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The Tennessee Conservative [By Adelia Kirchner] –
Representative Iris Rudder (R-Winchester-District 39) assumed office in November of 2018 and ran unopposed in the August 1st primary election this year, winning 3,114 votes in her favor.
So let’s take a look at some of the highlights from Rep. Rudder’s voting record over the last several years.
Back in 2020, Rudder voted in favor of tort reform that small business association, NFIB, supported.
The “Tennessee Recovery and Safe Harbor Act” aimed to provide protection from pandemic-related lawsuits for businesses that “substantially complied with public health guidance.”
Luckily this bill died after a conference committee report failed to receive a constitutional majority in the House.
In 2022, Rudder supported illegal immigration by voting in favor of HB2309, a bipartisan piece of legislation that opened the door for non-U.S. citizens to obtain professional and commercial licenses in the State of Tennessee, making the state a more attractive destination for illegal immigrants.
The next year, Rudder appeared in The Tennessee Conservative’s 2023 RINO Report for being one of four GOP representatives who refused to second the motion for HB0264 to be heard in committee.
If passed, this bill would have guaranteed the religious and medical freedoms of anyone who submits a religious exemption to avoid a vaccine being forced on them with the incentive of keeping their job, attending school, or participating in general society.
Other actions taken by Rudder in 2023 include:
Sponsoring and Co-sponsoring legislation to weaken abortion law.
HB1440 would have removed the criminal offense of performing an abortion, if that abortion was performed “on a patient whose pregnancy is the result of rape or incest if the abortion is performed prior to a certain gestational age.”
Rudder was the prime sponsor of this legislation in the House and Sen. Ferrell Haile was the prime sponsor on the Senate side.
HB0883 enacted a subjective standard for physicians to adhere to, potentially allowing for health professionals to willfully permit an abortion for a patient in bad faith.
Rudder co-sponsored this legislation in the House of Representatives.
Voting in favor of legislation that works against parental rights and due process.
HB1109 seemingly relieved DCS of having to properly notify parents of removal orders while at the same time making it a criminal offense for families to hide children outside of the state when that child is in DCS custody.
Since DCS is not required to verify the credibility of anonymous sources who make allegations of child abuse or neglect, this legislation could be making it easier to bypass due process, criminalize parents, and take their children away.
Voting in favor of global currency in Tennessee.
HB0316 or “The Money Transmission Modernization Act,” redefined what state law recognizes as “money,” paving the way for foreign governmental entities to exchange a currency (i.e. CBDC) that is not currently recognized by banks owned and operated in Tennessee.
Voting against allowing candidates excluded from a party’s ballot at the last minute to run as independents.
HB0636 would have allowed a person excluded as a candidate from a primary ballot “based on a determination that the person is not a bona fide member of the political party” to still qualify as an independent candidate if a nominating petition is filed within seven days of the official exclusion.
While the legislation did still pass in the House of Representatives, it did not progress in the Senate.
Voting in favor of corporate welfare.
HB1085 extended the retention of state sales tax revenue by the Memphis Grizzlies and the FedExForum until June 30th, 2059.
During this period of time, sales tax revenue from any admissions, concessions, or other authorized products at the FedExForum will be exclusively directed to Memphis and its sports authority.
The Freedom Index Legislative Scorecard, which scores lawmakers based on the constitutional nature and implications of their votes, gave Rudder a score of 83% in both 2021 and 2023.
In 2024, Rudder was declared to be one of the “Top 5 RINOs in the Tennessee House” by The Tennessee Conservative’s 2024 RINO Report.
Her work as Chair of the House Public Service Subcommittee helped earn her this distinction.
HB1841 was a piece of conservative legislation that would have prevented Tennessee’s state and local governments from doing business with foreign adversaries. Rudder led a “deceptive voice vote” that killed this legislation in subcommittee.
HB1615 was another piece of conservative legislation that graced Rudder’s desk in subcommittee.
This bill provided that the violation of an executive order, proclamation or rule issued by the Governor cannot be enforced as a Class A misdemeanor unless approved by a majority vote in both chambers of the Tennessee legislature.
As Chair, Rudder was one of six GOP representatives who refused to second the motion for HB1615 to be heard in committee, consequently killing the bill.
Other votes from Rudder in 2024 include:
Voting in favor of “opportunity schools.”
HB2922 was a sneaky caption bill that created boarding schools for “at risk” youth in Tennessee.
This could result in children as young as 11-years-old being ordered to enroll, separated from their families and communities, and sent across the state.
Voting to expedite termination of parental rights.
HB1808 required the Department of Children’s Services (DCS) to expedite the termination of parental rights for “substantial non-compliance” a subjective term with no clear statutory definition.
The legislation allows a judge to determine if a parent is not in compliance with the responsibilities outlined in their permanency plan.
Voting in favor of legislation that could enable violent offenders to go undiscovered.
HB1695 prevented the public from accessing the autopsies of minors who are victims of violent crimes, making it easier for some crimes to be covered up.
Rudder not only voted in favor of this legislation, but as Chair of the Public Service Subcommittee, she allowed this legislation to progress via a voice vote where no member requested to have their vote recorded.
Voting against government transparency.
HB1692 allowed Department of Tourism records involving millions in taxpayer dollars to be hidden from the public if the tourism commissioner and attorney general agree public access to the information should be blocked.
Rudder was also the subcommittee Chair behind numerous actions that lead to the progression of non-conservative legislation, as well as the death of conservative legislation this year.
The Tennessee Legislative Report Card gave Rudder a vote score of 85 for the 2024 legislative session, a lifetime vote score of 83, and an F grade in leadership.
The report card, which can be viewed in full HERE, also analyzes information from the Tennessee Registry of Election Finance, which shows that 71.58% of Rudder’s campaign contributions are from special interests.
In the upcoming general election scheduled to take place on November 5th of this year, Rudder faces Democrat opposition in the form of Rose Mary Drake.
About the Author: Adelia Kirchner is a Tennessee resident and reporter for the Tennessee Conservative. Currently the host of Subtle Rampage Podcast, she has also worked for the South Dakota State Legislature and interned for Senator Bill Hagerty’s Office in Nashville, Tennessee. You can reach Adelia at adelia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
One Response
Yup, TNGOP RINO. Why I don’t support then.