Tennessee House of Representatives

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Template:Short description Template:Use American English Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Script error: No such module "Infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". The Tennessee House of Representatives is the lower house of the Tennessee General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Tennessee. The House convenes, along with the Senate, at the Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville.

Constitutional requirements

According to the state constitution of 1870, this body is to consist of 99 members elected for two-year terms. In every even-numbered year, elections for state representative are conducted simultaneously with the elections for U.S. Representative and other offices; the primary election being held on the first Thursday in August. Seats which become vacant, such as through death, resignation, or expulsion, are filled either: by the county commission (or metropolitan county council) of the home county of the member vacating the seat if less than a year remains in the seat's term; if more than a year remains in the term, a special election is held for the balance of the term.[1][2]

Districts

Members are elected from single-member districts. The districts are traditionally numbered consecutively from east to west and north to south across the state; however, in recent redistricting this convention has not always been strictly adhered to, despite a constitutional provision requiring districts to be numbered consecutively.

Districts are required to be reapportioned every ten years following the federal census in order to be of substantially equal population.[3] However, from 1902 until 1962, the General Assembly ignored this provision. It was estimated that by that point that some districts in the Memphis area had approximately ten times the population of some in rural areas. In 1962 this issue was taken to court. Despite U.S. courts having traditionally declined to rule on such issues, the U.S. Supreme Court opted to hear this case and ruled that the legislature had to comply with the state constitution, as its failure to do so was in violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (see Baker v. Carr). Subsequent litigation has further refined the rules regarding this; in the late 1990s a majority-black district in rural West Tennessee was required to be created.[4]

The 1960s redistricting was credited by some observers with creating the first Republican majority in the Tennessee House since Reconstruction in 1968; this situation lasted only until the next election in 1970. 1970 also marked the first election of a Republican governor in a half century and saw both houses of the legislature begin to assert themselves as a counterbalance to executive authority; prior to this time legislators had not had their own staffs or even their own offices and were largely at the mercy of what the governor's staff chose to tell them and in many ways were often something of a "rubber stamp."

Speaker of the House

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". The Speaker of the House of Representatives is the presiding officer of the House. The Speaker is elected to a two-year term at the beginning of the 1st half of each session of the Tennessee General Assembly. Additionally, the Speaker is second in line for succession to the governorship, after the Speaker of the Senate, in the event of such need. The Speaker appoints members to all committees as well. Even though the Speaker does not have to make committee assignments proportional to the party composition, usually that discretion is used when determining such. Usually, consideration of the abilities, preferences, party representation, and seniority of the members are taken into account. The chairperson, vice chairperson, and secretary of each committee also are chosen by the Speaker and must be given the same considerations in their selection. The Speaker is a voting member of all standing committees of the House, as is the Speaker pro Tempore. The Speaker also serves as co-chairperson of the Joint Legislative Services Committee and must approve, in concurrence with the Speaker of the Senate, the directors of the offices of Legislative Information Services, Legal Services, Legislative Administration, and Legislative Budget Analysis. Additionally, the Speaker is in charge of all facilities, professional and clerical staff, and custodians and security personnel of the House.[5] The current speaker is Cameron Sexton, who represents Tennessee's 25th district.[6]

Composition of the 114th General Assembly (2025–27)

Affiliation Party
(shading indicates
majority caucus)
 Total
Republican Democratic Vacant
End of 113th General Assembly style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading"|75 24 99 0
Beginning of the 114th General Assembly style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading"|75 24 99 0
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Leadership of the 114th General Assembly

Position Representative District
Speaker Cameron Sexton 25
Speaker Pro Tempore Pat Marsh 62
Majority Leader William Lamberth 44
Minority Leader Karen Camper 87

Members as of 2025

District Name Party First elected Residence Counties represented
1 John Crawford style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2016 Kingsport Part of Sullivan
2 Bud Hulsey style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2014 Kingsport Part of Sullivan
3 Timothy Hill style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2023 Blountville Johnson and parts of Carter, Hawkins, and Sullivan
4 Renea Jones style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2024 Unicoi Unicoi and part of Carter
5 David B. Hawk style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2002 Greeneville Greene
6 Tim Hicks style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2020 Jonesborough Part of Washington
7 Rebecca Alexander style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2020 Jonesborough Part of Washington
8 Jerome Moon style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading"| Republican 2017 Maryville Part of Blount
9 Gary Hicks style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2016 Rogersville Hancock and parts of Claiborne and Hawkins
10 Rick Eldridge style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2018 Morristown Grainger and part Hamblen
11 Jeremy Faison style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2010 Cosby Cocke, and parts of Jefferson and Hamblen
12 Fred Atchley style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2024 Sevierville Part of Sevier
13 Robert Stevens style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2022 Smyrna Part of Rutherford
14 Jason Zachary style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2015 Knoxville Part of Knox
15 Sam McKenzie style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic 2020 Knoxville Part of Knox
16 Michele Carringer style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2020 Knoxville Part of Knox
17 Andrew Farmer style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2012 Sevierville Parts of Jefferson and Sevier
18 Elaine Davis style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2022 Knoxville Part of Knox
19 Dave Wright style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2018 Corryton Part of Knox
20 Tom Stinnett style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2024 Friendsville Part of Blount
21 Lowell Russell style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2018 Vonore Parts of Loudon and Monroe
22 Dan Howell style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2014 Cleveland Meigs, Polk and part of Bradley
23 Mark Cochran style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2018 Englewood McMinn and part of Monroe
24 Kevin Raper style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2022 Cleveland Part of Bradley
25 Cameron Sexton style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2010 Crossville Cumberland and part of Putnam
26 Greg Martin style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2022 Hixson Part of Hamilton
27 Michele Reneau style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2024 Signal Mountain Part of Hamilton
28 Yusuf Hakeem style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic 2018 Chattanooga Part of Hamilton
29 Greg Vital style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2021 Harrison Part of Hamilton
30 Esther Helton style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2018 East Ridge Part of Hamilton
31 Ron Travis style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2012 Dayton Bledsoe, Sequatchie, Rhea and Van Buren
32 Monty Fritts style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2012 Kingston Parts of Roane and part of Loudon
33 Rick Scarbrough style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2024 Oak Ridge Part of Anderson
34 Tim Rudd style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2016 Murfreesboro Part of Rutherford
35 William Slater style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2022 Gallatin Trousdale and part of Sumner
36 Dennis Powers style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2010 Jacksboro Campbell, Union and part of Claiborne
37 Charlie Baum style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2018 Murfreesboro Part of Rutherford
38 Kelly Keisling style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2010 Byrdstown Macon, Clay, Pickett, Scott, and part of Fentress
39 Iris Rudder style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2018 Winchester Franklin and Marion
40 Michael Hale style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2022 Smithville Cannon, DeKalb, Jackson, Smith, and part of Wilson
41 Ed Butler style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2022 Cookeville Overton, Morgan and parts of Anderson, Fentress, and Roane
42 Ryan Williams style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2010 Cookeville Part of Putnam
43 Paul Sherrell style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2016 Sparta Warren and White
44 William Lamberth style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2012 Portland Part of Sumner
45 Johnny Garrett style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2018 Goodlettsville Part of Sumner
46 Clark Boyd style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2018 Lebanon Part of Wilson
47 Rush Bricken style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2018 Tullahoma Coffee and Grundy
48 Bryan Terry style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2018 Murfreesboro Part of Rutherford
49 Mike Sparks style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2010 Smyrna Part of Rutherford
50 Bo Mitchell style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic 2012 Nashville Part of Davidson
51 Aftyn Behn style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic 2023 Nashville Part of Davidson
52 Justin Jones style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic 2023 Nashville Part of Davidson
53 Jason Powell style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic 2012 Nashville Part of Davidson
54 Vincent Dixie style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic 2018 Nashville Part of Davidson
55 John Ray Clemmons style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic 2014 Nashville Part of Davidson
56 Bob Freeman style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic 2018 Nashville Part of Davidson
57 Susan Lynn style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2013 Mt. Juliet Part of Wilson
58 Harold M. Love Jr. style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic 2012 Nashville Part of Davidson
59 Caleb Hemmer style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic 2022 Nashville Part of Davidson
60 Shaundelle Brooks style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic 2012 Hermitage Part of Davidson
61 Gino Bulso style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2022 Brentwood Part of Williamson
62 Pat Marsh style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2009 Shelbyville Bedford, Moore, and part of Lincoln
63 Jake McCalmon style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2022 Franklin Part of Williamson
64 Scott Cepicky style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2018 Culleoka Part of Maury
65 Sam Whitson style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2016 Franklin Part of Williamson
66 Sabi "Doc" Kumar style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2014 Springfield Robertson
67 Ronnie Glynn style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic 2022 Clarksville Part of Montgomery
68 Aron Maberry style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2024 Clarksville Part of Montgomery
69 Jody Barrett style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2022 Dickson Hickman, Lewis and part of Dickson
70 Clay Doggett style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2018 Pulaski Giles and parts of Lawrence and Lincoln
71 Kip Capley style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2022 Summertown Wayne and parts of Hardin, Lawrence, and Maury
72 Kirk Haston style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2018 Lobelville Henderson, Chester, Decatur, Perry, and part of Hardin
73 Chris Todd style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2018 Humboldt Part of Madison
74 Jay Reedy style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2014 Erin Benton, Houston, Humphreys, Stewart, and part of Henry
75 Michael Lankford style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2025 Clarksville Part of Montgomery
76 Tandy Darby style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2020 Greenfield Weakley and parts of Henry and Carroll
77 Rusty Grills style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2020 Newbern Dyer, Lake and part of Obion
78 Mary Littleton style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2012 Dickson Cheatham and part of Dickson
79 Brock Martin style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2022 Huntingdon Parts of Carroll, Gibson and Henderson
80 Johnny Shaw style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic 2000 Bolivar Parts of Hardeman, Haywood and Madison
81 Debra Moody style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2012 Covington Tipton and part of Haywood
82 Chris Hurt style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2018 Halls Crockett, Lauderdale and parts of Gibson and Obion
83 Mark White style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2010 Memphis Part of Shelby
84 Joe Towns style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic 1994 Memphis Part of Shelby
85 Jesse Chism style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic 2018 Memphis Part of Shelby
86 Justin J. Pearson style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic 2023 Memphis Part of Shelby
87 Karen Camper style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic 2008 Memphis Part of Shelby
88 Larry Miller style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic 1992 Memphis Part of Shelby
89 Justin Lafferty style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2018 Knoxville Part of Knox
90 Gloria Johnson style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic 2012 Knoxville Part of Knox
91 Torrey Harris style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic 2020 Memphis Part of Shelby
92 Todd Warner style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2020 Lewisburg Marshall and part of Williamson
93 G. A. Hardaway style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic 2006 Memphis Part of Shelby
94 Ron Gant style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2016 Rossville Fayette, McNairy and part of Hardeman
95 Kevin Vaughan style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2017 Collierville Part of Shelby
96 Gabby Salinas style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic 2024 Memphis Part of Shelby
97 John Gillespie style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2020 Memphis Part of Shelby
98 Antonio Parkinson style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic 2011 Memphis Part of Shelby
99 Tom Leatherwood style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican 2018 Arlington Part of Shelby

House committees

Committees, subcommittees, and their leadership for the 112th General Assembly are as follows:[7]

Standing committees
Committees Chair Vice Chair Subcommittees
Agriculture and Natural Resources Rep. Curtis Halford (R) Rep. Rusty Grills (R) Agriculture and Natural Resources, Chair: Rep. Chris Todd (R)
Calendar and Rules Rep. Jason Zachary (R) Rep. Lowell Russell (R)
Civil Justice Rep. Andrew Farmer (R) Rep. Darren Jernigan (D) Civil Justice, Chair: Rep. Andrew Farmer (R)

Children and Family Affairs, Chair: Rep. Mary Littleton (R)

Commerce Rep. Kevin Vaughn (R) Rep. Rush Bricken (R) Banking and Consumer Affairs, Chair: Rep. Dennis Powers (R)

Business and Utilities, Chair: Rep. Clark Boyd (R)

Criminal Justice Vacant Rep. Jerry Sexton (R) Criminal Justice, Chair: Rep. Clay Doggett (R)
Education Administration Rep. Mark White (R) Rep. Chris Hurt (R) K-12, Chair: Rep. Kirk Haston (R)

Higher Education, Chair: Rep. Justin Lafferty (R)

Education Instruction Rep. Debra Moody (R) Rep. Terri Lynn Weaver (R) Education Instruction, Chair: Rep. Scott Cepicky (R)
Finance, Ways, and Means Rep. Patsy Hazelwood (R) Rep. Charlie Baum (R) Finance, Ways, and Means, Chair: Rep. Gary. Hicks (R)

Appropriations, Chair: Rep. Ryan Williams (R)

Government Operations Rep. John Ragan (R) Rep. Jay Reedy (R)
Health Rep. Bryan Terry (R) Rep. Tom Leatherwood (R) Health, Chair: Rep. Bob Ramsey (R)
Insurance Rep. Sabi Kumar (R) Rep. Iris Rudder (R) Insurance, Chair: Rep. David Hawk (R)
Local Rep. John Crawford (R) Rep. Dave Wright (R) Cities, Chair: Rep. Jerome Moon (R)

Elections and Campaign Finance, Chair: Rep. Tim Rudd (R)

Property and Planning, Chair: Rep. Dale Carr (R)

Naming and Designating Rep. John Mark Windle (D) Rep. David Byrd (R)
State Rep. Kelly Keisling (R) Rep. Rick Eldridge (R) Corrections, Chair: Rep. Bud Hulsey (R)

Departments and Agencies, Chair: Rep. John Holsclaw (R)

Public Service, Chair: Rep. Esther Helton (R)

Transportation Rep. Dan Howell (R) Rep. Mark Hall (R) Transportation, Chair: Rep. Sam Whitson (R)
Select committees
Committees Chair Subcommittees
Rules Rep. Pat Marsh (R)
Ethics Rep. Curtis Johnson (R) Ethics, Chair: Rep. Pat Marsh (R)

Expulsion of members

The Tennessee House of Representatives requires a two-thirds majority of the total membership to expel another representative.[8] Since the Civil War, ten representatives have been expelled.[9] Six representatives were expelled in 1866 for attempting to prevent passage of the 14th Amendment, which granted citizenship to former slaves.[10] In 1980, Republican representative Robert Fisher was expelled for bribery.[11] Republican representative Jeremy Durham was expelled in 2016 for sexual misconduct.[12] Representatives Justin Jones and Justin J. Pearson were expelled in 2023 for violating decorum rules by leading a gun control protest on the House floor during a legislative session.[13] Both Jones and Pearson were later reinstated.[14] Representative Gloria Johnson also participated in the demonstration, but avoided expulsion by one vote.[15]

Education level among members

Among Republicans, around 30% of all members hold no degree beyond high school completion, less than 20% hold a Master's or other post baccalaureate degree, and less than 10% have a law degree. Among Democrats, of whom there are a substantially lower number, 15% hold no degree beyond high school, around 30% hold a Master's or other post baccalaureate degree, and 25% have a law degree.[16]

Diversity among Representatives

November 2020 saw the election of first openly LGBT people ever to hold seats in Tennessee's state house of representatives,[17] Democrat Torrey Harris and Republican Eddie Mannis.[18] Before November 3, 2020, Tennessee was one of just five states in the nation (others being Alaska, Delaware, Louisiana and Mississippi) to have never elected an out LGBT person to its state legislature.[19] Eddie Mannis did not seek reelection after a single term, citing bullying by the Republican caucus.[20]

Of its 99 members,[21] twenty-one were women[22] in 2020. Representatives Harold Love[23] and Raumesh Akbari hold leadership roles in the National Black Caucus of State Legislators,[24] in which eight Tennessee state lawmakers are members. Akbari is also a State Director with Women in Government, as is Brenda Gilmore.[25]

Past composition of the House of Representatives

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See also

Notes

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References

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External links

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