Image Credit: Chris Todd for State Representative / Facebook & Antony-22 / CC
The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –
Representative Chris Todd (R-Madison County-District 73) is running for reelection in the Republican primary slated for August 1st, 2024. Todd, who assumed office in 2018, faces a Republican challenger in the primary.
Read on for a deep dive of Todd’s voting record.
Highlights from the 2021 through the 2024 legislative sessions include:
Supporting a Resolution to Nullify Federal COVID-19 Restrictions.
In 2021, Todd was one of the House co-sponsors on a resolution, SJR9005, that declared the right of the Tennessee General Assembly to nullify federal COVID-19 restrictions that violate the United States Constitution. The resolution also encouraged the Attorney General and Reporter of the State of Tennessee to take legal action on behalf of Tennesseans where appropriate.
Supporting Medical Freedom.
Todd was one of the House co-sponsors on a bill, HB0575, to prohibit state or local governments from requiring, or mandating that a private business require, proof of COVID-19 vaccination as a condition for entry or utilization of services. The bill also removed the authority of county boards of health in relation to the adoption and enforcement of rules and regulations. In addition, quarantine orders under state law were limited.
Voting for Pro-Life Policy.
Todd cast a vote for a pro-life bill, HB1252, that permits a cause of action for wrongful death against someone who kills a mother and her unborn child regardless of gestational age.
Supporting Parental Rights in Education.
HB0529, legislation requiring an LEA or public charter school notify a student’s parent or guardian prior to commencing instruction of a “sexual orientation or gender identity” curriculum, was also co-sponsored by Todd. The law also allows for a parent or guardian to have their child excused from such instruction.
Protecting the Innocence of School Children.
In 2022, Todd voted for a bill, HB2454, that aimed to protect children from being exposed to obscenity and pornography from online and digital resources in Tennessee public schools.
Preventing Modern Day Racism.
Todd co-sponsored legislation, HB2670, that prohibits institutions of higher education from requiring that students or employees embrace divisive teachings as a stipulation for any grade, diploma, employment opportunity, or tenure.
Protecting Medical Autonomy of Tennesseans With Natural Immunity to COVID-19.
Todd also voted for a bill, HB1871, that prohibits governmental entities, local education agencies, schools, and private businesses from adopting or enforcing policies that fail to recognize acquired immunity to COVID-19 is at least as protective as a COVID-19 vaccine.
Making Ivermectin an OTC Drug in Tennessee.
Todd co-sponsored legislation, HB2746, making Ivermectin an over-the-counter drug in Tennessee.
Reinstating a Work Requirement for Government Assistance.
A bill, HB2096, that reinstated a work requirement in order to receive temporary government assistance, such as the SNAP program, was also co-sponsored by Todd. The requirement had been waived during the pandemic.
Opposing the Funding of Abortions by Local Governments.
In 2023, Todd co-sponsored a bill, HB0090, that prevents local governments from using taxpayer dollars to fund abortions.
Stopping Harmful Medical Treatments For Minors That Go Against Their Biological Sex.
Todd was one of the co-sponsors of HB0001, legislation that prohibits a healthcare provider from performing or administering a medical procedure on a minor if the purpose is to enable the minor to identify with, or live as, a purported identity inconsistent with the minor’s biological sex.
Shielding Minors From Inappropriate Drag Shows.
Todd was the Prime Sponsor for legislation, HB0009, that creates an offense for a person who engages in adult cabaret performance on public property or in a location where the performance could be viewed by minors. A lawsuit filed by drag performers in Shelby County as to the law’s constitutionality was recently thrown out of a federal appeals court. The ruling overturned a lower court opinion that had blocked the law on First Amendment grounds. The 6th Circuit Court of appeals ruled that the plaintiffs did not have standing to sue.
Eliminating an Exception For Obscene Materials For Educational Purposes.
Legislation that eliminates an exception for obscene materials for educational purposes, HB0841, was also co-sponsored by Todd. The law makes it illegal to possess obscene material on school property and also makes it a Class E felony for book publishers, distributors, or sellers to “knowingly sell or distribute obscene matter to a public school serving any of the grades K-12.”
Bolstering Parental Rights.
Todd co-sponsored a bill, HB0727, requiring a student’s parent or legal guardian, or the student if the student has reached the age of majority, to provide a written, informed, and voluntarily signed consent to the student’s local education agency before the student may receive instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity, participate in a survey, analysis, or evaluation, or receive health services provided through a coordinated school health program.
Undoing Tennessee’s “Mature Minor Doctrine.”
Todd voted for legislation, HB1380, that requires written consent of a parent or legal guardian before a healthcare professional can provide a vaccination to a minor.
Supporting Legislation to Limit Foreign Ownership of Property in Tennessee.
Todd was one of the co-sponsors on a bill, HB0040, that upholds state sovereignty and adheres to U.S. foreign policy by prohibiting a sanctioned nonresident alien, foreign business, foreign government of agents thereof from purchasing real property in Tennessee. Although the legislation does not apply retroactively, all sanctioned parties owning real property will be kept on file by the TN Secretary of State.
Voting For Requirement to Allow Public Comment at Government Meetings.
A bill, HB0448, that makes it a requirement to allow public comment at government meetings got Todd’s vote. Previously up to the discretion of state and local governments, the legislation now requires there to be time for public comment at publicly-held meetings.
Expanding School Choice to Hamilton County.
Todd co-sponsored a bill to expand Tennessee’s Education Savings Account Program to Hamilton County (Chattanooga area).
Supporting Legislation to Protect School Staff From Woke Trainings.
A co-sponsor for HB0158, Todd supported educators and other employees of a local education agency, public charter school, public institution of higher education, the state board of education, and the department of education from having to complete or participate in implicit bias training. The bill also prohibits educators or other employees from having adverse actions taken against them for refusing to participate in such trainings.
Protecting School Staff From Compelled Speech.
Todd co-sponsored a bill, HB1269, that protects public school teachers, principals, and employees from being required to refer to students by their preferred pronouns if those pronouns are not consistent with the student’s biological sex. The bill also insulates a teacher or other employee of a public school or LEA from civil liability and adverse employment action for referring to a student using the pronoun that is consistent with the student’s biological sex.
Enhancing Public Transparency in the Legislative Process.
At The Tennessee Conservative’s 2022 Freedom Summit, Todd spoke about his desire to enhance transparency in the legislative process for all Tennesseans. Todd was instrumental in getting a portal created during the 2023 legislative session that gives the public the same access to the process as their elected representatives in the State House. The user-friendly TGA House Dashboard allows Tennesseans to view all House committee and floor calendars, legislation, and amendments.
Protecting the Unborn.
In 2024, Todd voted for legislation that makes it a felony offense for adults to participate in “abortion trafficking” by assisting minors in obtaining an out-of-state abortion without parental consent.
Stiffening Penalties For Crimes Committed By Illegal Aliens.
Todd was a co-sponsor of a bill that authorizes a court to enhance the statutory penalty up to imprisonment for life without the possibility of parole for violent crimes committed by illegal aliens and also tasks the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to track arrests and subsequent convictions to which the enhancement factors apply to determine the correlations between arrests, convictions, and incidents of human trafficking in the state.
Protecting Minors From Being Transported For Genderbending Surgery.
Todd was one of the co-sponsors of a bill protecting minors from being transported by an adult without parental consent for the purpose of genderbending surgery. The law in Tennessee now states that an adult who recruits, harbors, or transports an unemancipated minor within the state for the purpose of receiving a prohibited medical procedure that is for the purpose of enabling the minor to identify with, or live as, a purported identity inconsistent with the minor’s sex or treating purported discomfort or distress from a discordance between the minor’s sex and asserted identity, regardless of where the medical procedure is to be procured commits a Class C felony.
Supporting the Ultimate Penalty For Those Found Guilty of Raping Children.
Todd was one of many Republicans who voted on a bill that allows judges to sentence child rapists to death or imprisonment without the possibility of parole for adults convicted of rape of a child, aggravated rape of a child, or especially aggravated rape of a child.
Allowing Educators to Arm Themselves In the Classroom.
Todd also co-sponsored a bill that allows them the option to conceal carry a firearm while on school grounds.
Expanding Lifetime Orders of Protection For Tennesseans.
Todd co-sponsored legislation that expands the eligibility for filing a petition to obtain a lifetime order of protection to include victims of aggravated stalking, especially aggravated stalking, and felony harassment was in the best interest of Tennesseans.
Sponsoring Legislation That Provides SROs For Private Schools.
Todd voted for legislation that allows local law enforcement to work with private schools to provide SROs.
Protecting the Livelihood of Teachers Who Are Victims of Assault in the Classroom.
Todd also voted for a bill that requires local education agencies to pay a teacher’s full salary and full benefits if they are absent from assigned duties as a result of personal injury caused by a physical assault or other violent criminal act committed against the teacher in the course of their employment activities.
Providing for Firearm Safety in Schools.
Todd was the Prime Sponsor of legislation, HB2882, requiring LEAs and public charter schools to provide students with age-appropriate and grade-appropriate instruction on firearm safety beginning with the 2025-2026 school year.
In addition, Todd made our list of Top Five Freedom Caucus Conservatives in 2023.
He has also been officially endorsed by Brandon Lewis, founder of The Tennessee Conservative, in his run for reelection.
The Tennessee Legislative Report Card gave Todd 88 out of 100 for his voting score in the 2024 legislative session and 86 out of 100 for overall Lifetime Score. Less than half of donations to Todd – 42.52% – are labeled as special interests.
Todd’s Republican challenger in the primary is Jimmy Harris. Harris was the Madison County Mayor for 15 years, from 2007 to 2022.
About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
