Tennessee State Representative Mary Littleton To Retire At End Of Term

Image Credit: Representative Mary Littleton / Facebook

The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –

Representative Mary Littleton (R-Dickson-District 78) has announced she will retire from public office at the expiration of her current term in 2026, citing medical concerns and advice from her doctors.

In a press release Tuesday evening she said, “After thoughtful conversations with my family and doctors, I’ve made the decision to prioritize my health and step away from public service at the end of my term. It’s been a true blessing to represent Cheatham and Dickson counties and one of the greatest honors of my life to serve. I’m deeply proud of what we’ve accomplished together to make Tennessee a safer, healthier state for children and families. I look forward to spending more time with my grandchildren and staying connected to the community I love.”

First elected in 2012, Littleton has been a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives for more than a decade and has served as the chair of the House Children and Family Affairs Subcommittee since 2019. That subcommittee oversees legislation related to child custody, domestic violence, juvenile crime, foster care, and other related topics for which Littleton has expressed much passion.

She has won several awards throughout her legislative career, including the 2023 Legislative Champion for Adoption and Foster Care from the Adoption Project and the 2024 Legislator of the Year Award from the Tennessee Republican Party. 

She has also served on numerous boards and commissions, including the Second Look Commission, Human Trafficking Advisory Council, the 23rd Judicial District Child Advocacy Board, and the Domestic Violence State Coordinating Council.

Rep. Littleton has a somewhat mixed voting record, not appearing to be truly conservative but better than some other House Republicans.

According to the Tennessee Legislative Report Card, she has a 79 overall lifetime score and an “F” for Leadership Grade. Some of her legislative highlights include both good and bad bill sponsorships and votes:

Good Bills/Votes:

• One of the nation’s first laws allowing for the termination of parental rights if a parent is convicted of sex trafficking their own child (2013).
• Increasing penalties for indirectly causing harm or death to a child (2024).
• Protecting the religious rights of foster and adoptive parents by prohibiting the Department of Children’s Services from requiring potential foster or adoptive families to support policies concerning sexual orientation or gender identity that conflict with their beliefs (2024).
• Requiring schools to inform parents if their child requests to be identified as transgender (2024).

Not So Good Bills/Votes:

• Termination of parental rights after “substantial non-compliance” of a permanence plan by the parent or guardian, but the bill did not clearly provide statutory definitions for what entails “substantial non-compliance”, leaving it to the courts to define the term. And while Littleton did not sponsor the bill, she used her position as Chair of the subcommittee to call for a voice vote to hide the voting records of subcommittee members from public scrutiny and shield herself and the others from accountability (2024).

• Failure to vote on a bill which prevented government overreach in future pandemics or other state emergencies (2025).

• Declined to vote on a bill which would have provided protection from pandemic-related lawsuits for business that “substantially complied with public health guidance” (2020).

• In favor of corporate welfare (2022).

• Voted for a bill that could criminalize parents based on anonymous allegations (2023).

• Supporting legislation that keeps records from the Department of Tourist Development hidden from the public (2024).

• Voted for a “red flag” bill expanding mandatory reporting laws for mental health professionals (2024).

• Supported a bill which protects violent offenders by preventing the autopsies of minors who are victims of violent crimes from becoming part of public record.

Littleton will serve the remainder of her term in the House which will expire after the 2026 legislative session.

The 114^th General Assembly is set to reconvene on Jan. 13, 2026.

About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.