Maddy summaryThis bill restricts the use of eminent domain in Tennessee by explicitly excluding recreational facilities, parks, and private commercial projects from the legal definition of "public use." Under the new rules, government entities can no longer seize private property for purposes like building golf courses, shopping centers, or other private businesses, even if they argue these projects will indirectly benefit the community through job creation or tax revenue. The law does allow condemnation for essential public infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and utilities, as well as for urban renewal projects in blighted areas. Additionally, private use remains permissible only if it is incidental to a genuine public project and does not involve taking land primarily for private benefit.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill updates Tennessee laws to restrict land purchases by sanctioned aliens and foreign entities linked to countries subject to international arms trade regulations. It defines specific terms such as "agricultural land" and "prohibited foreign party" to clarify which groups face restrictions on owning or controlling property. The legislation prevents prohibited parties from acquiring agricultural land through direct ownership, long-term leases, or by holding a controlling interest in a business that owns such land. These changes directly affect foreign governments, designated terrorist organizations, and their agents or affiliates regarding their ability to hold real estate in the state.
Maddy summaryThis bill reorganizes the Tennessee Energy Policy Council by updating its membership structure to include seventeen specific representatives from various sectors such as energy production, consumers, higher education, and environmental groups. The new composition ensures that the council includes voices from nuclear energy, renewable sources like solar and wind, as well as local utilities and transportation industries. Key provisions require the governor and legislative leaders to appoint these members while consulting with relevant industry experts and organizations. The legislation also adds a nonvoting student representative to bring academic perspectives to energy policy discussions.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends Tennessee law to change the required size of the state's National Guard deployment for disaster relief from three members to four members. It does not authorize the governor to deploy troops to the U.S. southern border, as that description in the provided text appears to be an error unrelated to the actual bill content. The change applies to the governor's authority under Title 58 of the Tennessee Code Annotated and takes effect immediately upon becoming law.
Maddy summaryThis law reorganizes court structures in Tennessee by adding new judges to specific districts and removing existing ones. It creates a new circuit court division in the 4th judicial district and a new trial court division in the 19th judicial district, while simultaneously eliminating two divisions within the 13th judicial district. The new judge for the 4th district will initially be appointed by the governor and later elected by voters, whereas the removed divisions will no longer exist. These changes modify the state's judicial code to adjust how cases are distributed and handled across these specific areas.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends Tennessee laws to allow vehicle towing and storage companies to remove firearms from cars they are storing, provided the removal does not damage the vehicle. The change applies to businesses engaged in towing and storing motor vehicles, giving them the authority to secure guns left behind under specific conditions. By updating the state code, the legislation clarifies the legal framework for handling firearms in stored vehicles without requiring additional permits or complex procedures.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Local Tourism Development Zone Business Tax Act to clarify how counties must select representatives for tax-related decisions. Specifically, it requires that these representatives be broadly representative of all areas within the county, explicitly including both incorporated and unincorporated regions. The change ensures that unincorporated areas have a defined role in the selection process alongside towns and cities. This adjustment applies to Tennessee Code Annotated sections covering local government operations and taxation.
Maddy summaryThis new law requires local governments in Tennessee to include a written statement with their annual audit confirming they have not sought or accepted grants to pursue specific policies related to private property rights. If a local government is found to have violated these rules, individuals can file a lawsuit in court to challenge the action. A court that rules in favor of the individual will award them court costs, attorney fees, and potentially actual or punitive damages. The law applies to various state code titles governing local government operations and takes effect on July 1, 2024.