Bill Lee

Nationalist

Republican

Governor

Tennessee

Current Position: Governor of Tennessee

Policy Positions

Against labor union organizing; joined Republican governors opposing the United Auto Workers unionization campaign in 2024

Against expansion of TennCare (Medicaid) as allowed by the Affordable Care Act
Against mask mandates; opposed statewide mask mandate during COVID-19, signed legislation restricting localities from implementing mask mandates, and signed executive order allowing parents to opt children out of school mask mandates
Against COVID-19 vaccine mandates; opposed mandates while encouraging voluntary vaccination, blocked Tennessee Department of Health from outreach to teenagers about vaccines, and opposed Biden's federal vaccine requirements as unconstitutional

For school vouchers and charter schools; signed school voucher legislation and the 2025 Education Freedom Scholarship Act providing $7,500 scholarships for private school tuition

Against abortion rights; proposed and signed a six-week abortion ban in 2020, supported Tennessee's near-total abortion ban with no exceptions for rape, incest, or mother's health after Roe v. Wade was overturned
Against LGBT adoption rights; signed bill allowing taxpayer-funded faith-based adoption agencies to exclude LGBT families based on religious beliefs
Against transgender athletes competing in sports aligned with gender identity; signed bill banning transgender athletes from participating in sports opposite to their biological sex
Against transgender bathroom access in public schools; signed bathroom bill prohibiting transgender people from using school bathrooms corresponding to their gender identity
Against drag performances in public; signed the Adult Entertainment Act banning public drag shows
Against same-sex marriage protections; signed a law allowing public officials to refuse to perform marriages for same-sex couples or interracial couples based on religious beliefs or conscience
For AI voice protections for musicians; signed the ELVIS Act protecting musicians from unauthorized AI voice cloning and audio deepfakes

Against ranked-choice voting; signed bill prohibiting localities in Tennessee from using ranked-choice voting
For increased penalties for protest-related offenses; signed bill reclassifying camping on state property after trespass warning from a misdemeanor to a felony punishable by up to 6 years in prison

For continuing refugee resettlement in Tennessee; declined Trump's offer allowing states to halt refugee resettlement and announced Tennessee would continue accepting refugees

For gun rights without permit requirements; signed permitless carry bill in 2021 allowing most adults to carry handguns openly or concealed without a background check or training; after the Covenant School shooting called for an 'order of protection law' to keep guns from dangerous individuals and signed an executive order strengthening background checks
For capital punishment; supported executions during his tenure and signed a bill expanding the death penalty to child rape convictions
Against cannabis legalization and decriminalization; opposed medical marijuana legislation and marijuana decriminalization as both a candidate and governor