Kerry E. Roberts

Roberts sponsored SB 1590, enacted in 2026 to designate portions of the Buffalo River, Duck River, and other waterways as Class II pastoral river areas and expand related public outreach.

May 18, 2026For

Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov · researched July 18, 2026

Roberts sponsored SB 2465, enacted in 2018 as the Fresh Start Act to limit occupational-license denials based on criminal convictions not directly related to the profession, subject to specified exceptions.

July 1, 2018For

Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov · researched July 18, 2026

Roberts sponsored enacted SB 1723 to reconstitute the Tennessee education-lottery board, subject specified lottery information to public-records requests, and set a 2030 termination date.

May 27, 2026For

Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov · researched July 18, 2026

Roberts sponsored the proposed Tennessee Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Act, SB 2639, which reached the Senate Finance, Ways and Means calendar in 2026.

April 20, 2026For

Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov · researched July 18, 2026

Roberts supported Tennessee's 2025 Education Freedom Scholarship program, describing it as giving parents more control over school choice and education spending.

April 17, 2025For

Source: kerryroberts.com · researched July 18, 2026

Roberts sponsored SB 2465, enacted in 2018 as the Fresh Start Act to limit occupational-license denials based on criminal convictions not directly related to the profession, subject to specified exceptions.

July 1, 2018For

Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov · researched July 18, 2026

Roberts sponsored SB 365, enacted in 2017 as the Program Integrity Act establishing additional requirements for public-benefit eligibility.

May 3, 2017For

Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov · researched July 18, 2026

Roberts sponsored SB 1053 to let certain Katie Beckett Part A enrollees use allotted home- and community-based service funds through a health reimbursement arrangement; it reached the 2026 Senate Finance calendar.

April 20, 2026For

Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov · researched July 18, 2026

Roberts sponsored enacted SB 522 to authorize medically necessary TennCare coverage for diagnosis, genetic testing, and treatment of Kleefstra syndrome comparable to coverage for autism, Down syndrome, and related disorders.

April 4, 2025For

Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov · researched July 18, 2026

Roberts sponsored SB 2861, enacted in 2024 to generally prohibit state funds from being used for hormone-replacement therapy or sex-reassignment surgery for state inmates.

May 9, 2024Against

Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov · researched July 18, 2026

Roberts sponsored SB 2864 in 2024 to require the Katie Beckett program's Part B to serve at least 5,000 participants; the proposal reached the Senate Finance, Ways and Means calendar.

April 19, 2024For

Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov · researched July 18, 2026

Roberts sponsored SB 476, enacted in 2019 to direct Tennessee to seek federal approval for a Katie Beckett program serving children with significant disabilities or complex medical needs whose parents' income would otherwise make them ineligible for Medicaid.

May 29, 2019For

Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov · researched July 18, 2026

Roberts published support for medical-cannabis reform allowing regulated access to cannabis-based products for medical treatment.

October 17, 2018For

Source: kerryroberts.com · researched July 18, 2026

Americans for Prosperity-Tennessee named Roberts its top 2020 Tennessee Senate Taxpayer Hero; his campaign highlighted regulatory reform, spending accountability, and his proposed transparency requirements for economic-development tax subsidies.

September 17, 2020For

Source: kerryroberts.com · researched July 18, 2026

Roberts sponsored enacted SB 2650 requiring notice of a voluntary restorative-justice option for victims through programs in Davidson and Shelby counties.

April 29, 2026For

Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov · researched July 18, 2026

Roberts sponsored SB 2644, enacted in 2026 as the Crush Transnational Repression in Tennessee Act.

April 27, 2026For

Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov · researched July 18, 2026

Roberts sponsored enacted SB 519 requiring foreign persons who report Tennessee land purchases under federal agricultural-investment law to also file the report with the state agriculture commissioner.

June 4, 2025For

Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov · researched July 18, 2026

Roberts sponsored enacted SB 1055, which reorganized Tennessee expunction statutes and extended eligibility to facilitation, attempt, or solicitation of an otherwise expungeable offense.

April 29, 2025For

Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov · researched July 18, 2026

Roberts sponsored the Tennessee Foreign Adversary and Chinese Military Company Disclosure and Accountability Act, SB 1397, proposing disclosure and accountability requirements concerning covered foreign relationships.

February 12, 2025For

Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov · researched July 18, 2026

Roberts sponsored SB 134, enacted in 2017 to generally require a search warrant or written consent before alcohol or drug testing of a driver's blood, with specified exceptions.

May 19, 2017For

Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov · researched July 18, 2026

Roberts sponsored SB 640 in 2017 to add offenses for leaving a loaded, unsecured firearm where it endangered a child under 14 or knowingly allowing a child under 12 to use a firearm without adult supervision.

February 13, 2017For

Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov · researched July 18, 2026

Roberts sponsored SB 1053 to let certain Katie Beckett Part A enrollees use allotted home- and community-based service funds through a health reimbursement arrangement; it reached the 2026 Senate Finance calendar.

April 20, 2026For

Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov · researched July 18, 2026

Roberts sponsored enacted SB 522 to authorize medically necessary TennCare coverage for diagnosis, genetic testing, and treatment of Kleefstra syndrome comparable to coverage for autism, Down syndrome, and related disorders.

April 4, 2025For

Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov · researched July 18, 2026

Roberts sponsored SB 2864 in 2024 to require the Katie Beckett program's Part B to serve at least 5,000 participants; the proposal reached the Senate Finance, Ways and Means calendar.

April 19, 2024For

Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov · researched July 18, 2026

Roberts sponsored SB 476, enacted in 2019 to direct Tennessee to seek federal approval for a Katie Beckett program serving children with significant disabilities or complex medical needs whose parents' income would otherwise make them ineligible for Medicaid.

May 29, 2019For

Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov · researched July 18, 2026

Roberts sponsored SB 365, enacted in 2017 as the Program Integrity Act establishing additional requirements for public-benefit eligibility.

May 3, 2017Against

Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov · researched July 18, 2026

Roberts sponsored enacted SB 2636 allowing Classic Learning Test performance to be used alongside ACT and SAT results for specified purposes and revising home-school testing rules and opportunities.

May 18, 2026For

Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov · researched July 18, 2026

Roberts sponsored enacted SB 298 revising approval and notice rules for nonsectarian, nonreligious Bible courses and clarifying that public charter schools may offer them.

May 13, 2025For

Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov · researched July 18, 2026

Roberts supported Tennessee's 2025 Education Freedom Scholarship program, describing it as giving parents more control over school choice and education spending.

April 17, 2025For

Source: kerryroberts.com · researched July 18, 2026

In 2019 Roberts called higher education a liberal breeding ground and called for its elimination on his radio show, then said the elimination remark was humor and hyperbole while standing by his broader critique of liberal bias in higher education.

September 10, 2019Against

Source: cbsnews.com · researched July 18, 2026

Roberts sponsored SB 819 to create a civil action and damages against a person or government entity that infringes constitutional rights to bear arms; the proposal was assigned to a Senate subcommittee in 2025.

April 8, 2025Against

Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov · researched July 18, 2026

Roberts sponsored SB 640 in 2017 to add offenses for leaving a loaded, unsecured firearm where it endangered a child under 14 or knowingly allowing a child under 12 to use a firearm without adult supervision.

February 13, 2017For

Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov · researched July 18, 2026

Roberts's published position states that he believes life begins at conception, opposes abortion, supported preventing state funds from going to Planned Parenthood, and received Tennessee Right to Life's endorsement.

September 11, 2018Against

Source: kerryroberts.com · researched July 18, 2026

Roberts sponsored enacted SB 2650 requiring notice of a voluntary restorative-justice option for victims through programs in Davidson and Shelby counties.

April 29, 2026For

Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov · researched July 18, 2026

Roberts sponsored SB 2644, enacted in 2026 as the Crush Transnational Repression in Tennessee Act.

April 27, 2026For

Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov · researched July 18, 2026

Roberts sponsored enacted SB 1055, which reorganized Tennessee expunction statutes and extended eligibility to facilitation, attempt, or solicitation of an otherwise expungeable offense.

April 29, 2025For

Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov · researched July 18, 2026

Roberts sponsored SB 2861, enacted in 2024 to generally prohibit state funds from being used for hormone-replacement therapy or sex-reassignment surgery for state inmates.

May 9, 2024Against

Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov · researched July 18, 2026

Roberts sponsored SB 1440, enacted in 2023 to define sex for Tennessee statutory construction purposes.

May 24, 2023Against

Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov · researched July 18, 2026

Roberts sponsored SB 2465, enacted in 2018 as the Fresh Start Act to limit occupational-license denials based on criminal convictions not directly related to the profession, subject to specified exceptions.

July 1, 2018For

Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov · researched July 18, 2026

Roberts sponsored SB 134, enacted in 2017 to generally require a search warrant or written consent before alcohol or drug testing of a driver's blood, with specified exceptions.

May 19, 2017For

Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov · researched July 18, 2026

Roberts sponsored enacted SB 519 requiring foreign persons who report Tennessee land purchases under federal agricultural-investment law to also file the report with the state agriculture commissioner.

June 4, 2025For

Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov · researched July 18, 2026

Roberts sponsored the Tennessee Foreign Adversary and Chinese Military Company Disclosure and Accountability Act, SB 1397, proposing disclosure and accountability requirements concerning covered foreign relationships.

February 12, 2025For

Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov · researched July 18, 2026

Americans for Prosperity-Tennessee named Roberts its top 2020 Tennessee Senate Taxpayer Hero; his campaign highlighted regulatory reform, spending accountability, and his proposed transparency requirements for economic-development tax subsidies.

September 17, 2020For

Source: kerryroberts.com · researched July 18, 2026

Roberts serves as vice-chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and as a member of the Senate Education and State and Local Government committees.

July 17, 2026

Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov · researched July 18, 2026

Roberts is a certified public accountant and small-business owner who formerly taught business at Lipscomb University and served as president and chairman of the National Bicycle Dealers Association.

July 17, 2026

Source: kerryroberts.com · researched July 18, 2026

Roberts and his wife became involved in a foreclosure and court dispute with Apex Bank over a multimillion-dollar loan secured by their historic home and event property; the 2025 report documented Roberts's Chapter 11 bankruptcy, a ruling favoring the bank, competing allegations, and continued litigation.

November 14, 2025

Source: tennesseelookout.com · researched July 18, 2026

Roberts entered the Tennessee Senate through a 2011 special election, returned after winning election in 2014, and won subsequent elections in 2018 and 2022.

November 8, 2022

Source: kerryroberts.com · researched July 18, 2026

Roberts sponsored enacted SB 1723 to reconstitute the Tennessee education-lottery board, subject specified lottery information to public-records requests, and set a 2030 termination date.

May 27, 2026

Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov · researched July 18, 2026