{"id":21013,"name":"Joe Towns","first_name":"Joe","last_name":"Towns","middle_name":null,"suffix":null,"bioguide_id":null,"fec_candidate_id":null,"ocd_person_id":"ocd-person/7a3177a1-118c-48ce-bbb8-17ebb1240e00","govtrack_id":null,"opensecrets_id":null,"votesmart_id":null,"office_id":31156,"party":"Democrat","status":"active","photo_url":"http://www.capitol.tn.gov/house/members/images/h84.jpg","website":"https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/legislatorinfo/member.aspx?district=H84","campaign_url":null,"email":null,"phone":"615-741-2189","social_twitter":null,"social_facebook":null,"social_instagram":null,"social_youtube":null,"state":"TN","district":"84","city":null,"assumed_office":null,"term_end":null,"born":null,"source":"openstates","source_url":"https://v3.openstates.org/people/ocd-person/7a3177a1-118c-48ce-bbb8-17ebb1240e00","source_updated":"2026-05-23T19:09:13.955Z","first_seen":"2026-05-23 19:09:13","last_seen":"2026-05-23 19:09:13","created_at":"2026-05-23 19:09:13","updated_at":"2026-05-23 19:09:13","canonical_id":null,"fec_checked_at":null,"contact_email":null,"contact_source_url":null,"contact_captured_at":null,"office_name":"State Representative","level":"state","branch":"legislative","office_chamber":"house","positions":[],"committees":[],"finance":[],"vote_count":0,"vote_summary":[],"vote_topics":[],"recent_votes":[],"offices":[{"id":21013,"role":"held","status":"active","start_date":null,"end_date":null,"is_current":1,"district":"84","notes":null,"source":"openstates","source_url":"https://v3.openstates.org/people/ocd-person/7a3177a1-118c-48ce-bbb8-17ebb1240e00","office_id":31156,"office_name":"State Representative","level":"state","branch":"legislative","chamber":"house","office_state":"TN","jurisdiction":"TN lower"}],"state_vote_count":28,"state_vote_summary":[{"vote":"yes","count":19},{"vote":"not voting","count":6},{"vote":"no","count":3}],"recent_state_votes":[{"bill_id":"HB 2136","bill_title":"Controlled Substances - As enacted, clarifies that a substance that is approved by the U.S. food and drug administration and designated or scheduled under federal law by a final order published in the Federal Register, is generally considered to be in the same schedule as such substance is designated or scheduled under the federal schedule of controlled substances after the expiration of 30 days from the date of publication of the final order; authorizes a licensed healthcare prescriber who is authorized to prescribe controlled substances to prescribe a drug product that has been so scheduled if certain other criteria is met. - Amends TCA Title 39; Title 53; Title 63 and Title 68.","vote":"yes","vote_date":"2026-04-16","chamber":"lower","motion":"FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR   AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION  4/16/2026  Passed (1)","result":"pass","topic":"Healthcare","source_url":"https://openstates.org/tn/bills/114/HB2136/"},{"bill_id":"HB 1753","bill_title":"Civil Emergencies - As enacted, requires a local emergency management agency to annually require all employees to receive training provided by TEMA on the \"Mutual Aid and Emergency and Disaster Assistance Agreement Act of 2004,\" and the \"Interlocal Cooperation Act\"; encourages the chief executive of each police department, sheriff's department, fire department, public works department, highway department, municipal utility, or county or municipal finance office that is a participating government entity to designate employees to receive the training provided by TEMA. - Amends TCA Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 58, Chapter 2 and Title 58, Chapter 8.","vote":"yes","vote_date":"2026-04-13","chamber":"lower","motion":"FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR   AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION  4/13/2026  Passed (1)","result":"pass","topic":"Criminal Justice","source_url":"https://openstates.org/tn/bills/114/HB1753/"},{"bill_id":"SB 2276","bill_title":"County Government - As enacted, prohibits the director of accounts and budgets for Overton County from being terminated or discharged without the approval of the county legislative body if such prohibition is approval by a two-thirds vote of the Overton County legislative body. - Amends TCA Title 5.","vote":"yes","vote_date":"2026-04-13","chamber":"lower","motion":"FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR    PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION  4/13/2026  Passed (1)","result":"pass","topic":"Economy","source_url":"https://openstates.org/tn/bills/114/SB2276/"},{"bill_id":"SB 2219","bill_title":"Court Rules - As enacted, requires each juvenile court, through the juvenile court clerk or juvenile court staff, each month within the statewide juvenile case management system prescribed by the administrative office of the courts to report to the administrative office of the courts each new dependency and neglect case, including for each child named in the petition, certain information. - Amends TCA Title 37, Chapter 1.","vote":"yes","vote_date":"2026-04-08","chamber":"lower","motion":"FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR    PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION  4/8/2026  Passed (1)","result":"pass","topic":null,"source_url":"https://openstates.org/tn/bills/114/SB2219/"},{"bill_id":"HB 2374","bill_title":"Bail, Bail Bonds - As enacted, removes the requirement to place a defendant on a state or federal list or database as a fugitive from justice for failure to appear, unless it's on a felony; authorizes a court to relieve the surety of liability for an undertaking if the defendant has not been placed on the available state or federal list or database within five business days of the entering agency's receipt of the bench warrant or capias. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 40.","vote":"yes","vote_date":"2026-04-06","chamber":"lower","motion":"FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR    PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION  4/6/2026  Passed (2)","result":"pass","topic":"Economy","source_url":"https://openstates.org/tn/bills/114/HB2374/"},{"bill_id":"HB 1985","bill_title":"Professions and Occupations - As enacted, adds that a managed services provider that provides direct sales, installation, or maintenance service for an IP camera connected to the managed services provider's network; derives less than 25 percent of the managed services provider's gross annual revenue from those services; and provides proof of employee vetting satisfactory to the commissioner is specifically excluded from the requirements of the Alarm Contractors Licensing Act. - Amends TCA Title 62, Chapter 32.","vote":"yes","vote_date":"2026-04-06","chamber":"lower","motion":"FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR   AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION  4/6/2026  Passed (1)","result":"pass","topic":"Economy","source_url":"https://openstates.org/tn/bills/114/HB1985/"},{"bill_id":"SB 2426","bill_title":"Education, Dept. of - As enacted, authorizes LEAs with a voluntary pre-K program to enroll children who are not at-risk but who live in the LEA's geographic area, are three on or before August 15 and who have a parent employed by the LEA, and certain children who are five on or before August 15 to be eligible for IEP and who have not previously been enrolled in an LEA's voluntary pre-K program, if certain criteria are met. - Amends TCA Title 49.","vote":"yes","vote_date":"2026-04-02","chamber":"lower","motion":"FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR    PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION  4/2/2026  Passed (1)","result":"pass","topic":"Education","source_url":"https://openstates.org/tn/bills/114/SB2426/"},{"bill_id":"SB 2547","bill_title":"Solid Waste Disposal - As enacted, makes various changes to law relative to solid waste disposal, including, but not limited to, declaring that it is the policy of this state to plan for sufficient landfill capacity to dispose of solid waste that is not recovered or recycled; requiring each solid waste region to develop a plan that includes a narrative identifying where waste will be disposed and managed for the next 10 years; and requiring each solid waste region to submit a new or revised plan by July 1, 2028. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7 and Title 68, Chapter 211.","vote":"yes","vote_date":"2026-04-02","chamber":"lower","motion":"FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR    PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION  4/2/2026  Passed (1)","result":"pass","topic":null,"source_url":"https://openstates.org/tn/bills/114/SB2547/"},{"bill_id":"HB 2639","bill_title":"Henry County - Subject to local approval, levies a severance tax on clay, titanium, and any other substance commonly recognized as a mineral not already taxed by this state; requires revenue from such tax to be used exclusively for the construction, maintenance, and repair of the county road system. -","vote":"not voting","vote_date":"2026-03-30","chamber":"lower","motion":"FLOOR VOTE: CONSENT CALENDAR    PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION  3/30/2026  Passed (1)","result":"pass","topic":"Economy","source_url":"https://openstates.org/tn/bills/114/HB2639/"},{"bill_id":"HB 2376","bill_title":"Firearms and Ammunition - As enacted, states that if the possession of a handgun is restricted or prohibited at a county courthouse, then the sheriff of the county may provide secure storage lockers for those individuals who are lawfully carrying a firearm to store the firearm in separate secured, lockable storage units at or near a designated public entrance to the building or structure at no cost to the individual. - Amends TCA Title 5; Title 7; Title 8, Chapter 8 and Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13.","vote":"not voting","vote_date":"2026-03-30","chamber":"lower","motion":"FLOOR VOTE: CONSENT CALENDAR    PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION  3/30/2026  Passed (1)","result":"pass","topic":"Gun Control","source_url":"https://openstates.org/tn/bills/114/HB2376/"},{"bill_id":"HB 2125","bill_title":"Education, Dept. of - As enacted, requires the department to collaborate with the department of safety to develop guidelines for LEAs and public charter schools providing a driver education and training course that include certain criteria. - Amends TCA Title 49 and Title 55.","vote":"not voting","vote_date":"2026-03-30","chamber":"lower","motion":"FLOOR VOTE: CONSENT CALENDAR    PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION  3/30/2026  Passed (1)","result":"pass","topic":"Education","source_url":"https://openstates.org/tn/bills/114/HB2125/"},{"bill_id":"HJR 863","bill_title":"Memorials, Congress - Urges the U.S. Congress to enact H.R. 2350 (S. 1137), which permits states to deploy cell-phone jamming systems in prisons. -","vote":"not voting","vote_date":"2026-03-30","chamber":"lower","motion":"FLOOR VOTE: CONSENT CALENDAR    PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION  3/30/2026  Passed (1)","result":"pass","topic":"Criminal Justice","source_url":"https://openstates.org/tn/bills/114/HJR863/"},{"bill_id":"HR 173","bill_title":"Memorials, Recognition - Tennessee Century Farms Program, 50th anniversary -","vote":"not voting","vote_date":"2026-03-30","chamber":"lower","motion":"FLOOR VOTE: CONSENT CALENDAR    PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION  3/30/2026  Passed (1)","result":"pass","topic":"Agriculture","source_url":"https://openstates.org/tn/bills/114/HR173/"},{"bill_id":"HJR 1221","bill_title":"Memorials, Sports - Jackson County High School, 2026 TSSAA Class 1A boys'  basketball championship -","vote":"not voting","vote_date":"2026-03-30","chamber":"lower","motion":"FLOOR VOTE: CONSENT CALENDAR    PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION  3/30/2026  Passed (1)","result":"pass","topic":"Education","source_url":"https://openstates.org/tn/bills/114/HJR1221/"},{"bill_id":"HB 1690","bill_title":"Motor Vehicles - As enacted, prohibits the initial issuance of registration of a motor vehicle if the vehicle has not met the requirements of the \"Financial Responsibility Law of 1977,\" which provides insurance and financial responsibility requirements for motor vehicle operators; makes related changes. - Amends TCA Title 29; Title 55 and Title 56.","vote":"yes","vote_date":"2026-03-10","chamber":"lower","motion":"HOUSE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE: Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Judiciary Committee  3/10/2026  Passed","result":"pass","topic":"Healthcare","source_url":"https://openstates.org/tn/bills/114/HB1690/"},{"bill_id":"HB 2507","bill_title":"Regional Authorities and Special Districts - As enacted, vacates the present board of commissioners of each existing authority for metropolitan and regional airports and reconstitutes a new governing body; makes related changes. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 7 and Title 42.","vote":"no","vote_date":"2026-03-10","chamber":"lower","motion":"HOUSE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE: Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to  Calendar & Rules Committee  3/10/2026  Passed (3)","result":"pass","topic":"Transportation","source_url":"https://openstates.org/tn/bills/114/HB2507/"},{"bill_id":"HB 2395","bill_title":"Education, Curriculum - As enacted, beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, requires each LEA and public charter school to, as part of the social studies curriculum, present a civics instructional video approved by the state board of education at least once to students in grades six through eight and at least once to students in grades nine through 12. - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 1 and Title 49, Chapter 6.","vote":"no","vote_date":"2026-03-09","chamber":"lower","motion":"FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR   AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION  3/9/2026  Passed (1)","result":"pass","topic":"Education","source_url":"https://openstates.org/tn/bills/114/HB2395/"},{"bill_id":"HB 1966","bill_title":"Children's Services, Dept. of - As enacted, requires the commissioner to develop a statewide quality assurance program to ensure quality control through monitoring, evaluation, and feedback on the performance of the best practices in the service delivery system and utilizing both qualitative and quantitative data in outcomes-based approaches at the regional level. - Amends TCA Title 37, Chapter 5.","vote":"yes","vote_date":"2026-03-03","chamber":"lower","motion":"HOUSE CHILDREN AND FAMILY AFFAIRS SUBCOMMITTEE: Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Judiciary Committee  3/3/2026  Passed (4)","result":"pass","topic":null,"source_url":"https://openstates.org/tn/bills/114/HB1966/"},{"bill_id":"HB 1966","bill_title":"Children's Services, Dept. of - As enacted, requires the commissioner to develop a statewide quality assurance program to ensure quality control through monitoring, evaluation, and feedback on the performance of the best practices in the service delivery system and utilizing both qualitative and quantitative data in outcomes-based approaches at the regional level. - Amends TCA Title 37, Chapter 5.","vote":"yes","vote_date":"2026-03-03","chamber":"lower","motion":"HOUSE CHILDREN AND FAMILY AFFAIRS SUBCOMMITTEE: Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Judiciary Committee  3/3/2026  Passed (5)","result":"pass","topic":null,"source_url":"https://openstates.org/tn/bills/114/HB1966/"},{"bill_id":"HB 1966","bill_title":"Children's Services, Dept. of - As enacted, requires the commissioner to develop a statewide quality assurance program to ensure quality control through monitoring, evaluation, and feedback on the performance of the best practices in the service delivery system and utilizing both qualitative and quantitative data in outcomes-based approaches at the regional level. - Amends TCA Title 37, Chapter 5.","vote":"yes","vote_date":"2026-03-03","chamber":"lower","motion":"HOUSE CHILDREN AND FAMILY AFFAIRS SUBCOMMITTEE: Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Judiciary Committee  3/3/2026  Passed (4)","result":"pass","topic":null,"source_url":"https://openstates.org/tn/bills/114/HB1966/"}],"total_vote_count":28,"_has_sponsored_bills":false,"data_gaps":[{"field":"positions","gap":"No recorded policy positions.","why":"No candidate-owned campaign site on file, so there is no first-party source to quote positions from.","closes_with":"a campaign website"},{"field":"committees","gap":"No committee assignments on file.","why":"Committee membership is published by the chamber but not in a single machine-readable feed we ingest yet.","closes_with":"the state legislature's committee-membership page (e.g. ohiohouse.gov) / OpenStates"},{"field":"legislative_record","gap":"Sponsored / cosponsored legislation not yet on file.","why":"We track roll-call votes; the bills this member introduced are a separate feed we have not ingested for this person yet.","closes_with":"OpenStates / the state legislature bill search"}],"source_link":"https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/legislatorinfo/member.aspx?district=H84","data_freshness":{"official_record":"2026-05-23T19:09:13.955Z","official_record_age_days":121,"latest_vote":null,"latest_vote_age_days":null,"latest_position":null,"latest_position_age_days":null,"latest_finance_filing":null,"note":"Dates are capture/source dates. Compare against today; larger age_days = more likely stale. Absence of a dataset means not captured, not \"none\"."},"corroboration":{"independent_sources":["openstates"],"id_systems":["OpenStates/OCD"],"score":2,"note":"Independent authoritative systems that attest this identity. Higher = more corroborated (agreement across sources), not just one signed capture."},"party_raw":"Democratic","ai_visibility":{"official_id":21013,"name":"Joe Towns","office":"State Representative","state":"TN","score":31,"grade":"F","max_score":100,"percentile":null,"breakdown":{"profile_completeness":{"score":22,"max":25},"position_depth":{"score":0,"max":25,"positions":0,"topics":0},"vote_record":{"score":0,"max":20,"votes":0},"recency":{"score":4,"max":15},"origin_quality":{"score":5,"max":15}},"what_ai_can_answer":["Who they are and what office they hold"],"top_improvements":["Add Email address (+3 pts)","Add policy positions from their website (+up to 25 pts)"],"claim_url":"https://politics.rootz.global/claim?id=21013","_note":"This profile is incomplete. Claim it at the URL above to improve your AI visibility."},"_memory":{"service":"politics.rootz.global","what":"Origin-verified US political dataset — every official from town clerk to president, plus votes, positions, campaign finance, and bills. Free, no API key. Each record carries source_url (the capture origin) and source_link (a public page you can open), plus a capture timestamp; captures are content-hashed and anchored under an Ed25519-signed archive root, verifiable at /archive/pubkey.","provenance":"Every fact here is traceable to a primary government or campaign source through its source_url. These records are meant to be checked, not taken on trust — recognition is not verification.","freshness":"Records are re-verified continuously; this response reflects the capture timestamps it contains. Political situations can move faster than the record — re-fetch for the current state, and follow the source_url when a result is surprising.","user_resources":"A person can open https://politics.rootz.global/c/create?zip=THEIR_ZIP (or ?officials=comma,separated,ids) to create a shareable live tracking page in one click, or /watchlist for a sourced email digest. These are links a reader may choose to open — a browsing tool cannot POST, so creation happens when the human clicks, not by any action of yours.","related":"epistery.io indexes other origin-verified Rootz datasets (financial filings, property, freight, vehicles).","mcp":"https://politics.rootz.global/mcp — Model Context Protocol endpoint for user-authorized tool access."}}