Sen. Tom Hatcher

Maddy summarySB 798 amends Tennessee law to require the Office of Early Learning to submit an annual report by February 1st to the governor and General Assembly. The report must include specific data on pre-kindergarten programs, such as the number and locations of providers, types of classrooms, and the number of at-risk children served. This bill changes the existing reporting deadline without altering the required content, directly affecting the Office of Early Learning’s administrative process.

Maddy summarySB 721 changes a deadline for resolving building and fire code disputes between cities and counties in Tennessee. It extends the time the fire marshal has to decide on appeals involving county buildings in cities (where city and county codes conflict) from 10 working days to 15 calendar days. The bill directly affects county governments and city officials managing building code enforcement in areas with jurisdictional conflicts. This is a procedural change to the timeline, not a new policy or requirement.

Maddy summarySB 812 allows assistant district attorneys in Tennessee to receive year-for-year service credit for prior full-time law enforcement experience as a POST-certified officer. This applies only if their hiring district attorney recommends the credit and the executive director of the Tennessee district attorneys conference approves it. The bill requires applicants to provide an employment record from their previous law enforcement agency to verify eligibility. It directly affects assistant district attorneys with qualifying law enforcement backgrounds by potentially accelerating their service-based seniority under Tennessee law.

Maddy summarySB 413 establishes a process for local zoning authorities to notify state agencies when a business violates local zoning laws, potentially leading to the suspension or revocation of the business's state-issued license, permit, or certificate. To trigger this, the local authority must provide written notice with proof of violation within 30 days of the license's issuance or renewal. If the business corrects the violation, the local authority notifies the state agency to reinstate the license, though a reinstatement fee (up to the original license cost) may apply if the business was out of compliance at the time of notice. Businesses can appeal suspensions through standard administrative procedures under the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act.

Maddy summarySB 964 prohibits activities like fishing or swimming near public boat launches, docks, boats, or marinas that interfere with their intended use or cause damage. It directly affects recreational boaters, anglers, and swimmers who may block access to public facilities or harm dock structures. Key provisions ban fishing during typical boat launch/retrieval times or engaging in activities that obstruct facility use, with penalties outlined in existing law. The bill amends Tennessee Code sections related to boating regulations and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 710 amends Tennessee law to require that public servants convicted of misusing official information (a Class B misdemeanor) must complete at least 30 hours of community service, determined by the court, in addition to any other penalties allowed under law. This bill directly affects public employees who misuse their position or access to official information. The key provision adds a mandatory community service requirement to existing punishments for this specific offense, as outlined in amended Tennessee Code § 39-16-404(b). The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 847 requires property deeds recorded after July 1, 2025, to include the current zoning classification with a disclaimer noting it may change. It also establishes a process where local zoning authorities can notify state agencies if a business violates zoning laws, allowing the state to revoke or suspend the business's license or permit if the violation is proven. Businesses can appeal such actions or request reinstatement once compliant, with potential reinstatement fees up to the original license cost. The bill directly affects property owners, businesses operating under zoning regulations, and state agencies managing licenses.

Maddy summarySB 399, introduced in the Tennessee Senate in January 2025 and withdrawn in February 2025, proposed to allow counties that have adopted the County Purchasing Law of 1957 to require a competitive bid process for insurance brokerage services. The bill would have permitted county legislative bodies to mandate competitive bidding for insurance brokerage contracts, overriding any conflicting existing laws. This change would have directly affected county governments by altering how they procure insurance brokerage services, ensuring multiple bids are sought instead of direct negotiations. The bill aimed to standardize procurement practices under the 1957 purchasing law for insurance brokerage services.

Maddy summarySB 118 allows Tennessee's Treasurer to submit annual reports on unclaimed property (like forgotten bank accounts or insurance payouts) electronically instead of through traditional methods. This change directly affects the Treasurer's office and executive/legislative branch officials who receive these reports. The bill amends specific Tennessee Code sections to update reporting procedures, making the process more efficient while maintaining the same reporting requirements.