Kerry E. Roberts
Republican · TN · Tennessee State Senator for District 23; Vice-Chair, Senate Judiciary Committee
Kerry Roberts is a Springfield CPA and former bicycle business owner who has served in the Tennessee Senate since 2011 and is vice-chair of its Judiciary Committee. He names helping constituents with state agencies and opposing illegal immigration as priorities.
Where Kerry E. Roberts stands, based on their records
Supports
Healthcare Affordability (4 records), Environment and Public Health (1 record), Reduce Wealth Gap (1 record),
Opposes
Immigration (5 records)
Mixed record
Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties (2 support · 1 oppose), Social Programs and Welfare (4 support · 1 oppose), Public Education Quality (2 support · 1 oppose),
Track record
Track record — Healthcare Affordability
Healthcare Affordability · 4 support
Sponsored a bill proposing to let Katie Beckett Part A families spend their allotted home and community care money through a health reimbursement arrangement. The Senate Health and Welfare Committee backed it 9-0 (Senate Bill 1053).
April 20, 2026Supports Healthcare Affordability
Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov
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, 2025Supports Healthcare Affordability
Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov
Introduced a Tennessee bill proposing to require the Katie Beckett program's Part B to serve at least 5,000 children with serious medical needs (Senate Bill 2864).
April 19, 2024Supports Healthcare Affordability
Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov
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, 2019Supports Healthcare Affordability
Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov
Track record — Environment and Public Health
Environment and Public Health · 1 support
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, 2026Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov
Track record — Reduce Wealth Gap
Reduce Wealth Gap · 1 support
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, 2018Supports Reduce Wealth Gap
Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov
Track record — Anti-Corruption
Anti-Corruption · 3 support
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, 2026Supports Anti-Corruption
Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov
Voted to pass HB 618, which bars a person from holding two local elected offices at the same time. The Tennessee Senate passed it 21-10, and it became law.
February 26, 2026Supports Anti-Corruption
Source: legiscan.com
Voted to adopt the compromise version of SB 229, which charges political campaign committees a $150 yearly fee. The Tennessee Senate adopted it 23-6, and it became law.
April 22, 2025Supports Anti-Corruption
Source: legiscan.com
Track record — Government Efficiency
Government Efficiency · 2 support
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, 2018Supports Government Efficiency
Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov
Roberts sponsored SB 365, enacted in 2017 as the Program Integrity Act establishing additional requirements for public-benefit eligibility.
May 3, 2017Supports Government Efficiency
Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov
Track record — Immigration
Immigration · 5 oppose
Voted to pass HB 2219, which requires every county sheriff to sign a federal 287(g) immigration enforcement deal. The Tennessee Senate passed it 24-7, and it became law.
April 23, 2026Opposes Immigration
Source: legiscan.com
Voted to accept the House's version of Senate Bill 1915, which makes counties and cities verify adult benefit applicants are citizens or legally present. The Senate agreed 24-6 and it became law as Public Chapter 1106.
April 22, 2026Opposes Immigration
Source: legiscan.com
Voted to pass HB 2502, which applies sales tax to sending money abroad through a licensed money transmitter. The Tennessee Senate passed it 21-7, and it became law.
April 16, 2026Opposes Immigration
Source: legiscan.com
Voted to pass HB 1194, which extends the work authorization law to almost every private employer. The Tennessee Senate passed it 19-13, and it became law.
March 12, 2026Opposes Immigration
Source: legiscan.com
Voted to pass SB 6002, which creates a state immigration enforcement office directing how local police work with federal agents. The Tennessee Senate passed it 26-7, and it became law.
January 29, 2025Opposes Immigration
Source: legiscan.com
Track record — Public Safety and Crime Control
Public Safety and Crime Control · 3 support
Roberts sponsored enacted SB 2650 requiring notice of a voluntary restorative-justice option for victims through programs in Davidson and Shelby counties.
April 29, 2026Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov
Sponsored a law that raised criminal penalties when agents of foreign governments or terrorist groups threaten, coerce, or retaliate against people in Tennessee. It also directed state investigators to warn the public about the practice (Senate Bill 2644, Public Chapter 777).
April 27, 2026Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov
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, 2017Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov
Track record — Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties
Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties · 2 support · 1 oppose
Sponsored a law that raised criminal penalties when agents of foreign governments or terrorist groups threaten, coerce, or retaliate against people in Tennessee. It also directed state investigators to warn the public about the practice (Senate Bill 2644, Public Chapter 777).
April 27, 2026Supports Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties
Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov
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, 2025Supports Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties
Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov
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, 2024Opposes Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties
Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov
Track record — Social Programs and Welfare
Social Programs and Welfare · 4 support · 1 oppose
Sponsored a bill proposing to let Katie Beckett Part A families spend their allotted home and community care money through a health reimbursement arrangement. The Senate Health and Welfare Committee backed it 9-0 (Senate Bill 1053).
April 20, 2026Supports Social Programs and Welfare
Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov
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, 2025Supports Social Programs and Welfare
Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov
Introduced a Tennessee bill proposing to require the Katie Beckett program's Part B to serve at least 5,000 children with serious medical needs (Senate Bill 2864).
April 19, 2024Supports Social Programs and Welfare
Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov
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, 2019Supports Social Programs and Welfare
Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov
Roberts sponsored SB 365, enacted in 2017 as the Program Integrity Act establishing additional requirements for public-benefit eligibility.
May 3, 2017Opposes Social Programs and Welfare
Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov
Track record — Public Education Quality
Public Education Quality · 2 support · 1 oppose
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, 2026Supports Public Education Quality
Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov
Voted for the final version of SB 714, which set up a state-appointed oversight board over Memphis-Shelby County Schools' budget, contracts and major decisions. The Senate passed it 27-6.
April 22, 2026Supports Public Education Quality
Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov
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, 2019Opposes Public Education Quality
Source: cbsnews.com
Track record — Gun Control
Gun Control · 1 support · 2 oppose
Voted to pass SB 2028, which bars cities and counties from setting rules on how wildlife may be taken. The Tennessee Senate passed it 24-7, and it became law.
March 12, 2026Opposes Gun Control
Source: legiscan.com
Sponsored a Tennessee bill proposing to let gun owners sue a person or government agency for money damages over violations of their right to bear arms (Senate Bill 819).
April 8, 2025Opposes Gun Control
Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov
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, 2017Supports Gun Control
Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov
Track record — Limit Foreign Influence
Limit Foreign Influence · 3 support
Sponsored a law that raised criminal penalties when agents of foreign governments or terrorist groups threaten, coerce, or retaliate against people in Tennessee. It also directed state investigators to warn the public about the practice (Senate Bill 2644, Public Chapter 777).
April 27, 2026Supports Limit Foreign Influence
Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov
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, 2025Supports Limit Foreign Influence
Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov
Sponsored a bill proposing to make lobbyists working for adversary governments or blacklisted Chinese military firms file disclosure affidavits, with fines up to $50,000 (Senate Bill 1397).
February 12, 2025Supports Limit Foreign Influence
Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov
Track record — Civil Rights
Civil Rights · 2 support · 3 oppose
Voted for HB 7003, the new U.S. House map that split Memphis's majority-minority 9th District across three districts. The Senate passed it 25-5 in a May 2026 special session.
May 7, 2026Opposes Civil Rights
Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov
Voted to pass HB 754, which makes gender clinics report every gender transition procedure to the state. The Tennessee Senate passed it 24-7, and it became law.
April 13, 2026Opposes Civil Rights
Source: legiscan.com
Roberts sponsored SB 1440, enacted in 2023 to define sex for Tennessee statutory construction purposes.
May 24, 2023Opposes Civil Rights
Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov
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, 2018Supports Civil Rights
Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov
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, 2017Supports Civil Rights
Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov
Track record — Corporate Accountability
Corporate Accountability · 3 support
Voted for Senate Bill 2040, which bars an owner from controlling a pharmacy plus both a health insurer and drug-benefit manager from 2028. The Tennessee Senate passed it 24-9, and it became law.
April 20, 2026Supports Corporate Accountability
Source: legiscan.com
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, 2025Supports Corporate Accountability
Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov
Sponsored a bill proposing to make lobbyists working for adversary governments or blacklisted Chinese military firms file disclosure affidavits, with fines up to $50,000 (Senate Bill 1397).
February 12, 2025Supports Corporate Accountability
Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov
Track record — General
General · 5 records
Voted against HB 2175, which makes delivery companies and drivers carry set car insurance while logged on and while delivering. The Tennessee Senate passed it 19-9, and it became law.
April 23, 2026
Source: legiscan.com
Introduced the Tennessee Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Act, proposing to let the state treasurer invest up to 10% of the general fund and other state funds in bitcoin (Senate Bill 2639). A Senate committee recommended it for passage, but it has not become law.
April 20, 2026
Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov
Voted against SB 1868, which caps state custody of a child for treatment at six months, extendable once. The Tennessee Senate passed it 22-11, and it became law.
April 15, 2026
Source: legiscan.com
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, 2025
Source: wapp.capitol.tn.gov
Voted against House Bill 1093, which raises the penalty for machine gun conversion parts to a Class C felony. The Tennessee Senate passed it 23-8, and it became law.
April 22, 2025
Source: legiscan.com
Past races Kerry E. Roberts ran in:
- Tennessee Senate District 23 · November 3, 2026 · State Senate District 23; Tennessee · incumbent
- Tennessee Senate District 23 · August 6, 2026 · State Senate District 23; Tennessee · incumbent