Rep. William Lamberth

Maddy summaryHB 2526 creates a new legal category called "child in need of heightened supervision" for children who exhibit violent behavior (including offenses like assault) without requiring formal charges or adjudication. It directly affects children in Tennessee's juvenile justice system who display violent tendencies, expanding the criteria for detention and shelter care. Key provisions include adding this category to court procedures, requiring longer supervision periods (up to six months) after a child assaults staff at residential facilities, and updating legal language to include this new category alongside "delinquent" or "unruly" designations. The bill aims to address safety concerns in residential placements while modifying existing legal processes for child commitment and detention.

Maddy summaryHB 2541 requires that workers on non-state construction contracts for public highway projects funded with state or federal money receive the prevailing wage rate, expanding the existing requirement from state contracts only. It directly affects construction workers and contractors working on public highway projects using public funds, including those under private contracts. The bill amends Tennessee's Prevailing Wage Act by redefining "state contract" to include non-state projects on public highways and updating the policy statement to mandate fair wages for all such projects. These changes apply to contracts entered into, amended, or renewed after the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryHB 2539 removes a reporting requirement from Tennessee's health code that was due to the Department of Health by December 15, 2022. Specifically, it deletes subsection (b) of Tennessee Code Annotated § 68-1-144, which concerned a report on the remote use of the WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) program. This bill does not create new policy or affect program eligibility - it only eliminates a previously required, overdue administrative report. The bill is procedural in nature and has not yet been voted on by the full legislature.

Maddy summaryHB 2552 requires Tennessee local governments (municipalities, counties, or metropolitan counties) to review development applications, plans, or site inspections within 30 business days. If they identify issues, they must provide a single consolidated report of deficiencies within that timeframe, with a maximum of two such reports allowed before denial. The bill also mandates written contract changes with developers/contractors and requires local governments to release bonds within 30 days after an independent inspector confirms project completion. These provisions directly affect developers, contractors, and local government agencies by streamlining approval processes and reducing delays.

Maddy summaryHB 2631 is an appropriations bill that allocates state funding for Tennessee's government operations during fiscal years 2025-2026. It directly provides funds for all three branches of state government (legislative, judicial, and executive), including specific amounts for the General Assembly, courts, attorneys general offices, and state agencies. The bill details exact dollar allocations across categories like legislative support ($78.6 million), judicial operations ($259.2 million), and executive offices ($230.6 million). It does not create new policies but establishes the financial framework for existing government functions and services. This procedural bill focuses solely on authorizing spending, not on policy changes or outcomes.

Maddy summaryHB 2630 authorizes Tennessee to issue up to $438 million in state bonds to fund infrastructure projects. The funds would be allocated primarily to the Department of Finance and Administration ($311 million) for building improvements, equipment, and grants to local governments, and to the Department of Transportation ($127 million) for highway construction, bridge repairs, and related projects. Local governments, counties, cities, and special districts would directly benefit through grants for public infrastructure. The bill specifies concrete uses - like repairing existing structures, expanding facilities, and building new roads - without proposing new taxes or fees.

Maddy summaryHB 2560 amends Tennessee's emergency management code to require the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) and its director to submit written reports to the governor or their designee during emergencies, in addition to existing reporting methods. This change directly affects TEMA and its leadership by clarifying their communication obligations under emergency conditions. The bill specifically updates Section 58-2-104(c) of Tennessee Code Annotated to add the written-reporting requirement. It does not create new policies or funding but standardizes emergency reporting procedures. The legislation focuses solely on procedural clarity for emergency management communications.

Maddy summaryHB 2533 terminates Tennessee's dyslexia advisory council and directs the existing advisory council for students with disabilities to handle dyslexia-related matters. It dissolves the energy efficient schools council and creates a new Office of Energy Efficient Schools within the state education department. The bill expands eligibility for individualized education accounts, allowing more students to access these funding options. These changes are part of broader revisions to Tennessee's education laws across multiple statutes.

Maddy summaryHB 2530 transfers oversight of land surveyors from the state board of examiners for land surveyors to the state board of examiners for architects and engineers. It removes the registration requirement for interior designers and eliminates a funding mechanism that previously allocated contractor licensing fees to the Go Build Tennessee Act. These changes affect land surveyors, interior designers, and contractor licensing programs by altering regulatory oversight and financial provisions. The bill amends multiple Tennessee Code sections related to occupational licensing boards, streamlining oversight for certain professions.

Maddy summaryHB 2542 amends Tennessee's unemployment law (TCA § 50-7-303) by removing a requirement that claimants' gross weekly wages from new work must equal or exceed specific percentages of their highest-earning quarter during their base period. This change directly affects unemployed workers seeking benefits who accept new jobs, as it eliminates a wage threshold that previously determined if work was "suitable" for unemployment purposes. The bill deletes specific subsections (i)-(iv) and the percentage thresholds from the existing law, simplifying the criteria for determining suitable work. The policy change aims to make it easier for claimants to accept available jobs without meeting strict wage comparisons. The bill is currently pending in the Commerce Committee as of March 2026.