Richard Briggs (born 1952) is a Republican member of the Tennessee Senate representing the 7th district, which encompasses part of Knox County.Senate biography
Early life Richard Briggs was born on December 7, 1952. He received his M.D. from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine. He is a cardiothoracic surgeon.Ali Swenson & Jill Colvin, Trump's misleading comments on autism validate the 'MAHA' movement and reveal its political potency, Associated Press (September 23, 2025). He completed a surgical residency and cardiothoracic fellowship at Brooke Army Medical Center. While in the U.S. Army, he served in Operation Desert Storm and later Afghanistan and Iraq as a trauma surgeon. He retired with the rank of colonel.
Career Briggs was elected to the 109th General Assembly. He is currently Chairman of the Senate State and Local Government Committee. He serves as a member of the Senate Rules Committee and Senate Transportation & Safety Committee.
In 2018, Briggs introduced a bill to prohibit adults in Tennessee from smoking in a car with children present, but the bill did not advance in the state Senate.Car smoking ban bill fails in Tennessee Senate, Associated Press (April 18, 2018).
In 2019, Briggs voted for a "trigger law" to make abortion illegal if the Supreme Court would ever overturn the right to abortion. After an abortion ban went into effect in Tennessee, Briggs worked to loosen the ban on the ground that it did not provide adequate exceptions to protect patients with medically complicated pregnancies.Katia Riddle, A Tennessee lawmaker helped pass a strict abortion law. He's now trying to loosen it, All Things Considered, NPR (January 31, 2024). He authored bills that provided a clearer medical exception and protected doctors who treated patients with complicated pregnancies. Briggs subsequently faced a Republican primary challenge from an opponent who opposed Briggs' proposal.
In 2020, Donald Trump sought to overturn the results of that year's presidential election, which Trump lost to Joe Biden. Twenty-four of the 27 Republicans in the Tennessee Senate signed a letter supporting Trump's attempt to subvert the election and remain in power; Briggs (along with Brian Kelsey and Todd Gardenhire) were the only three Republicans who did not sign the letter.Tennessee Senate Republicans question Biden's win in letter, Associated Press (November 10, 2020).
In 2026, Briggs supported changes to Tennessee's school library ban law (the "Age-Appropriate Materials Act"), which was enacted in 2022 and amended in 2024.Sam Stockard, Tennessee Republican senator wants to change book-ban law, Briggs says appeals process needed with elected officials making final decision], Tennessee Lookout (June 10, 2026). Under that law (the "Age-Appropriate Materials Act"), books could be removed from school library shelves by local school districts committees, with no public record of the complaint and no clear appeals procedure.Caitlyn Meisner, Lawmakers push to fix gaps the 'Roots' controversy exposed in book ban law, Knoxville News Sentinel (June 11, 2026). B After controversies involving book bans in the Knox County Schools, Briggs spoke against the removal of works such as Alex Haley's Roots and The Kite Runner from school library collections. Briggs worked with Democratic state representative Sam McKenzie to draft an amendment to the law to limit complaints about books to parents, teachers and district employees, rather than outsiders, and to add a clear appeal process when a book was removed.
Personal life Briggs has a wife, Stephanie. He is a Methodist.
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