THE LATEST NEWS

I am excited to announce the release of "Citizen's Voices," a collection of op-eds written by Tennesseans. This digital journal highlights personal stories and perspectives on the issues that matter most—from protecting our healthcare resources and defending parental rights to supporting our small businesses and general constituent care. Each voice in this collection reflects a deep commitment to principled leadership and the bright future of District 27. Click the link bel

District 27 is one of the most beautiful and varied districts in our state. From Lookout Mountain and Lookout Valley to Red Bank, Signal Mountain, Hixson, Soddy Daisy, Mowbray Mountain, Flat Top Mountain, and Bakewell, our communities are a mix of urban edge, suburban neighborhoods, and rural mountain land. Every part of this district matters, and every part benefited from the investments we made this session. The General Assembly appropriated more than $890 million in new do

Women and girls in Tennessee have a right to safety, dignity, and privacy in the spaces designed to protect them. They have a right to compete on a level playing field. And they have a right to elected officials who will not pretend that biology is optional. The Riley Gaines Women's Safety and Protection Act, HB 571, recognizes and codifies those rights. The legislation requires public higher education institutions, domestic violence shelters, and juvenile detention and corre

The men and women who put on a uniform every day to protect Tennessee families deserve more than thank-yous on social media. They deserve laws that respect their service, protect their lives, and back them up when they put themselves between us and the worst the world has to offer. This session, the General Assembly delivered. HB 2428 adds first responders to Tennessee's Back the Blue Act, increasing the offense of assaulting a first responder from a Class A misdemeanor to a

While Washington racks up trillions in debt and prints money to cover its mistakes, Tennessee continues to do something very important: we balance our budget. That matters. A state government should not spend money it does not have, and Tennessee’s commitment to a zero-debt, balanced budget helps keep our state on stronger financial footing than many others across the country. This year, the General Assembly passed a $58.3 billion balanced budget without raising taxes. I vote

Tennesseans are self-reliant people. We do not need bureaucrats in Washington or unaccountable regulators in Nashville telling us how to run our businesses, raise our children, or live our lives. Limited government means more than talking about freedom. It means keeping government accountable, reducing unnecessary burdens, and protecting the ability of citizens to challenge government when it oversteps. This session, the General Assembly passed several measures aimed at reini

Freedom of speech is not a partisan issue. It is the foundation of every other right we have. Without it, we cannot worship freely, govern ourselves, hold our elected officials accountable, or pass our values to the next generation. This session, Tennessee took meaningful action to defend it. HB 1476 protects free speech on college campuses across Tennessee. For too long, public universities have allowed certain viewpoints to be silenced, threatened, or punished while others

Public safety is one of the first responsibilities of government. Tennessee families deserve to be safe in their homes, on their streets, and in their communities. That means holding violent criminals accountable, supporting law enforcement, protecting victims, and making sure repeat offenders are not quickly returned to the streets. This session, the General Assembly passed several important public safety measures. I supported many of those efforts because I believe Tennesse

Tennessee families are paying more for prescriptions, waiting longer for care, and facing a system rigged in favor of the largest middlemen. This session, the General Assembly took targeted, system-focused action to fix it. The FAIR Rx Act, HB 1959, is the most significant pharmacy reform Tennessee has passed in a generation. The Freedom, Access, and Integrity in Registered Pharmacy Act prohibits a single company from owning both a pharmacy and a pharmacy benefits manager, or

Government has a duty to defend the most vulnerable among us. There is no group more vulnerable than children. This session, we extended that duty in real and concrete ways. The Tennessee Anti-Grooming Act, HB 2317, establishes a criminal offense for engaging in the preparatory stages of sexual misconduct with children. While existing statutes addressed direct solicitation and the display of sexual material to minors, the Anti-Grooming Act targets early behaviors that often p

Parents, not bureaucrats, have the fundamental right to direct the upbringing, health, and education of their children. This session, we passed several measures to put parents back in the driver's seat and protect children from agendas that have no place in our classrooms. HB 2082 protects parents who raise their children in a manner consistent with the child's biological sex. The law specifies that a parent's or legal guardian's action of raising, guiding, or instructing the

I am the daughter of a legal immigrant. My mother came to America from South Korea, married my father, and built a life in this country the right way. She worked hard, paid her taxes, raised her children to love America, and never asked for a single thing she had not earned. Her story is the story of millions of immigrants who came here legally and built this country alongside their American neighbors. That is why I cannot, in good conscience, allow the state of Tennessee to

This week, the General Assembly returned to Nashville for a special session focused on congressional redistricting. I want to be clear from the beginning: good people can look at the same facts and come to different conclusions. I respect my colleagues who voted differently than I did. My vote was not a statement against them. It was a reflection of my concerns about the timing, the process, and the long-term consequences of redrawing congressional districts mid-decade. As

Well… plot twist 😅 We’ve been called back into a special session. I want to share what I understand this special session is about—and get your feedback. One of the primary issues under consideration is redistricting of Tennessee’s congressional seats. The special session has been called following ongoing federal court challenges to current congressional maps, where plaintiffs argue the districts may violate voting rights protections and constitutional standards. In response

We officially adjourned Sine Die—which means “indefinitely.” (Though, practically speaking, we all know the General Assembly will gavel back in the second Tuesday of January.) We wrapped on Thursday just after 9:00 PM Central / 10:00 PM Eastern, closing out a long 12-hour day on the House floor. 🏛️ Final Day at the Capitol Thursday wasn’t dominated by new bill votes. Instead, much of the day was spent working through message calendars—the back-and-forth process when the Ho

The final week is here—and I’m happy to report that the last of my legislation has officially crossed the finish line. 📝 Status of My Bills This Week HB 853 – Parental Rights in Medical Records (Passed the House floor) Closes loopholes in statues to ensure parents the right to access the medical records of their minor children—including prescription and rehabilitation records—even in cases where treatment was provided without parental consent under existing law. This ensur

We are officially entering the final stretch of session. Committees are wrapping up, and next week we expect to move into full flow motion , meaning long days on the House floor and a high volume of votes. 📝 Status of My Bills This Week HB849 – AI Personhood PASSED the House Floor: Clarifies that artificial intelligence, machines, and databases are not legal persons. Goes to the Governor for signature. HB1692 – Adoption Reform PASSED the House Floor: Allows judges dis

In Tennessee, we all agree that children deserve safe, stable, and loving homes. But sometimes, our laws—designed with good intentions—create unnecessary barriers for the very families stepping up to provide that stability. House Bill 1692 is about fixing one of those barriers. This legislation was brought to me by an attorney who handles adoptions in rural communities. She shared a pattern she sees far too often: a young mother, facing difficult circumstances, asks someone

This week on the House floor, we passed a wide range of legislation impacting families, education, healthcare, and public safety. But first an update on my bills: 📝 Status of My Bills This Week HB 1694 – K-9 Emergency Medical Care & Transport Act ✅ Passed both chambers and is headed to the Governor’s desk. Digital Device Bill ✅ Passed and headed to the Governor’s desk. Adoption Reform (HB 1692) ✅ Moving to House floor with bipartisan support AI Personhood (HB 849) ✅ Mo

When I took office, I took an oath—not to a party, not to a platform—but to the Constitution . That oath carries a simple but powerful responsibility: to protect the rights of the people, even when it is inconvenient, even when it is politically difficult. I opposed HB1971. The intent while well meaning and even appealing on the surface was to stop “activist judges” or “special interest groups.” But when you look into how this bill could actually work, a very different pictu