Image Credit: tn.gov & Antony-22 / CC
The Tennessee Conservative [By Adelia Kirchner] –
Rep. Kevin Raper (R-Cleveland-District 24) has been in office since November of 2022 and is facing a GOP challenger as he runs for reelection in 2024.
Raper describes himself as conservative, experienced and dedicated, so let’s take a look at his voting record.
The Tennessee Legislative Report Card for the 2023 legislative session gave Raper a voting score of 86.
The report card also analyzed information from the Tennessee Registry of Election Finance, showing that 37.02% of Raper’s campaign contributions came from special interests.
Raper appeared in The Tennessee Conservative’s 2023 RINO Report in light of some of the stances he took that year including:
Voting in favor of global currency in Tennessee.
HB0316 or “The Money Transmission Modernization Act,” sponsored by Rep. William Lamberth (R-Portland-District 44), 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.
Raper voted in favor of this legislation and Gov. Bill Lee (R-TN) signed it into law on April 4th, 2023, with an effective date of January 1st, 2024.
Co-sponsoring legislation to create toll roads in Tennessee.
HB0321, sponsored by Rep. William Lamberth, enacted the “Transportation Modernization Act” and allowed the Department of Transportation to make deals with private companies to add toll lanes to Tennessee highways.
Toll collections would reportedly go to the private company in order to “recoup their portion of negotiated project costs.”
Raper signed on as a co-prime sponsor of HB0321.
The bill was passed by the legislature and Gov. Lee signed it into law on April 17th, 2023.
Co-sponsoring legislation to weaken abortion law.
HB0883, sponsored by Rep. Esther Helton-Haynes (R-East Ridge-District 30), allowed a subjective standard for physicians to adhere to, potentially allowing for health professionals to willfully permit an abortion for a patient in bad faith.
Raper signed on as a co-prime sponsor of HB0883, it passed in the legislature, and Gov. Lee signed it into law on April 28th, 2023.
Refusing to vote on school choice expansion.
HB0433, sponsored by Rep. Mark White (R-Memphis-District 83), expanded Tennessee’s Education Savings Account (ESA) Program, which paves the way for school choice, to Hamilton County.
Raper was record as “present and not voting” and Gov. Lee signed the bill into law on May 5th, 2023.
Voting against parental rights and due process.
HB1109, sponsored by Rep. Ron Travis (R-Dayton-District 31), seems to relive 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.
Raper voted in favor of this legislation and the bill was signed into law by Gov. Lee on April 28th, 2023.
Additionally, the Freedom Index Legislative Scorecard, which scores lawmakers based on the constitutional nature and implications of their votes, gave Raper a 67% for the 2023 legislative session.
Voting in favor of corporate welfare helped earn him this score.
HB1085, sponsored by Rep. John Gillespie (R-Memphis-District 97), 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.
Raper voted in favor of the legislation and Gov. Lee signed it into law on May 11th, 2023.
Some of the highlights from Raper’s voting record for Tennessee’s 2024 legislative session include:
Voting against arming Tennessee teachers.
HB1202, sponsored by Rep. Ryan Williams (R-Cookeville-District 42), authorized certain faculty and staff to carry a concealed handgun on school grounds “subject to certain conditions, including obtaining an enhanced handgun carry permit and completing annual training.”
Raper voted against this legislation and it was signed into law by Gov. Lee on March 26th, 2024.
Voting in favor of “opportunity schools.”
HB2922, sponsored by Speaker of the House Rep. Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville-District 25), was a sneaky caption bill that created boarding schools for “at risk” youth.
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.
Raper voted in favor of this legislation and Gov. Lee signed it into law on May 28th, 2024.
Voting to expedite termination of parental rights.
HB1808, sponsored by Rep. Ed Butler (R-Rickman-District 41), requires the Department of Children’s Services (DCS) to expediate the termination of parental rights for “substantial non-compliance” a subjective term with no clear statutory definition.
The legislation allows a judge to make the determination if a parent was not in compliance with the responsibilities as outlined in the permanency plan.
Raper voted in favor of the legislation and it was signed into law by Gov. Lee on April 4th, 2024.
Voting against government transparency.
HB1692, sponsored by Rep. William Lamberth, allows 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.
Raper voted in favor of this legislation and Gov. Lee signed it into law on May 3rd, 2024.
HB1695, sponsored by Rep. Rebecca Alexander (R-Jonesborough-District 7) blocks public access to the autopsy reports of children who are victims of violent crime, as long as the child’s parent or legal guardian is not a suspect in the circumstances surrounding the minor’s death.
Raper voted in favor of this legislation and Gov. Lee signed it into law on May 3rd, 2024.
Voting in favor of what some critics called a “red flag gun law.”
HB1625, sponsored by Rep. Jason Zachary (R-Knoxville-District 14), expands mandatory reporting laws for mental health professionals.
Critics have voiced concerns about privacy laws, where reported information will be stored and how it will be used, and about providing mental health professionals with civil, criminal and regulatory immunity given the subjective way in which a mental health professional could perceive something to be a threat.
Raper voted in favor of this legislation and it was signed into law by Gov. Lee on April 23rd, 2024.
This August, conservative voters in District 24 will have the opportunity to chose between Rep. Kevin Raper and his GOP challenger Troy Weathers.
Former Bradley County School Board Member of 20 years, Weathers is running against Raper as “an advocate for the community of Cleveland and Bradley County.”
Weathers’ campaign is focused on fighting against illegal immigration, protecting 2nd Amendment rights, and eliminating wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars.
EARLY VOTING: JULY 12-27 2024 ELECTION DAY: AUGUST 1, 2024
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.
2 Responses
THANX!! for exposing lucifer’s RINOS! Only hope enough are paying attention.
Neither Weathers nor Raper are conservatives,as both are big budget advocates for a corrupt and failing government indoctrination/education system. Weathers has a long history of less then ethical dealings, and deep ties to the circle of corruption that has run Bradley County for decades.