Rep. Jay Reedy

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the financial management system for Benton County, Tennessee, to modernize budgeting, investment, and debt oversight. It establishes a five-member Budget Committee responsible for preparing annual budgets that must include public hearings for citizen input before adoption by local officials. The County Legislative Body retains the authority to adjust budget line items within state rules but must adopt a balanced budget based on previous tax collection data. Additionally, the legislation defines key financial terms and sets specific timelines for creating and reviewing county expenditures.

Maddy summaryHB 2097 extends the deadline for ground ambulance providers to pay their annual assessment under TennCare from June 30, 2026, to June 30, 2027. It also changes the penalty for unpaid assessments from $50 per day to 5% of the unpaid amount per month. This bill directly affects ambulance providers in Tennessee who pay the annual assessment to TennCare. The key change simplifies penalty calculations by replacing daily fines with a monthly percentage charge, making the enforcement mechanism clearer.

Maddy summaryHB 220 expands the service area of the West Tennessee River Basin Authority to include Perry, Stewart, Houston, and Humphreys counties. The bill amends state code to replace specific river basin references with "authority service area" throughout the law, clarifying the expanded jurisdiction. Crucially, the authority may only provide technical assistance, engineering services, and project management support in the newly added counties - not full program implementation. This change affects county governments in the four new counties, which can choose to participate in authority programs through a majority vote of their legislative body. The bill updates all relevant legal references to reflect the expanded service area while maintaining the limited service scope for the new counties.

Maddy summaryHB 1788 would prohibit certain foreign entities (including foreign-controlled businesses and individuals) from acquiring non-agricultural land in Tennessee. It requires existing owners of such land by foreign entities to register detailed information - like their nationality, purpose of ownership, and other U.S. land holdings - with the secretary of state by January 1, 2025. Violations of the acquisition ban are punishable as Class A misdemeanors, while failure to register incurs civil penalties up to $2,000 per violation. The bill directly affects foreign-controlled entities holding non-farm property in Tennessee, aiming to increase transparency around foreign ownership of land.

Maddy summaryHB 1500 creates the Humphreys County Water Authority to manage water and wastewater systems for Humphreys County and surrounding areas. It directly affects Humphreys County residents and three specific cities - Waverly, McEwen, and New Johnsonville - by establishing a new public entity to operate their water infrastructure. The authority will be governed by a five-member board: two appointed by the county executive for unincorporated areas, and one from each city council. This structure allows the authority to plan, build, and operate water systems while enabling future cities to join by adding board seats.

Maddy summaryHB 1499 establishes rules for Tennessee's participation in an Article V convention to propose U.S. constitutional amendments. It sets qualifications for Tennessee's delegates (e.g., U.S. citizenship for 5+ years, no recent lobbying/federal roles) and requires a two-thirds legislative vote to approve participation. The bill mandates that delegates must not support changing state voting rules at the convention, must back recorded roll call votes, and cannot back amendments altering core constitutional liberties. It also requires legislative approval for funding before any convention-related costs are incurred. This procedural bill directly affects Tennessee's delegation to any future Article V convention.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a House Joint Resolution that formally honors William "Billy" Bunce for his exemplary service as a legislative intern for Representative Jay Reedy during the 2026 session. The resolution recognizes Bunce's background as a Vanderbilt University student in the Master of Public Health program and highlights his previous experience in health policy research and public service. It commends his work ethic, attention to detail, and contributions to the legislative process, noting his achievements such as earning Eagle Scout status and holding professional certifications. The measure serves as a public acknowledgment of his efforts rather than establishing new laws or policies.

Maddy summaryHB 1901 creates a tax credit for Tennessee brewers who donate spent grain (a byproduct of beer production) to agricultural uses like animal feed or composting. Eligible brewers can claim an 8-cent credit per pound of donated spent grain, capped at $30,000 annually or their total excise taxes paid. The credit applies against excise tax liabilities under Title 67 and requires donations to recipients within 100 miles in Tennessee. This directly affects craft and commercial brewers who donate spent grain, reducing their tax burden for supporting agricultural operations. The bill takes effect July 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 1789 requires Tennessee public colleges and universities to classify military spouses and dependents of active-duty service members or veterans as in-state students for tuition purposes, regardless of whether they’ve lived in Tennessee for one year. This applies if the spouse or dependent resides in Tennessee while enrolled, maintains continuous enrollment, and meets citizenship or residency requirements. The bill amends state law to make this mandatory (replacing "may" with "shall") and expands eligibility to include military dependents living outside Tennessee. It takes effect for the 2026-2027 academic year and applies to all public higher education institutions in the state.

Maddy summaryHB 1245 changes Tennessee law to reduce the waiting time for juvenile detainees facing disciplinary action. Specifically, it shortens the maximum delay for a telephone call or in-person visit from six to four hours after a disciplinary measure is imposed. This applies directly to youth held in state juvenile detention facilities under Tennessee Code Annotated Sections 37-1-189. The bill modifies the existing requirement without altering other facility procedures or policies.