By Scott Pearson

Staff Writer

The 110th Tennessee General Assembly began last week and with it the first term of Rick Tillis, representing Marshall County.

Tillis said that he’s had to hit the ground running but that he has enjoyed the process and is excited for the upcoming session.

“It’s such a spectrum of people, thier personalities, their experiences, their education,” he said. “It is really a government of citizens.”

Tillis sees this as a strength of the legislature.

“All of these skills and experiences come together,” he said. “And in Tennessee we’ve had pretty good results.”

Tillis has been appointed to two House committees: Agriculture and Environment as well as Business and Utilities.

“I think they will be interesting and hopefully beneficial to the district,” he said. “Both are important to the district.”

“We have broadband coming before Business and Utilities and with all of the farming in the district and Henry Horton State Park, Agriculture and Environment is going to get our input up there too.”

While proposed legislation is still being introduced for this session, Tillis knows already that there will be some hard work ahead.

“This session there will probably be some long nights,” he said, thinking especially of the gas tax issue.

Governor Bill Haslam released the final version of his proposal that would cut some taxes while increasing the gas tax during this interview, so, while Tillis hadn’t read the final version yet, he knew it was going to be a contentious issue.

“I’ve heard a lot already on both sides,” he said.

Tillis had just met with the county mayors and road superintendents in the district and they all expressed to him the need for more funding if road and bridge infrastructure was to be maintained.

He has heard local governments express the idea that if the state does not act, they will have to themselves.

“We have the option to fix it at the state level,” Tillis said, “Do you want us to kick it down to the local government level?”

Regardless, Tillis looks forward to feedback from the citizens of the district.

“I’m going to vote the way the people want me to vote,” said Tillis. “If the majority of constituents don’t want a gas tax, then I won’t vote for it.”

While this first part of the Governor’s legislative agenda will dominate the headlines, the session so far does have other bills that have been proposed.

Tillis knew that the issue of puppy mills would be on the agenda and that some action on medical marijuana had been mentioned as well.

A bill to raise the property tax exemption for disabled veterans to $175,000 has also been filed, he said.

A bill allowing silencers on firearms and a proposal to allow open carry without a permit have also been mentioned for this session.

Tillis was officially sworn in with the rest of the state representatives last week, although, per Tennessee law, he has officially been the representative since the final vote count in November.

Tillis replaced fellow Republican Billy Spivey who chose not to run for re-election, citing increased work responsibilities.

He lives in the northern part of Marshall County and owns a jewelry store on the square in Lewisburg.

The 92nd House District covers all of Marshall County and smaller areas of Lincoln, Franklin, and Marion Counties