how the council operates and integrates its work with the two state departments.