Aftyn Behn is a Democratic member of the Tennessee House of Representatives for District 51, where she has served since October 2023, and is seeking re-election in the November 3, 2026 general election.[1][2]Behn is the only candidate listed for the District 51 general election.[1][2]
Aftyn Behn earned a degree from the University of Texas at Austin, and her career experience includes working as campaign director of RuralOrganizing.org.[1]
Behn won the special general election for Tennessee House District 51 on September 14, 2023, and took office on October 4, 2023.[1]She also ran for the U.S. House in Tennessee's 7th Congressional District but did not appear on the Democratic primary ballot on August 6, 2026.[1]
Their recorded votes on bills that divided the chamber (unanimous votes left out), grouped by topic. A bill can sit under more than one topic. "With" and "against" compare each vote with how most Democrats voted. How topics are assigned
›Rights & public safety243 with · 35 against279 votes
In an action brought against this state, a department or agency of this state, or an official of this state in their official capacity that challenges the constitutionality of a state statute, present law authorizes the state to appeal as of right from an interlocutory order of a circuit or chancery court of this state that (i) grants, continues, or modifies an injunction or (ii) denies a motion to dissolve or modify an injunction.
VIOLATIONS BY CORPORATIONS Present law authorizes a corporation to be prosecuted for an act or omission involving trafficking persons for forced labor or services or trafficking for commercial sex act constituting a crime under state kidnapping and false imprisonment law only if (i) an agent of the corporation performs the conduct that is an element of the crime while acting within the scope of the agent's office or employment and on behalf of the corporation and (ii) the commission of the crime was either authorized, requested, commanded, performed or within the scope of the agent's…
This bill authorizes a political subdivision to only enter into a contingent fee contract for legal services if the governing body of the political subdivision adheres to all of the following requirements: Calls a public meeting for the purpose of considering the contract and provides in the notice of the meeting (i) the reasons for pursuing the matter that is the subject of the legal services being procured and the desired outcome of pursuing the matter; (ii) the qualifications, experience, and competence of the attorney or law firm proposed for retention by the governing body; (iii) the…
Present law requires the commissioner of human resources ("commissioner") to perform certain human resources functions authorized in present law if requested by state organizations. This bill, instead, authorizes the commissioner to perform such functions, rather than requires. JOB OPENINGS Present law requires the commissioner to give public notice of a job opening at least one week prior to the closing of the application period. This bill eliminates that requirement.
Present law provides that a licensee under the "Premium Finance Company Act of 1980" does not have the power to charge premium loan charges other than, or in amounts greater than, the following: Licensees may charge, in the case of the precomputed loan, a service charge in an amount equal to 4% of the total amount of the loan, which charge may be deducted in advance from the principal of the premium loan; provided, that a licensee who contracts for the payment of interest on the balances from time to time outstanding, commonly referred to as a revolving or open-end account, shall be limited…
ON APRIL 13, 2026, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENTS #8, 2, 3, AND 9, AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 2532, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #8 prohibits an eligible student from receiving an education freedom scholarship if the student is enrolled in a private school that promotes or advocates for the support, adoption, or implementation of any foreign law, legal code, or system, in this state that, if adopted or implemented, would violate rights guaranteed by the Tennessee Constitution or United States Constitution.
ON APRIL 22, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1. SENATE BILL 1585, AS AMENDED, FAILED TO RECEIVE A CONSTITUTIONAL MAJORITY. AMENDMENT #1 rewrites this bill to revise the assessment testing requirements for students who participate in the education savings account (ESA) program. Present law requires, as a condition of participating in the ESA program, participating students in grades three through 11 must be annually administered the TCAP tests for math and English language arts, or successor tests authorized by the state board of education for math and English language arts.
ON FEBRUARY 23, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 2423, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 rewrites this bill and adds to present law by prohibiting LEAs and public charter schools from selling, offering for sale, or providing to students on school property through a school nutrition program any food or beverage item that contains one or more of the following petroleum-based synthetic dyes: Allura Red AC; Erythrosine B; Tartrazine; Sunset Yellow FCF; Erioglaucine disodium salt; Indigo carmine; or Fast Green FCF.
ON FEBRUARY 23, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 2423, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 rewrites this bill and adds to present law by prohibiting LEAs and public charter schools from selling, offering for sale, or providing to students on school property through a school nutrition program any food or beverage item that contains one or more of the following petroleum-based synthetic dyes: Allura Red AC; Erythrosine B; Tartrazine; Sunset Yellow FCF; Erioglaucine disodium salt; Indigo carmine; or Fast Green FCF.
Present law requires every dealer or distributor of tobacco products to pay to the department of revenue for exclusive state purposes, taxes in addition to all other taxes or fees, for the privilege of selling cigarettes and tobacco products in this state. The tax rate on vapor products is 10% of the wholesale cost price.
This bill prohibits a healthcare provider who participates in a medical assistance health benefit plan, including a provider participating in the provider network of a managed care organization that contracts with the bureau of TennCare to provide services under a medical assistance health benefit plan, from refusing to provide healthcare services to an enrollee based solely on the enrollee's refusal or failure to obtain a vaccine or immunization for a particular infectious or communicable disease.
ON APRIL 13, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 2473, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 rewrites the bill to, instead, vacate the present board of commissioners of each existing authority for metropolitan and regional airports, and reconstitute a new governing body.
Present law establishes the transportation modernization fund to be used for all of the following purposes: To fund strategic transportation initiatives, including, but not limited to, congestion mitigation, rural interstate widening, and the accelerated delivery of strategic transportation improvements over and above the transportation improvements program generally supported by the state highway fund. To respond to a transportation system failure, an imminent threat of a failure, or other emergency, which use may be eligible for reimbursement from the federal government.
DISPOSAL OF PROPERTY USED FOR CAMPING This bill requires the department of transportation to develop and implement a policy regarding the collection, storage, claiming, and disposal of personal property used for camping from (i) the shoulder, berm, or right-of-way of a state or interstate highway; or (ii) under a bridge or overpass, or within an underpass, of a state or interstate highway.
Present law provides that it is the duty of the commissioner of environment and conservation, or the commissioner's duly authorized representative or deputy commissioner, as applicable, to enter into an agreement or contract with county health departments whereby the departments would implement the law relative to subsurface sewage disposal systems in their respective jurisdiction.
ON MARCH 16, 2026, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 803, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 rewrites this bill to add to present law concerning sewerage systems using land application. Present law prohibits new construction of, or making any change in a public water supply or public sewerage system, until the plans for such new construction or change have been submitted to and approved by TDEC.
This bill prohibits an agency from disseminating, proposing, or finalizing any regulatory action by promulgating rules or a similar action for a substance, mixture, or chemical related to drinking water, water pollution control, hazardous substances, contaminated site remediation, air quality, or solid or hazardous waste handling unless the following criteria is met: All scientific and technical information relied on to support the regulatory action is based upon the best available science.
ON APRIL 3, 2025, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 227, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 defines "housing," for purposes of the bill, as long-term living accommodations. The term also includes assistance with obtaining or signing a lease for an apartment or rental home, but does not include temporary overnight housing such as that provided by a homeless shelter.
DISPOSAL OF PROPERTY USED FOR CAMPING This bill requires the department of transportation to develop and implement a policy regarding the collection, storage, claiming, and disposal of personal property used for camping from (i) the shoulder, berm, or right-of-way of a state or interstate highway; or (ii) under a bridge or overpass, or within an underpass, of a state or interstate highway.
On and after July 1, 2025, this bill prohibits a landlord from prohibiting a tenant or tenant's guest from lawfully possessing, carrying, transporting, or storing a firearm, any part of a firearm, or firearm ammunition in the tenant's home, apartment, or business; in a vehicle located in a parking area provided for tenants or tenants' guests by the landlord of the leased premises; or in other locations controlled by the landlord as necessary to enter or exit the tenant's home, apartment, or business, to enter or exit the leased premises, or to enter or exit a vehicle located on the leased…
This bill clarifies that the World Health Organization, the United Nations, and the World Economic Forum have no jurisdiction in this state. This state and its political subdivisions must not be compelled to enforce, or collaborate with the enforcement of, requirements or mandates issued by the World Health Organization, the United Nations, or the World Economic Forum.
This bill enacts the "Recognizing Judea and Samaria Act," which generally prohibits a department, division, office, board, commission, or institution of this state ("state agency") from (i) using the term "West Bank" to refer to Judea and Samaria in a guidance, rule, material, briefing, press release, communication, or work product document prepared by a state agency and (ii) using state funds to create official government material that refers to Judea and Samaria as "West Bank." However, this bill authorizes the executive head of a state agency to waive the prohibition if the executive head…
This bill enacts the "Tennessee Procurement Protection Act," the purpose of which is to ensure that suppliers to the state and to political subdivisions of this state are safe, reliable, and free from undue influence and control from foreign adversaries. As used in this bill, a "foreign adversary" means a country designated by the United States department of commerce under 15 CFR 791.4 on January 1, 2025, and as amended thereafter.
This bill requires each LEA and public charter school that serves students in any of the grades K-5 to prohibit all of the following: Students in those grades from accessing digital devices at school. Teachers and other employees of the LEA or public charter school from using a digital device to provide instruction to students in those grades. Teachers and other employees of the LEA or public charter school from administering an assessment to students in those grades in an electronic format.
Present law requires each LEA to adopt an internet acceptable use policy that includes provisions that: (1) Are designed to prohibit certain inappropriate use by school district employees and students of the school district's computers via the internet; (2) Seek to prevent access by students to material that the school district deems to be harmful to juveniles; (3) Select technology for the LEA's computers having internet access that prevent access to pornography, obscenity, and materials that are harmful to minors; (4) Establish appropriate measures to be taken against persons who violate…
PROHIBITED ACTIONS In order to ensure that this state provides an attractive environment for investment in broadband technology by establishing certainty regarding the regulatory treatment of that technology, consistent with the decisions of the federal communications commission to preempt certain state actions that are not in accordance with such commission's policies, present law prohibits the Tennessee public utility commission from exercising jurisdiction of any type over or relating to broadband services, regardless of the entity providing the service, except as provided in present law.
Voted against most of their party on 5 of 631 party-divided votes on file.
Most often on: Education & families (2), Transportation (1), Jobs & cost of living (1)
Driver Licenses - As enacted, requires driver license station staff to inquire of applicants whether the applicant would like a driver license that complies with the federal REAL ID Act of 2005 or does not comply with such act; makes other…
What it does: Present law provides the application requirements for a driver license, instruction permit, intermediate driver license, and photo identification card. This bill requires the staff at a driver license station to inqui…
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 10–11, Republicans 63–7
Boards and Commissions - As enacted, enacts the "Less is More Act of 2025." - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 8; Title 20; Title 33; Title 38; Title 40; Title 52; Title 55; Title 62; Title 63; Title 68; Title 70 and Title 76. HB1330 has been…
What it does: This bill makes various changes to present law concerning regulatory boards and regulated groups as follows: (1) Makes technical clarifications by deleting anachronistic provisions; (2) Abolishes the board of court re…
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 10–11, Republicans 50–20
Campaigns and Campaign Finance - As enacted, prohibits political campaign committees formed to support or oppose a measure from receiving, soliciting, or accepting contributions or expenditures from a foreign national; requires such…
What it does: When a political campaign committee is created to support or oppose a measure, this bill requires the treasurer of the committee to file with the registry of election finance an accompanying certification that prelimi…
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 5–15, Republicans 70–0
Education - As enacted, requires the Tennessee higher education commission (THEC), to serve as the governing board of directors for the Tennessee student assistance corporation; requires THEC's review committee to aid in the development or…
What it does: ON MARCH 17, 2025, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 689, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 rewrites the bill to, instead, make the following revisions to present law: Removes the Tennessee student assis…
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 8–10, Republicans 69–0
Students - As enacted, requires local boards of education and public charter school governing bodies to adopt a policy to prohibit students from using wireless communication devices during instructional time, except in certain circumstances;…
What it does: DISCIPLINE POLICIES AND CODES OF CONDUCT Present law requires each local board of education and charter school governing body to adopt a discipline policy to apply to the students in each school operated by the LEA or…
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 9–10, Republicans 71–0
Substantive votes concern legislation or nominations; procedural votes concern how the chamber considers them. A Yes vote applies to the motion shown, which may not be final passage.
HB 47 · TN HOUSE
Education - As enacted, authorizes local boards of education and public charter school governing bodies to allow schools in the LEA or the public charter school, as applicable, to display the Ten Commandments, the first sentence of the…
NoVOTED
Motion: MOTION TO ADOPT CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT
ON MARCH 19, 2026, THE SENATE SUBSTITUTED HOUSE BILL 47 FOR SENATE BILL 303, ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1, AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 47, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 adds a preamble and rewrites the substantive provisions of this bill to require each local board of education and governing body of a public charter school to require all schools under their administration to display the Ten Commandments, the first sentence of the second paragraph of the preamble to the Declaration of Independence, and the preamble to the United States Constitution in a prominent location in each school building in order to…
Immigration - As enacted, requires, until February 1, 2029, each court to cooperate with the U.S. department of homeland security and federal immigration authorities acting in the enforcement of federal immigration law; authorizes, until…
NoVOTED
Motion: MOTION TO ADOPT CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT
ON APRIL 2, 2026, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 1707, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 rewrites the bill to, instead, require each court to cooperate with the United States department of homeland security ("department") and federal immigration authorities acting in the enforcement of federal immigration law. This amendment authorizes a judge who obstructs lawful operations by the department or such authorities to be referred to the board of judicial conduct for proceedings and any findings by the board that the judge committed judicial misconduct may be cause for removal.
Motor Vehicles - As enacted, adds certain language comprehension requirements for certain driver licenses; requires documentation as a U.S. citizen or lawfully permitted in the U.S. for certain vehicle registrations; requires documentation…
NoVOTED
Motion: MOTION TO ADOPT CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT
The Uniform Classified and Commercial Driver License Act of 1988 requires the department of safety to examine every applicant for a driver license, intermediate driver license, learner permit, temporary driver license, temporary learner permit, and temporary intermediate driver license. Such examination may include a written examination. WRITTEN EXAMINATIONS If an applicant for a driver license or intermediate driver license is unable to speak and read in English, then this bill authorizes the written examination required for licensure to be administered in a language other than English.
Obscenity and Pornography - As enacted, prohibits the issuance of a license to operate certain adult-oriented establishments unless certain signage is posted. - Amends TCA Title 7, Chapter 51 and Title 39. HB2314 has been assigned Public…
NoVOTED
Motion: MESSAGE CALENDAR 2 MOTION TO ADOPT CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT
ON APRIL 6, 2026, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 2314, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 makes the following changes: • Removes the requirement for signs posted at each entrance of the establishment no smaller than 8 1/2" x 11" to have the required language printed in at least 48-point type in boldface, block letters, centered on the sign, and that the letters must be black on a white background.
Tourism - As enacted, requires the department of tourist development to promulgate rules designating tourism development zones in this state as economic protection zones; places certain limitations on a local government blocking streets or…
NoVOTED
Motion: MOTION TO ADOPT CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT 2
ON APRIL 6, 2026, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENTS #1 AND 2, AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 2366, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 makes the following changes: Changes the definition for the term "tourism development zone" to have the same meaning as the one in present law. Removes the prohibition for a local government to ingress or egress into a tourism development zone by private or commercial vehicles or pedestrian traffic.
Computers and Electronic Processing - As enacted, requires TACIR to study artificial intelligence and submit a report to the governor and both speakers by January 31, 2027. - Amends TCA Title 29; Title 33; Title 39 and Title 47. Companion…
NoVOTED
Motion: REGULAR CALENDAR MOTION TO CONSIDER AMENDMENT # 4 BY ZACHARY PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION
This bill creates a Class A felony offense for an individual, for-profit corporation, nonprofit corporation, or other business entity to knowingly train artificial intelligence to do any of the following: Encourage or otherwise support the act of suicide. Encourage or otherwise support the act of criminal homicide. Provide emotional support, including through open-ended conversations with a user. Develop an emotional relationship with, or otherwise act as a companion to, an individual.
Education - As enacted, revises the assessment testing requirements for students who participate in the education savings account (ESA) program. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 9; Title 12; Title 48; Title 49 and Title 67. Companion bill has…
NoVOTED
Motion: REGULAR CALENDAR PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION
ON APRIL 22, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1. SENATE BILL 1585, AS AMENDED, FAILED TO RECEIVE A CONSTITUTIONAL MAJORITY. AMENDMENT #1 rewrites this bill to revise the assessment testing requirements for students who participate in the education savings account (ESA) program. Present law requires, as a condition of participating in the ESA program, participating students in grades three through 11 must be annually administered the TCAP tests for math and English language arts, or successor tests authorized by the state board of education for math and English language arts.
Education - As enacted, revises the assessment testing requirements for students who participate in the education savings account (ESA) program. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 9; Title 12; Title 48; Title 49 and Title 67. Companion bill has…
NoVOTED
Motion: REGULAR CALENDAR PREVIOUS QUESTION PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION
ON APRIL 22, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1. SENATE BILL 1585, AS AMENDED, FAILED TO RECEIVE A CONSTITUTIONAL MAJORITY. AMENDMENT #1 rewrites this bill to revise the assessment testing requirements for students who participate in the education savings account (ESA) program. Present law requires, as a condition of participating in the ESA program, participating students in grades three through 11 must be annually administered the TCAP tests for math and English language arts, or successor tests authorized by the state board of education for math and English language arts.
Education - As enacted, revises the assessment testing requirements for students who participate in the education savings account (ESA) program. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 9; Title 12; Title 48; Title 49 and Title 67. Companion bill has…
Not votingNO VOTE
Motion: REGULAR CALENDAR MOTION TO CONSIDER AMENDMENT # 8 BY PEARSON PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION
ON APRIL 22, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1. SENATE BILL 1585, AS AMENDED, FAILED TO RECEIVE A CONSTITUTIONAL MAJORITY. AMENDMENT #1 rewrites this bill to revise the assessment testing requirements for students who participate in the education savings account (ESA) program. Present law requires, as a condition of participating in the ESA program, participating students in grades three through 11 must be annually administered the TCAP tests for math and English language arts, or successor tests authorized by the state board of education for math and English language arts.
Education - As enacted, revises the assessment testing requirements for students who participate in the education savings account (ESA) program. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 9; Title 12; Title 48; Title 49 and Title 67. Companion bill has…
Not votingNO VOTE
Motion: REGULAR CALENDAR MOTION TO CONSIDER AMENDMENT # 7 BY PEARSON PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION
ON APRIL 22, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1. SENATE BILL 1585, AS AMENDED, FAILED TO RECEIVE A CONSTITUTIONAL MAJORITY. AMENDMENT #1 rewrites this bill to revise the assessment testing requirements for students who participate in the education savings account (ESA) program. Present law requires, as a condition of participating in the ESA program, participating students in grades three through 11 must be annually administered the TCAP tests for math and English language arts, or successor tests authorized by the state board of education for math and English language arts.
