Image Credit: State Representative Paul Sherrell / Facebook & Antony-22 /CC
Tennessee Conservative News [By Olivia Lupia & Paula Gomes] –
Representative Paul Sherrell (R-Sparta-District 43) has been a member of the General Assembly since 2016 and touts his accomplishments of serving as the Republican Floor Leader in 2018-2019, facilitating no-cost emergency license plates for Volunteer Firefighter and Rescue Squad Members, free lifetime handgun carry permits for retired law enforcement officers, and supporting a bill ensuring families of Park Rangers killed in the line of duty will receive benefits.
After nearly a decade as a lawmaker, are these accomplishments enough to warrant another term for Sherrell or does his voting record tell a different story to conservatives looking to potentially make a change on August 6?
Some highlights from 2021–2026 include:
2021
Voting Against Medical Freedom.
In 2021, as a member of the House Health Subcommittee, Sherrell voted against a bill, HB0010, protecting religious objections to compulsory vaccination or medical procedures in employment and other situations. The bill would have made a slight change to state law that mandates certain immunizations for children attending K-12 schools and higher education.
Currently, parents have the right to exercise religious exemptions provided there is not an “epidemic or immediate threat thereof.” HB0010 would have allowed individuals in Tennessee to refuse vaccinations for religious reasons or “by right of conscience” even in the midst of a potential pandemic.
2022
Voting for Legislation That Censors Conservatives.
In 2022, Sherrell voted for an “Incumbent Protection” bill that effectively censors conservatives. HB1201 added requirements for 501(c)4, 501(c)5, and 501(c)6 nonprofit organizations to report expenses of more than $5,000 spent on communication that includes images of candidates or their names within 60 days of an election.
The legislation increases paperwork for groups trying to keep the public aware of the voting habits of lawmakers. Many nonprofits don’t have the manpower to deal with increased red tape, effectively silencing them. Before Governor Lee signed the bill into law, opponents urged him to veto it, saying that it was an overreach at the expense of free speech. ALEC Action said that while “well intended” the bill “improperly blurs the lines between election transparency and non-political, non-profit activity.”
Killing a Parental Rights Bill in Subcommittee.
As a member of the House Health Subcommittee, Sherrell did not second a bill strengthening parental rights so that it could be discussed, effectively killing it.
Sponsored by Representative Terri Lynn Weaver, the legislation sought to require Local Education Agencies to permit parents to have access to certain information, including the names of instructors, titles available in the school library, teacher manuals, and curriculum.
The bill would also have required parental consent before participation in any extracurricular activity, family life lesson, field trip, school assembly, or guest speaker event. Certain healthcare practitioners would have been prohibited from providing medical treatment to students without parental consent.
Voting for Corporate Welfare.
Sherrell voted in 2022 to allow the Chattanooga Lookouts – a minor league affiliate of the Chicago Reds – to move to a new stadium in the city and retain a sales tax deal where the team keeps the first 5.5% of the state’s 7% sales tax for sales at the stadium. The legislation also extended the deal to apply to non-baseball events at the stadium.
Killing a Healthcare Rights Bill.
Sherrell failed to second a healthcare rights bill causing it to be killed in subcommittee. HB2486, sponsored by Representative Todd Warner, sought to ensure that patients were allowed visitation by family members and advocates when unable to make their own medical decisions and would have also required informed consent for treatments authorized for emergency use only.
2023
Voting for Legislation That Could Criminalize Parents Based On Anonymous Allegations.
Sherrell voted for a 2023 bill – HB1109 – that makes it a criminal offense for families to hide children outside of the state when that child is in custody of the Department of Children’s Services. Since DCS is not required to verify the credibility of anonymous sources making accusations of child abuse or neglect, this legislation could possibly make it easier to criminalize parents who have not committed such an offense.
Not only does this legislation allow parents to be charged with a felony for failure to turn their child over to the state, it also looks to relieve DCS of having to properly notify parents about removal orders since it is not a defense that “the person harboring or hiding the child has not been served with an actual copy of a protective custody order or emergency custody order.”
The primary concern that opponents of the bill had seems to do away with basic due process, which gives a person the right to know about accusations made against them and allows them the ability to defend themselves in court.
Voting to Pave the Way for a Global Currency In Tennessee.
“The Money Transmission Modernization Act” also received Sherrell’s vote. HB0316 legally redefines what the law currently recognizes as “money” in the state of Tennessee, laying the groundwork for a global currency. This legislation appears to set Tennessee up to allow foreign governmental entities the opportunity to produce, house, and exchange a currency that is not currently recognized by banks owned and operated within the state.
2024
Some of Sherrell’s less than conservative votes during the 2024 session of the Tennessee General Assembly are as follows:
• Sherrell voted for a bill (HB2922) that creates a new type of congregate setting called an “opportunity school” that may lead to the unnecessary institutionalization of young people with disabilities and other so called “at-risk” youth in a way that may interfere with the rights of parents. Children as young as 11 may be enrolled and sent across the state, far from their families and communities. Governor Bill Lee signed the bill into law on May 28th.
• Sherrell also voted for a bill (HB1808) that effectively makes it easier to funnel children away from their parents and into state custody. The law that takes effect July 1st, 2024, allows Tennessee Department of Children’s Services to file a petition for termination of parental rights within 90 days if there has been substantial noncompliance by a parent or guardian with the statement of responsibilities in a permanency plan over a period of six months.
• Legislation that allows the Department of Tourist Development to keep records hidden from the public at the discretion of the attorney general and tourism commissioner received a vote in favor from Sherrell. HB1692, now law, allows records to be exempt from public records laws if the information is deemed “sensitive.” A similar law passed in 1988, allowing the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development to keep records secret for five years. Critics of the bill said it creates problems with transparency.
• Sherrell also voted in favor of a bill that some critics argue is very close in its makeup to a “red flag” bill. HB1625 expands mandatory reporting laws for mental health professionals. The legislation, which was signed into law on April 23rd and became effective immediately, requires a report be made on a patient to local law enforcement, 988, or a local health facility if the individual makes what a mental health professional deems a threat against a group of people related to a school or against a family member of the patient. Critics of the bill voiced concern regarding privacy laws and how reported information would be stored and used. Mental health professionals are also given civil, criminal, and regulatory immunity given the subjective way in which they might perceive something to be a threat.
• A law (HB1695) that prevents the autopsies of minors who are victims of violent crimes from becoming part of public record, and so protects violent offenders also received Sherrell’s vote.
2025
Voted To Strip Local GOPs Of Right To Caucus: Becoming a very contentious piece of legislation in 2025, HB0855 stripped local political parties of their ability to hold caucuses or conventions and mandated state-run primary elections when selecting their partisan candidates. The bill was decried by local GOPs, grassroots organizations, and even the Tennessee GOP State Executive Committee which called the measure a “betrayal of trust”. Sherrell voted in favor of the bill, choosing to walk the party line party over supporting the interests of his constituents.
Helped Redefine Abortion Exceptions: Sherrell voted “Yes” on HB0990 which undermined Tennessee’s protections for the unborn by introducing ambiguous language into the legal framework governing abortion exceptions. The bill redefined the term “inevitable abortion” as a condition under which abortion can be considered legally permissible, introducing subjective standards that created broad interpretive loopholes in a law which previously held clear protections.
Voted To Expand Digital ID: While initially presented as a good bill preventing digital IDs from being used for voting, HB1316 extended beyond those parameters, expanding Tennessee’s digital ID system and introducing provisions for biometric data collection into state law for the first time. While it did include some privacy safeguards, the bill also added provisions for geolocation tracking protections and third-party data management, helping to normalize and codify the use of biometric identifiers like facial recognition for digital driver’s licenses. Sherell voted “Yes” on the bill in committee and on the House floor.
The Tennessee Legislative Report Card gave Sherrell a voting score of 76 and an F leadership grade for the 2025 legislative session. The full report card, which can be viewed HERE, also shows 63.44% of his campaign contributions are from special interest groups or organizations.
2026
Killed Legislation Giving Equal Protections To Unborn Children: No member of the House Population Health Subcommittee, including Sherrell, wanted to hear HB0570 which would have closed a loophole in Tennessee law and applied the same standards of justice and enforcement for the unborn that exist for the homicide or assault of born persons. The bill died for a lack of motion without the opportunity for an explanation from the bill sponsor or citizen input.
Voted To Strip Citizens’ Right To Sue The State: This legislation became one of the most controversial pieces of 2026 as opponents of HB1971 contended it strips an individual’s right to challenge constitutionally questionable state laws unless they are actually harmed by it. Sherrell voted “Yes” on the bill, helping pass the legislation and potentially prevent citizens from keeping their government accountable.
Sherrell will face off against challenger DeWayne Howard in August, who describes himself as a “strong conservative voice” to ensure “that our conservative principles- protecting constitutional rights, supporting law enforcement, and fostering a pro-family environment- are represented with integrity.”
His campaign is focused on public safety, investing in strong schools, supporting farmers & rural communities, fostering small business growth, defending pro-life values, and protecting the constitutional rights of Tennesseans.
To learn more, visit his official campaign website: https://www.howardforstaterep.net/
About the Authors:
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.
Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
