Tennessee House of Representatives
Tennessee General Assembly
Coat of arms or logo
Type
Type
Term limits
None
History
New session started
January 10, 2023
Leadership
Cameron Sexton (R)
since August 23, 2019
Speaker pro tempore
Pat Marsh (R)
since January 12, 2021
Majority Leader
William Lamberth (R)
since January 8, 2019
Minority Leader
Karen Camper (D)
since January 8, 2019
Structure
Seats99
Political groups
Majority
  •   Republican (75)

Minority

Length of term
2 years
AuthorityArticle III, Tennessee Constitution
Salary$24,316/year + per diem, employee benefits, travel reimbursement[1]
Elections
Last election
November 8, 2022
Next election
November 5, 2024
RedistrictingLegislative Control
Meeting place
House of Representatives Chamber
Tennessee State Capitol
Nashville, Tennessee
Website
Tennessee House of Representatives

The Tennessee House of Representatives is the lower house of the Tennessee General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Tennessee.

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.[2][3]

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. 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.

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

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.[4] The current speaker is Cameron Sexton, who represents Tennessee's 25th district.[5]

Composition of the 113th General Assembly (2022–present)

Affiliation Party
(shading indicates
majority caucus)
Total
Republican Democratic Vacant
Beginning of 113th General Assembly 75 24 99 0
April 6, 2023[6] 75 22 97 2
April 10, 2023[7] 75 23 98 1
April 12, 2023[8] 75 24 99 0
April 20, 2023[9] 74 24 98 1
May 11, 2023[10] 75 24 99 0
June 4, 2023[11] 74 23 98 1
June 20, 2023[12] 75 24 99 0
Latest voting share 75.76% 24.24%

Officers

  • Speaker of the House: Cameron Sexton (R)[13]
  • Speaker Pro Tempore: Pat Marsh (R)
  • Deputy Speaker: Curtis Johnson (R)
Majority party (R) Leadership position Minority party (D)
William Lamberth Leader Karen Camper
Mark Cochran Assistant Leader Harold M. Love Jr.
Jeremy Faison Caucus Chairperson Vincent Dixie
Brandon Ogles Caucus Vice Chairperson Bob Freeman
Johnny Garrett Whip Jason Powell
Paul Sherrell Floor Leader Bill Beck
Michele Carringer Caucus Secretary London Lamar
Rebecca Alexander Caucus Treasurer Jesse Chism

Members as of 2023

DistrictNameParty First electedResidence Counties represented
1John CrawfordRepublican 2016Kingsport Part of Sullivan
2Bud HulseyRepublican 2014Kingsport Part of Sullivan
3Timothy HillRepublican 2023Blountville Johnson and parts of Carter, Hawkins, and Sullivan
4John Holsclaw Jr.Republican 2014Johnson City Unicoi and part of Carter
5David B. HawkRepublican 2002Greeneville Greene
6Tim HicksRepublican 2020Jonesborough Part of Washington
7Rebecca AlexanderRepublican 2020Jonesborough Part of Washington
8Jerome MoonRepublican 2017Maryville Part of Blount
9Gary HicksRepublican 2016Rogersville Hancock and parts of Claiborne and Hawkins
10Rick EldridgeRepublican 2018Morristown Grainger and part Hamblen
11Jeremy FaisonRepublican 2010Cosby Cocke, and parts of Jefferson and Hamblen
12Dale CarrRepublican 2012Sevierville Part of Sevier
13Robert StevensRepublican 2022Smyrna Part of Rutherford
14Jason ZacharyRepublican 2015Knoxville Part of Knox
15Sam McKenzieDemocratic 2020Knoxville Part of Knox
16Michele CarringerRepublican 2020Knoxville Part of Knox
17Andrew FarmerRepublican 2012Sevierville Parts of Jefferson and Sevier
18Elaine DavisRepublican 2022Knoxville Part of Knox
19Dave WrightRepublican 2018Corryton Part of Knox
20Bryan RicheyRepublican 2022Maryville Part of Blount
21Lowell RussellRepublican 2018Vonore Parts of Loudon and Monroe
22Dan HowellRepublican 2014Cleveland Meigs, Polk and part of Bradley
23Mark CochranRepublican 2018Englewood McMinn and part of Monroe
24Kevin RaperRepublican 2022Cleveland Part of Bradley
25Cameron SextonRepublican 2010Crossville Cumberland and part of Putnam
26Greg MartinRepublican 2022Hixson Part of Hamilton
27Patsy HazlewoodRepublican 2014Signal Mountain Part of Hamilton
28Yusuf HakeemDemocratic 2018Chattanooga Part of Hamilton
29Greg VitalRepublican 2021Harrison Part of Hamilton
30Esther HeltonRepublican 2018East Ridge Part of Hamilton
31Ron TravisRepublican 2012Dayton Bledsoe, Sequatchie, Rhea and Van Buren
32Monty FrittsRepublican 2012Kingston Parts of Roane and part of Loudon
33John RaganRepublican 2010Oak Ridge Part of Anderson
34Tim RuddRepublican 2016Murfreesboro Part of Rutherford
35William SlaterRepublican 2022Gallatin Trousdale and part of Sumner
36Dennis PowersRepublican 2010Jacksboro Campbell, Union and part of Claiborne
37Charlie BaumRepublican 2018Murfreesboro Part of Rutherford
38Kelly KeislingRepublican 2010Byrdstown Macon, Clay, Pickett, Scott, and part of Fentress
39Iris RudderRepublican 2018Winchester Franklin and Marion
40Michael HaleRepublican 2022Smithville Cannon, DeKalb, Jackson, Smith, and part of Wilson
41Ed ButlerRepublican 2022Cookeville Overton, Morgan and parts of Anderson, Fentress, and Roane
42Ryan WilliamsRepublican 2010Cookeville Part of Putnam
43Paul SherrellRepublican 2016Sparta Warren and White
44William LamberthRepublican 2012Portland Part of Sumner
45Johnny GarrettRepublican 2018Goodlettsville Part of Sumner
46Clark BoydRepublican 2018Lebanon Part of Wilson
47Rush BrickenRepublican 2018Tullahoma Coffee and Grundy
48Bryan TerryRepublican 2018Murfreesboro Part of Rutherford
49Mike SparksRepublican 2010Smyrna Part of Rutherford
50Bo MitchellDemocratic 2012Nashville Part of Davidson
51Aftyn BehnDemocratic 2023 Nashville Part of Davidson
52Justin JonesDemocratic 2023Nashville Part of Davidson
53Jason PowellDemocratic 2012Nashville Part of Davidson
54Vincent DixieDemocratic 2018Nashville Part of Davidson
55John Ray ClemmonsDemocratic 2014Nashville Part of Davidson
56Bob FreemanDemocratic 2018Nashville Part of Davidson
57Susan LynnRepublican 2013Mt. Juliet Part of Wilson
58Harold M. Love Jr.Democratic 2012Nashville Part of Davidson
59Caleb HemmerDemocratic 2022Nashville Part of Davidson
60Darren JerniganDemocratic 2012Old Hickory Part of Davidson
61Gino BulsoRepublican 2022Brentwood Part of Williamson
62Pat MarshRepublican 2009Shelbyville Bedford, Moore, and part of Lincoln
63Jake McCalmonRepublican 2022Franklin Part of Williamson
64Scott CepickyRepublican 2018Culleoka Part of Maury
65Sam WhitsonRepublican 2016Franklin Part of Williamson
66Sabi "Doc" KumarRepublican 2014Springfield Robertson
67Ronnie GlynnDemocratic 2022Clarksville Part of Montgomery
68Curtis JohnsonRepublican 2004Clarksville Part of Montgomery
69Jody BarrettRepublican 2022Dickson Hickman, Lewis and part of Dickson
70Clay DoggettRepublican 2018Pulaski Giles and parts of Lawrence and Lincoln
71Kip CapleyRepublican 2022Summertown Wayne and parts of Hardin, Lawrence, and Maury
72Kirk HastonRepublican 2018Lobelville Henderson, Chester, Decatur, Perry, and part of Hardin
73Chris ToddRepublican 2018Humboldt Part of Madison
74Jay ReedyRepublican 2014Erin Benton, Houston, Humphreys, Stewart, and part of Henry
75Jeff BurkartRepublican 2022Clarksville Part of Montgomery
76Tandy DarbyRepublican 2020Greenfield Weakley and parts of Henry and Carroll
77Rusty GrillsRepublican 2020Newbern Dyer, Lake and part of Obion
78Mary LittletonRepublican 2012Dickson Cheatham and part of Dickson
79Brock MartinRepublican 2022Huntingdon Parts of Carroll, Gibson and Henderson
80Johnny ShawDemocratic 2000Bolivar Parts of Hardeman, Haywood and Madison
81Debra MoodyRepublican 2012Covington Tipton and part of Haywood
82Chris HurtRepublican 2018Halls Crockett, Lauderdale and parts of Gibson and Obion
83Mark WhiteRepublican 2010Memphis Part of Shelby
84Joe TownsDemocratic 1994Memphis Part of Shelby
85Jesse ChismDemocratic 2018Memphis Part of Shelby
86Justin J. PearsonDemocratic 2023Memphis Part of Shelby
87Karen CamperDemocratic 2008Memphis Part of Shelby
88Larry MillerDemocratic 1992Memphis Part of Shelby
89Justin LaffertyRepublican 2018Knoxville Part of Knox
90Gloria JohnsonDemocratic 2012Knoxville Part of Knox
91Torrey HarrisDemocratic 2020Memphis Part of Shelby
92Todd WarnerRepublican 2020Lewisburg Marshall and part of Williamson
93G. A. HardawayDemocratic 2006Memphis Part of Shelby
94Ron GantRepublican 2016Rossville Fayette, McNairy and part of Hardeman
95Kevin VaughanRepublican 2017Collierville Part of Shelby
96Dwayne ThompsonDemocratic 2016Cordova Part of Shelby
97John GillespieRepublican 2020Memphis Part of Shelby
98Antonio ParkinsonDemocratic 2011Memphis Part of Shelby
99Tom LeatherwoodRepublican 2018Arlington Part of Shelby

House committees

Committees, subcommittees, and their leadership for the 112th General Assembly are as follows:[14]

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.[15] Since the Civil War, ten representatives have been expelled.[16] Six representatives were expelled in 1866 for attempting to prevent passage of the 14th Amendment, which granted citizenship to former slaves.[17] In 1980, Republican representative Robert Fisher was expelled for bribery.[18] Republican representative Jeremy Durham was expelled in 2016 for sexual misconduct.[19] 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.[20] Both Jones and Pearson were later reinstated.[21] Representative Gloria Johnson also participated in the demonstration, but avoided expulsion by one vote.[22]

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.[23]

Diversity among Representatives

November 2020 saw the election of first openly LGBT people ever to hold seats in Tennessee's state house of representatives,[24] Democrat Torrey Harris and Republican Eddie Mannis.[25] 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.[26] Eddie Mannis did not seek reelection after a single term, citing bullying by the Republican caucus.[27]

Of its 99 members,[28] twenty-one were women[29] in 2020. Representatives Harold Love[30] and Raumesh Akbari hold leadership roles in the National Black Caucus of State Legislators,[31] in which eight Tennessee state lawmakers are members. Akbari is also a State Director with Women in Government, as is Brenda Gilmore.[32]

Past composition of the House of Representatives

See also

Notes

    References

    1. "2022 Legislator Compensation". www.ncsl.org.
    2. Article II, Section 15 of the Constitution of Tennessee (1870)
    3. McCullough, Erin (April 10, 2023). "Can Nashville and Memphis legally reappoint Justin Jones and Justin Pearson?". WREG-TV. Memphis, TN. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
    4. "Speaker of the House of Representatives – Tennessee General Assembly". www.capitol.tn.gov. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
    5. Allison, Natalie; Ebert, Joel. "House Speaker Cameron Sexton officially sworn in, succeeding ousted Speaker Glen Casada". The Tennessean. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
    6. Chappell, Bill; Romo, Vanessa. "Tennessee House votes to expel the first of 3 Democratic members over gun protest". NPR. NPR. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
    7. Cochrane, Emily (April 10, 2023). "Expelled Democratic Lawmaker Is Sworn Back in to Tennessee House". The New York Times.
    8. Shelby County reappoints Justin J. Pearson to House seat
    9. "Rep. Scotty Campbell Resigns". News Channel 5 Nashville (WTVF). April 20, 2023.
    10. "Former Rep. Timothy Hill appointed as interim to fill Scotty Campbell vacancy in House". The Tennessean. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
    11. "Democratic Nashville lawmaker Bill Beck dies from heart attack at 61". AP News. AP News. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
    12. "Nashville council appoint Anthony Davis to state House". Axios. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
    13. "House Leadership – TN General Assembly". www.capitol.tn.gov. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
    14. "Legislative House Committees – TN General Assembly". www.capitol.tn.gov. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
    15. "Article 2, Section 12" (PDF). Constitution of Tennessee. 1870.
    16. Gang, Duane W. (April 4, 2023). "Tennessee legislative expulsions: From sexual misconduct to opposing rights of former slaves". The Tennessean. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
    17. "TENNESSEE: Six Members of the Legislature Expelled--The Revenue Officer Robbed". The New York Times. July 25, 1866. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
    18. Daughtrey, Larry (January 15, 1980). "House Votes To Expel Fisher". The Tennessean. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
    19. "Tennessee House expels GOP lawmaker accused in sexual harassment cases". CBS News. Associated Press. September 13, 2016. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
    20. Mattsie, Jonathan; Kruesl, Kimberlee (April 7, 2023). "Tennessee's House expels 2 of 3 Democrats over guns protest". Associated Press. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
    21. Mattsie, Jonathan (June 16, 2023). "After expulsion and reinstatement, Tennessee Reps. Pearson, Jones advance past Democratic primaries". ABC News. Associated Press. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
    22. Dennis, Angela; Whetstone, Tyler (April 6, 2023). "Rep. Gloria Johnson survives Tennessee House expulsion vote after peaceful gun control demonstration". Knoxville News Sentinel. Gannett. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
    23. "House Members – TN General Assembly". www.capitol.tn.gov. Retrieved March 30, 2019.
    24. Stockard, Sam (November 4, 2020). "Legislature sees little change but first LGBT members". Tennessee Lookout. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
    25. "For The First Time, Tennessee Voters Elect Two LGBT State Lawmakers". WPLN News – Nashville Public Radio. November 4, 2020. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
    26. "Tennessee – yes, Tennessee – just elected out LGBT+ lawmakers for the first time". PinkNews – Gay news, reviews and comment from the world's most read lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans news service. November 4, 2020. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
    27. "Knox TN Today".
    28. "Tennessee State Legislature – System". system.uslegal.com. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
    29. "Women in State Legislatures for 2020". www.ncsl.org. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
    30. "Harold Love". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
    31. "NBCSL | State Leadership". nbcsl.org. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
    32. "Gilmore & Akbari elected to leadership role with Women In Government". Nashville PRIDE, Inc. January 20, 2015. Retrieved January 15, 2021.

    36°09′56″N 86°47′03″W / 36.1656°N 86.7841°W / 36.1656; -86.7841

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