Richard Briggs is a Republican state senator from Knoxville who represents Tennessee Senate District 7 in part of Knox County and is listed as the incumbent candidate in the 2026 election.[1][2]A physician and retired U.S. Army colonel, he chairs the Senate State and Local Government Committee.[1]
Richard Briggs was born on December 7, 1952, and is married to Stephanie.[1]He holds an M.D. from the University of Kentucky, is a physician, and retired from the U.S. Army as a colonel.[1]
Briggs has been a member of the Senate from the 109th through the 114th General Assemblies.[1]He chairs the Senate State and Local Government Committee and is a member of the Transportation and Safety and Rules committees.[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 Republicans voted. How topics are assigned
›Rights & public safety168 with · 5 against174 votes
Present law provides a cause of action for any affected person who seeks declaratory or injunctive relief in any action brought regarding the legality or constitutionality of a governmental action. This bill limits such cause of action to actions of political subdivisions of this state and specifies that such cause of action does not apply to challenges to the validity or constitutionality of state law.
Apr 2, 2026 · Passed 18–13 · against most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
ON MARCH 5, 2026, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 1194, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 rewrites the bill to, instead, amend the definition of "private employer," as used in the Tennessee Lawful Employment Act, to include any person who is required by federal law and regulations to report remuneration paid to at least one employee. Present law defines "private employer" to mean any person who is required by federal law and regulations to report remuneration paid to at least six employees.
Mar 12, 2026 · Passed 19–13 · against most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
ON APRIL 10, 2025, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENTS #1 AND #2 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 836, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 rewrites the bill to, instead, make the following revisions to present law: Requires an LEA or public charter school to enroll a school-age student who resides within the geographic boundaries of the LEA or public charter school and who provides documentation establishing that the student (i) is a citizen of the United States; (ii) is in the process of obtaining citizenship; or (iii) holds a legal immigration or visa status.
Apr 10, 2025 · Passed 19–13 · against most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
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.
Apr 22, 2026 · Failed 16–14 · against most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
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.
Apr 16, 2026 · Passed 18–14 · against most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
ON APRIL 10, 2025, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENTS #1 AND #2 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 836, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 rewrites the bill to, instead, make the following revisions to present law: Requires an LEA or public charter school to enroll a school-age student who resides within the geographic boundaries of the LEA or public charter school and who provides documentation establishing that the student (i) is a citizen of the United States; (ii) is in the process of obtaining citizenship; or (iii) holds a legal immigration or visa status.
Apr 10, 2025 · Passed 19–13 · against most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
ON APRIL 21, 2026, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 2585, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 clarifies that the bill does not affect present law exemptions from noneconomic damages caps for certain personal injury and wrongful death actions.
Apr 23, 2026 · Failed 12–19 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
ON MARCH 26, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 1603, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 rewrites the bill and provides, instead, that if marijuana is rescheduled or deleted as a controlled substance under federal law, then the commissioner of mental health and substance abuse services is prohibited from rescheduling or deleting marijuana under state law, unless the general assembly has established a regulatory framework for marijuana and authorized the commissioner to reschedule or delete marijuana as a controlled substance.
Mar 26, 2026 · Passed 21–12 · against most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
ON APRIL 15, 2026, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 2503, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 rewrites the bill to, instead, authorize a health insurance entity to offer a short-term limited-duration plan and hospital indemnity coverage on the marketplace.
ON MARCH 5, 2026, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 1194, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 rewrites the bill to, instead, amend the definition of "private employer," as used in the Tennessee Lawful Employment Act, to include any person who is required by federal law and regulations to report remuneration paid to at least one employee. Present law defines "private employer" to mean any person who is required by federal law and regulations to report remuneration paid to at least six employees.
Mar 12, 2026 · Passed 19–13 · against most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
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.
Apr 2, 2026 · Passed 21–8 · against most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Present law levies a tax on the sales price of certain, specifically described, services. This bill adds the transmitting of money from a location originating in this state to a location outside of the United States or its territories by an entity licensed under the Money Transmission Modernization Act to the services that are subject to such a tax. INTERNATIONAL MONEY TRANSMISSION TAX FUND This bill requires revenues from the tax as described above to be deposited in a special account in the state general fund, called the international money transmission tax fund.
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.
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 APRIL 15, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 2454, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 specifies that this bill's authorization for the issuance of debt applies to: (1) A regional airport authority created by three or more municipalities and counties and at least one political subdivision of another state; and (2) A metropolitan airport authority.
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.
ON APRIL 20, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 2102, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 rewrites the bill to, instead, require an electric utility that provides services to at least 3,500 retail electric customers in an outside locality to expand the electric utility's board to include one additional voting member for the outside county, if the outside county chooses to appoint a person. However, only one additional board member must be added per outside county, and the board is prohibited from including a member from a county in another state.
Apr 20, 2026 · Passed 21–11 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
ON APRIL 3, 2025, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 527, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 revises the exemption provision in the bill to, instead, provide that the bill does not apply if a determination has been made by the EPA that a manufacturer knowingly withheld, concealed, misrepresented, or destroyed material information regarding the human health risks of such pesticide in order to obtain or maintain approval of its label by the EPA.
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.
Effective upon the adoption of a resolution by a majority vote of the county legislative body, this bill prohibits a municipality or regional planning commission from adopting a zoning plan, ordinance, rule, or regional zoning ordinance that exercises jurisdiction over zoning, including development, infrastructure, or land use, outside of the boundaries of a municipality. Upon adoption of the resolution, an existing zoning plan, ordinance, rule, or regional zoning ordinance that exercises jurisdiction over zoning outside of the boundaries of a municipality is void and unenforceable.
Present law requires the redemption period to be determined for each parcel based on the period of delinquency. Once the period of delinquency is established, the redemption period is set according to the following scales: If the period of delinquency is five years or less, the redemption period must be one year from the entry of the order confirming the sale. If the period of delinquency is more than five years but less than eight years, the redemption period must be 180 days from the entry of the order confirming the sale.
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.
Apr 2, 2026 · Passed 21–8 · against most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
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…
Apr 9, 2026 · Passed 24–8 · against most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
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.
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.
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.
This bill provides that a minor is engaged in the work of content creation if the following criteria are met at any time during the previous 12-month period: At least 30% of a content creator's compensated video content produced within a 30-day period included the likeness, name, or photograph of the minor.
Voted against most of their party on 16 of 306 party-divided votes on file.
Most often on: Education & families (5), Rights & public safety (5), Health & care (4)
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 0–6, Republicans 22–5
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 0–5, Republicans 16–9
Education - As enacted, revises education law, including, but not limited to, increasing, from 25,000 to 35,000, the maximum number of education freedom scholarships that may be awarded to eligible students. - Amends TCA Title 49. HB2532 has…
What it does: 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 enr…
Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 0–6, Republicans 18–8
Children - As enacted, clarifies that a child's parent, legal guardian, or legal custodian may, to the extent allowable by federal law, access and review all health and medical records of the child, including those records related to…
What it does: MEDICAL RECORDS Mental Health If a child with serious emotional disturbance or mental illness is 16 or older, present law provides, with certain exceptions, that the child has the same rights as an adult with respect…
Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 0–4, Republicans 24–3
Education - As enacted, allows student performance on the Classic Learning Test to be used alongside the ACT and SAT for various purposes; makes various changes to home school testing requirements and opportunities available to home school…
What it does: Subject to exceptions for home school students who are enrolled in a church school, present law requires a parent-teacher conducting a home school to comply with administration by the commissioner of education, or by…
Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 0–6, Republicans 24–2
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 SENATE
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…
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.
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.
Education, Curriculum - As enacted, requires each director of schools for an LEA and each director of a public charter school to annually ensure that students in grades K-12 enrolled in the LEA or public charter school observe the Fourth of…
YesVOTED
Motion: Motion to Adopt Conference Committee Report
During the 2026-2027 school year, and in each school year thereafter, this bill requires each director of schools for an LEA and each director of a public charter school to annually designate for the LEA or public charter school one instructional day each school year to observe the Fourth of July by providing students enrolled in any of the grades K-12 with age- and grade-appropriate instruction on the founding of the United States, the separation of the original 13 colonies from Great Britain, the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, and the fundamental rights and…
Correctional Programs - As enacted, creates the state families of incarcerated individuals advisory board within the department of correction for the purposes of assisting the families of incarcerated individuals. - Amends TCA Title 4,…
YesVOTED
Motion: as Amended Third Consideration
This bill creates the state family advisory board ("board") to be composed of nine members who must all be family members of individuals currently incarcerated in this state. The governor, the speaker of the senate, and the speaker of the house of representatives must each appoint three members, with each member coming from a different grand division in this state. In making the initial appointments, this bill requires staggered terms. Following the expiration of initial terms, all members serve three-year terms that begin on January 1 and end on December 31 of each applicable year.
Motor Vehicles - As enacted, requires a delivery network company or delivery network company driver to comply with certain automobile liability insurance requirements. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 7; Title 55; Title 56 and Title 65. HB2175…
Not votingNO VOTE
Motion: Third Consideration
This bill provides that a delivery network company ("DNC") is governed exclusively by this bill and is not subject to the authority of the department of safety ("department") to regulate delivery operations under other law. Further, a DNC is not deemed to own, control, operate, or manage the motor vehicles used by drivers, but excludes deliveries requiring over 50 miles of travel, services by for-hire vehicles, and street hail services.
Immigration - As enacted, requires the sheriff of each county to enter into an agreement under an available federal 287(g) program, and expands the powers of the board of control of the Tennessee corrections institute. - Amends TCA Title 4;…
YesVOTED
Motion: Third Consideration
ON APRIL 20, 2026, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #2 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 2219, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #2 rewrites the bill to, instead, require the sheriff of each county to enter into an agreement under an available federal 287(g) program, and expands the powers of the board of control of the Tennessee corrections institute.
Immigration - As enacted, requires the sheriff of each county to enter into an agreement under an available federal 287(g) program, and expands the powers of the board of control of the Tennessee corrections institute. - Amends TCA Title 4;…
YesVOTED
Motion: Motion to Table Amend# 3 by Senator Yarbro
ON APRIL 20, 2026, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #2 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 2219, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #2 rewrites the bill to, instead, require the sheriff of each county to enter into an agreement under an available federal 287(g) program, and expands the powers of the board of control of the Tennessee corrections institute.
Judges and Chancellors - As enacted, creates a pilot project to provide for criminal magistrates in the 10 counties in which the criminal courts experience the highest judicial caseload, if authorized by the legislative body of an eligible…
YesVOTED
Motion: Third Consideration
This bill establishes a pilot project to provide for criminal magistrates in the 10 counties in which the criminal courts experience the highest judicial caseload, as determined by the comptroller of the treasury in the annual weighted caseload study. By December 1, 2026, the administrative office of the courts must notify the legislative body of each of the 10 counties that are eligible to participate in the pilot project.
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: 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.