Serving District 68 in the Tennessee General Assembly has been one of the greatest honors of my life. During the 2025 and 2026 legislative sessions, I worked to turn the priorities of our community into meaningful results: supporting first responders and military families, protecting children, strengthening education, promoting fairness in government, and advancing the infrastructure and healthcare access our growing county needs.
In my first session, I achieved a 70% bill passage rate and was recognized for having one of the highest passage rates in the General Assembly. That success reflects the work of constituents who brought real concerns to my office and colleagues who helped move solutions into law.
Supporting Our First Responders
Our law enforcement officers and emergency medical responders regularly face situations most people will never experience. Supporting them means recognizing the lasting effects those experiences can have.
I sponsored and passed HB 310 / SB 289, which establishes a presumption that qualifying PTSD diagnoses arising from certain traumatic incidents were incurred in the line of duty for workers’ compensation purposes. This law extends important protections to law enforcement officers and emergency medical responders, helping them access support when their service takes a toll on their mental health.
Delivering for Veterans and Military Families
In a community with deep ties to Fort Campbell, supporting our military families and veterans is personal.
I sponsored and passed HB 524 / SB 505, expanding access to Montgomery County’s Veterans Treatment Court. The law allows eligible criminal cases from other Tennessee counties to transfer into our program when the required conditions are met, including acceptance by Montgomery County’s district attorney. This gives more veterans access to a program focused on treatment, accountability, and rehabilitation.
In 2026, I sponsored and passed HB 1663 / SB 1666, removing duplicative state licensing requirements for qualifying family child care homes certified by the U.S. Department of Defense and serving eligible patrons. This helps address a practical challenge military families face: finding child care that fits their needs.
I also sponsored and passed HB 1725 / SB 1817, helping military families navigate school enrollment during relocation. Under the law, qualifying students already living within a school district can enroll in the school zone where their parents intend to establish residency within one year. Military moves are disruptive enough; this provides families greater flexibility as they settle into our community.
Protecting Children and Strengthening Education
Children need the knowledge to navigate an increasingly complicated online world.
I sponsored and passed HB 825 / SB 811, the Teen Social Media and Internet Safety Act. This legislation requires public and charter schools to provide social media and internet safety instruction for students in grades 6–12, helping students develop healthier habits and understand online risks.
I also co-sponsored and helped pass HB 6004 / SB 6001, the Education Freedom Scholarship Act. I believe strong public schools and greater educational choice both serve Tennessee families. Parents deserve a meaningful voice in choosing the educational environment that best meets their child’s needs.
Protecting children also means respecting parents’ role in healthcare. I sponsored and passed HB 1665 / SB 1664, which restricts certain gender-related questions directed at minors by covered healthcare providers and prevents insurers from requiring or requesting those questions. The law includes exceptions for specified mental health professionals, information volunteered by a minor, and certain abuse or trafficking screenings. It also guarantees parents access to forms and assessments presented to their children.
I sponsored and passed HB 1666 / SB 1665, extending existing protections concerning sex-consistent pronouns to sex-consistent honorifics, such as “Mr.” and “Ms.” The law applies those protections across public education and state employment. I believe Tennesseans should be able to exercise their convictions without facing punishment for using language consistent with a person’s biological sex and that teachers should not be using their positions of authority over children to expand their agendas.
Promoting Merit, Fairness, and Accountability
Government should treat people fairly and make employment decisions based on qualifications and merit.
In 2025, I sponsored and passed HB 622 / SB 1083, which prohibits covered public employers from basing employment decisions on demographic characteristics rather than individual merit, qualifications, veteran status, or lawful eligibility criteria.
I also sponsored and passed HB 923 / SB 1084, prohibiting discriminatory preferences intended to advance DEI in state and local government and public higher education, along with offices established or maintained for those purposes.
In 2026, I built on that work with HB 1664 / SB 1713, requiring annual compliance attestations from public higher education leadership and authorizing related investigations by the attorney general. Passing a law is only part of the work; ensuring compliance matters too.
Advancing Roads and Healthcare Access
Our community’s growth requires sustained attention to transportation. I have advocated for improvements along Highway 237, Rossview Road, Trenton Road, and I-24. Major projects advanced into TDOT’s planning framework during my first term, including $68 million for widening Rossview Road from east of International Boulevard to east of Kirkwood Road, alongside significant planned investments in Trenton Road and I-24. I will continue pressing for progress as these projects move toward construction.
Healthcare access has also been a major priority. I joined our local delegation and community leaders in advocating for the TriStar and Ascension Saint Thomas hospital proposals, including speaking at the state’s approval hearings. Both proposals received unanimous approval in July 2025—a major step toward expanding hospital options for Montgomery County families.
These first two years have produced meaningful progress, and there is more work ahead. My commitment remains the same: listen to our community, bring practical solutions to Nashville, and work every day to deliver results for District 68.
Thank you for trusting me to serve as your state representative.