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TN · Officeholder

Kelly Keisling

RState Representative · District 38

On the ballot Nov 3, 2026: Tennessee House District 38

Biography

Kelly Keisling is a Republican member of the Tennessee House of Representatives for District 38, where he has served since 2010, and is seeking re-election in the November 3, 2026 general election.[1][2] In the general election, Keisling is on the ballot with Seth McMillan.[1][2]

Kelly Keisling attended Belmont University and worked in insurance before he was elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives.[1] From 1994 to 1998 he served as County Executive of Pickett County.[1]

Keisling has represented District 38 since 2010.[1] In the 2023–2024 session he chaired the State Government Committee and also sat on the Calendar and Rules and Finance, Ways, and Means committees.[1]

Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21. Not yet independently fact-checked.

Tennessee House District 38

Kelly Keisling is on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot for Tennessee House District 38 as R. Not researched in depth — candidate list only.

Ballotpedia ↗

Other candidates for this seat

Votes by issue

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 Republicans voted. How topics are assigned

Where they stood out

Voted against most of their party on 43 of 637 party-divided votes on file.

Most often on: Education & families (21), Jobs & cost of living (11), Rights & public safety (5)

  • 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…

    What it does: 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…

    Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 0–22, Republicans 54–17

    Apr 23, 2026Official record ↗

  • 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…

    What it does: 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…

    Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 0–22, Republicans 63–7

    Apr 23, 2026Official record ↗

  • Criminal Offenses - As enacted, creates the offense for a person to knowingly travel, with intent to commit theft of another person's cash, from a commercial business; a financial institution; or an automated teller machine, on the same path…

    What it does: This bill creates an offense for a person to knowingly travel, with intent to commit theft of another person's cash, from a commercial business, or a financial institution, on the same path or route as another person…

    Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 1–20, Republicans 70–1

    Apr 21, 2026Official record ↗

  • Education - As enacted, makes various changes and additions to present law concerning public education. - Amends TCA Title 9; Title 49, Chapter 13; Title 49, Chapter 2; Title 49, Chapter 3 and Title 49, Chapter 1, Part 3. HB2177 has been…

    What it does: This bill makes various changes and additions to present law concerning public education, as follows: (1) Present law provides that one member of the state board of education be a public high school student who is app…

    Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 0–21, Republicans 62–8

    Apr 21, 2026Official record ↗

  • Tobacco, Tobacco Products - As enacted, expands the definition of "consumable material" to include natural and synthetic liquid nicotine solutions and liquid nicotine analogues for purposes of the taxation of vapor products containing such…

    What it does: 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 cigaret…

    Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 1–21, Republicans 69–4

    Apr 21, 2026Official record ↗

How this is counted

Their votes on the most contested roll calls

The votes in their chamber that came out closest and most divided by party, among those they voted on. How we rank

See all their split votes

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.

HJR 8 · TN HOUSE

Memorials, Death - U.S. Senator James Ralph Sasser -

YesVOTED

Motion: REFER TO COMMITTEE

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 66–19·Procedural·May 6, 2026Roll call ↗
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…

YesVOTED

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…

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 70–17·Substantive·Apr 23, 2026Roll call ↗
HB 1707 · TN HOUSE

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…

YesVOTED

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.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 72–17·Substantive·Apr 23, 2026Roll call ↗
HB 1708 · TN HOUSE

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…

YesVOTED

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.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 69–17·Substantive·Apr 23, 2026Roll call ↗
HB 2314 · TN HOUSE

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…

YesVOTED

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.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 83–10·Substantive·Apr 23, 2026Roll call ↗
HB 2366 · TN HOUSE

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…

YesVOTED

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.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 68–13·Substantive·Apr 23, 2026Roll call ↗
SB 1493 · TN HOUSE

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…

YesVOTED

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.

Latest official summary of the bill (as amended) — read the bill text ↗
Passed 81–7·Substantive·Apr 23, 2026Roll call ↗
SB 1585 · TN HOUSE

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.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 54–39·Substantive·Apr 23, 2026Roll call ↗
SB 1585 · TN HOUSE

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.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 63–29·Substantive·Apr 23, 2026Roll call ↗
SB 1585 · TN HOUSE

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 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.

Latest official summary of the bill (as amended) — read the bill text ↗
Failed 19–72·Substantive·Apr 23, 2026Roll call ↗

Showing 10 of 1074 votes in this collection. Coverage may be incomplete; each entry links to the official record.