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Joseph Hensley

Joseph Hensley

Senator
Tennessee SD-028
Republican
B
87%
Freedom Score
FreedomIndex.us

Issue Scores

Session Voting Records

Reports

2025-2026 Regular Session

Tennessee: Senate
Score: 83

Property Defense

SB1847 Property Defense (Passed 23 to 5 on 4/23/2026). Lowers the legal threshold for using deadly force to protect property.

Read More Constitutional Vote: Yes Vote Cast: Yes

DEI Restrictions

SB1713 DEI Restrictions (Passed 26 to 5 on 4/22/2026). Strengthens enforcement of Tennessee's restrictions on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in government and public higher education.

Read More Constitutional Vote: Yes Vote Cast: Yes

Education Scholarships

HB2532 Education Scholarships (Passed 18 to 14 on 4/16/2026). Expands Tennessee's Education Freedom Scholarship program by increasing the maximum number of scholarships available for the 2026-27 school year.

Read More Constitutional Vote: No Vote Cast: No Cost per household: -$55.00/year

Abortion Drugs

SB2412 Abortion Drugs (Passed 26 to 6 on 4/13/2026). Strengthens enforcement of Tennessee's Abortion-Inducing Drug Risk Protocol Act.
Read More Constitutional Vote: Yes Vote Cast: Yes
SB2412 Passed 26 to 6 on 4/13/2026 See Fifth Amendment, Ninth Amendment, 14th Amendment, and Declaration of Independence

Con-Con Delegate Bill

SB1567 Con-Con Delegate Bill (Passed 26 to 5 on 3/5/2026). "Strengthens" Tennessee's "faithful delegate" rules for an Article V constitutional convention.

Read More Constitutional Vote: No Vote Cast: Yes

Contraceptive Insurance Coverage

Requires certain health-insurance plans that cover prescription contraceptives to allow an insured person to obtain a 12-month supply at one time.
Read More Constitutional Vote: No Vote Cast: No
HB0169 Passed 30 to 2 on 2/19/2026 See First Amendment, 10th Amendment, and 14th Amendment

Global Entities Ban

Bans Tennessee state and local government entities from enforcing or recognizing any mandates or requirements from the World Health Organization, United Nations, or World Economic Forum.
Read More Constitutional Vote: Yes Vote Cast: Yes
SB0263 Roll Call 1548180 Passed 25 to 6 on 4/14/2025 See Article II Section 2, Article VI, and 10th Amendment

Right to In Vitro Fertilization and Contraception

Officially recognizes and protects the right of individuals to access and receive fertility treatments—such as in vitro fertilization (IVF), egg/sperm preservation, genetic testing, and artificial insemination—as well as contraceptives.
Read More Constitutional Vote: No Vote Cast: No
SB0449 Roll Call 1548043 Passed 27 to 3 on 4/14/2025 See Fifth Amendment, 14th Amendment, Declaration of Independence, and Ninth Amendment

Illegal Migrants from Education

Authorizes Local Education Agencies (LEAs) and public charter schools to refuse to enroll students who are unlawfully present in the United States.
Read More Constitutional Vote: Yes Vote Cast: Yes
SB0836 Roll Call 1543619 Passed 19 to 13 on 4/10/2025 See Article I Section 8, 10th Amendment, Article VI, and 14th Amendment

Protecting Online Schools

Exempts fully online, self-paced private schools from certain regulations. The State Board of Education can no longer mandate these schools adhere to rules on class size, school calendar, vaccination requirements, or student assessments to qualify as Category III nonpublic schools.
Read More Constitutional Vote: Yes Vote Cast: Yes
SB0827 Roll Call 1522793 Passed 26 to 5 on 3/20/2025 See Ninth Amendment and 14th Amendment

Property Rights Protection

Replaces Tennessee's vague "blighted area" definition with a case-by-case standard based on specific code violations, ensures property owners get notice and time to fix issues, limits eminent-domain use, and promotes due process and voluntary sales for redevelopment.
Read More Constitutional Vote: Yes Vote Cast: Yes
SB0480 Roll Call 1514022 Passed 30 to 0 on 3/6/2025 See Fifth Amendment and 14th Amendment

Disaster Recovery Fund

Establishes two new funding sources to support disaster recovery.
Read More Constitutional Vote: No Vote Cast: Yes Cost per household: -$79.00/year
SB6003 Roll Call 1476609 Passed 32 to 1 on 1/29/2025 See Article I Section 8
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