Dewey "Rusty" Crowe

Crowe chairs the Senate Health and Welfare Committee and serves on the Education, Finance Ways and Means, Government Operations, and joint commerce, labor, transportation, agriculture, education, health, and general-welfare committees.

July 18, 2026For

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

Crowe sponsored Senate Bill 2199, the Regulatory Freedom Act of 2026; it became Public Chapter 994.

May 26, 2026For

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

Crowe sponsored Senate Bill 1692, the Military Families Licensing Recognition Act; it became law.

May 22, 2026For

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

Crowe sponsored Senate Bill 2177 requiring a study of law-enforcement salaries and benefits and authorizing hazardous-duty designations for highway patrol members; it became law.

May 22, 2026For

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

Crowe sponsored Senate Bill 1713 requiring public higher-education leaders to attest annually that their institutions have not implemented discriminatory preferences to increase diversity, equity, or inclusion; it became law.

May 22, 2026For

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

Crowe sponsored Senate Bill 2441 requiring closure of virtual schools that fail continued-operation requirements and publication of associated provider information; it became law.

May 18, 2026For

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

Crowe sponsored Senate Bill 1778 exempting Tennessee Emergency Management Agency disaster grants from specified procurement requirements while preserving inspection and audit authority; it became law.

March 18, 2026For

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

Crowe sponsored Senate Bill 293 separating the Tennessee State Guard within the military department for budgetary purposes; it became Public Chapter 331.

May 8, 2025For

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

Crowe sponsored Senate Bill 2149, the HOPE Treatment Act concerning mental-health and substance-abuse services; it became law.

May 22, 2026For

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

Crowe sponsored Senate Bill 1777, the Caring for Caregivers Act; it became Public Chapter 940.

May 18, 2026For

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

Crowe sponsored Senate Bill 2088 authorizing consensual blood or urine testing for psychotropic drugs when police have probable cause to believe a person committed a mass shooting and directing a related drug-interaction study; it became law.

May 18, 2026For

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

Crowe sponsored Senate Bill 2013, the Tennessee Nursing Education Integrity and Oversight Act; it became law.

April 27, 2026For

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

Crowe sponsored Senate Bill 1580 prohibiting AI systems from advertising or representing themselves as qualified mental-health professionals; it became law.

April 6, 2026For

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

Crowe sponsored Senate Bill 530, the Tennessee National Guard Servicemember's Medical Readiness Act; it became Public Chapter 483.

May 27, 2025For

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

Crowe sponsored Senate Bill 1414 revising Tennessee law governing 340B health-care entities; it became law.

May 5, 2025For

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

In 2024, critics alleged a conflict between Crowe's Ballad Health contract and his Health Committee chairmanship during consideration of legislation affecting medical monopolies; Crowe said he intended to declare the conflict and defended the COPA as protecting regional health care under state oversight.

March 27, 2024For

Source: tennesseelookout.com · researched July 18, 2026

Crowe co-sponsored the 2015 Tennessee law authorizing a Certificate of Public Advantage for the hospital merger that created Ballad Health while working as a contractor for Mountain States Health Alliance; he later contracted with Ballad and said he complied with Senate ethics rules.

May 18, 2015For

Source: kffhealthnews.org · researched July 18, 2026

Crowe sponsored Senate Bill 2199, the Regulatory Freedom Act of 2026; it became Public Chapter 994.

May 26, 2026For

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

Crowe sponsored Senate Bill 293 separating the Tennessee State Guard within the military department for budgetary purposes; it became Public Chapter 331.

May 8, 2025For

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

Crowe sponsored Senate Bill 1587 creating criminal and civil consequences connected to operation of commercial vehicles by people unlawfully present in the United States and requiring federal immigration notification after specified arrests; it became law.

May 27, 2026For

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

Crowe sponsored Senate Bill 1692, the Military Families Licensing Recognition Act; it became law.

May 22, 2026For

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

Crowe sponsored Senate Bill 1849, the Essential Governmental Employee Housing Act of 2026; it became law.

May 22, 2026For

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

Crowe sponsored Senate Bill 2177 requiring a study of law-enforcement salaries and benefits and authorizing hazardous-duty designations for highway patrol members; it became law.

May 22, 2026For

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

Crowe sponsored Senate Bill 2088 authorizing consensual blood or urine testing for psychotropic drugs when police have probable cause to believe a person committed a mass shooting and directing a related drug-interaction study; it became law.

May 18, 2026For

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

Crowe sponsored Senate Bill 2087 requiring same-day parent or guardian notice after classroom evacuations, subject to emergency and law-enforcement-investigation exceptions; it became law.

May 5, 2026For

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

Crowe sponsored Senate Bill 1710 requiring K-12 child-trafficking-awareness and prevention instruction through health education; it became Public Chapter 744.

April 23, 2026For

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

Crowe sponsored Senate Bill 1778 exempting Tennessee Emergency Management Agency disaster grants from specified procurement requirements while preserving inspection and audit authority; it became law.

March 18, 2026For

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

Crowe sponsored Senate Bill 530, the Tennessee National Guard Servicemember's Medical Readiness Act; it became Public Chapter 483.

May 27, 2025For

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

Crowe sponsored Senate Bill 1849, the Essential Governmental Employee Housing Act of 2026; it became law.

May 22, 2026For

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

Crowe sponsored Senate Bill 2149, the HOPE Treatment Act concerning mental-health and substance-abuse services; it became law.

May 22, 2026For

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

Crowe sponsored Senate Bill 1777, the Caring for Caregivers Act; it became Public Chapter 940.

May 18, 2026For

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

Crowe sponsored Senate Bill 560 clarifying that a family's economic disadvantage alone is not neglect or grounds for terminating parental rights; it passed both chambers.

April 23, 2026For

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

Crowe sponsored Senate Bill 295 extending public higher-education tuition and fee waivers to spouses and dependent children of veterans with permanent total service-connected disabilities; it became law.

April 13, 2026For

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

Crowe sponsored Senate Bill 1713 requiring public higher-education leaders to attest annually that their institutions have not implemented discriminatory preferences to increase diversity, equity, or inclusion; it became law.

May 22, 2026For

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

Crowe sponsored Senate Bill 2441 requiring closure of virtual schools that fail continued-operation requirements and publication of associated provider information; it became law.

May 18, 2026For

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

Crowe sponsored Senate Bill 2087 requiring same-day parent or guardian notice after classroom evacuations, subject to emergency and law-enforcement-investigation exceptions; it became law.

May 5, 2026For

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

Crowe sponsored Senate Bill 2013, the Tennessee Nursing Education Integrity and Oversight Act; it became law.

April 27, 2026For

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

Crowe sponsored Senate Bill 1710 requiring K-12 child-trafficking-awareness and prevention instruction through health education; it became Public Chapter 744.

April 23, 2026For

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

Crowe sponsored Senate Bill 295 extending public higher-education tuition and fee waivers to spouses and dependent children of veterans with permanent total service-connected disabilities; it became law.

April 13, 2026For

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

Crowe sponsored Senate Bill 471 requiring family-life curricula to address a sequence of high-school completion, work or postsecondary study, marriage, and children; it became law.

April 29, 2025For

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

Crowe sponsored Senate Bill 2459 limiting the Department of Children's Services from requesting firearm and ammunition details from foster parents and applicants; it became law.

April 27, 2026Against

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

Crowe sponsored Senate Bill 1580 prohibiting AI systems from advertising or representing themselves as qualified mental-health professionals; it became law.

April 6, 2026For

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

Crowe sponsored Senate Bill 1587 creating criminal and civil consequences connected to operation of commercial vehicles by people unlawfully present in the United States and requiring federal immigration notification after specified arrests; it became law.

May 27, 2026Against

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

Crowe sponsored Senate Bill 2459 limiting the Department of Children's Services from requesting firearm and ammunition details from foster parents and applicants; it became law.

April 27, 2026For

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

Crowe sponsored Senate Bill 560 clarifying that a family's economic disadvantage alone is not neglect or grounds for terminating parental rights; it passed both chambers.

April 23, 2026For

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

Crowe sponsored Senate Bill 1414 revising Tennessee law governing 340B health-care entities; it became law.

May 5, 2025For

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

In 2024, critics alleged a conflict between Crowe's Ballad Health contract and his Health Committee chairmanship during consideration of legislation affecting medical monopolies; Crowe said he intended to declare the conflict and defended the COPA as protecting regional health care under state oversight.

March 27, 2024For

Source: tennesseelookout.com · researched July 18, 2026

Crowe co-sponsored the 2015 Tennessee law authorizing a Certificate of Public Advantage for the hospital merger that created Ballad Health while working as a contractor for Mountain States Health Alliance; he later contracted with Ballad and said he complied with Senate ethics rules.

May 18, 2015For

Source: kffhealthnews.org · researched July 18, 2026

Crowe won the 2022 general election for Tennessee Senate District 3 with 39,237 votes, or 75.0 percent.

November 8, 2022

Source: sos-prod.tnsosgovfiles.com · researched July 18, 2026

Crowe lost the 2020 Republican primary for Tennessee's 1st Congressional District, receiving 15,179 votes, or 16.1 percent.

August 6, 2020

Source: sos-tn-gov-files.tnsosfiles.com · researched July 18, 2026

Crowe earned a B.S. in Criminal Justice from East Tennessee State University and a J.D. from Atlanta Law School.

November 6, 1990

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

Dewey "Rusty" Crowe has served in the Tennessee Senate since 1990 and is a member of the 97th through 114th General Assemblies.

November 6, 1990

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

Crowe served in the U.S. Army in Southeast Asia from 1967 through 1971, including military-intelligence work intercepting coded messages.

December 31, 1971

Source: etsualumni.org · researched July 18, 2026

In 2024, critics alleged a conflict between Crowe's Ballad Health contract and his Health Committee chairmanship during consideration of legislation affecting medical monopolies; Crowe said he intended to declare the conflict and defended the COPA as protecting regional health care under state oversight.

March 27, 2024

Source: tennesseelookout.com · researched July 18, 2026

Crowe co-sponsored the 2015 Tennessee law authorizing a Certificate of Public Advantage for the hospital merger that created Ballad Health while working as a contractor for Mountain States Health Alliance; he later contracted with Ballad and said he complied with Senate ethics rules.

May 18, 2015

Source: kffhealthnews.org · researched July 18, 2026