{"county":null,"description":"The Tennessee House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the state legislature, with 99 members elected from single-member districts to two-year terms. Representatives pass state laws, originate revenue bills, approve the state budget, and \u2014 together with the Senate \u2014 confirm gubernatorial appointments and propose constitutional amendments. Candidates must be at least 21 years old, U.S. citizens, Tennessee residents for at least three years, and district residents for at least one year.","district":"009","districtgroup":"state_house","id":261,"key":"state_house_009","lastchangeby":null,"name":null,"next_election":null,"notes":null,"officegroup":"tn_house","partisan":1,"party":null,"qualities":"- **Integrity** \u2014 Acts in the interest of constituents and the public good rather than for personal gain, and remains independent of undue influence from donors, lobbyists, and party leadership.\n- **Understanding of the constituency** \u2014 Grasps both the economic-development needs of the district and the day-to-day concerns of individual residents \u2014 safety, healthcare, education, infrastructure.\n- **Persuasion** \u2014 Engages, listens to, and persuades both fellow legislators and constituents. Can change minds and explain votes honestly.\n- **Legislative craft** \u2014 Reads, drafts, and amends statute with care. Understands how specific bill language translates to outcomes, and knows the body of law being modified.\n- **Coalition-building** \u2014 Finds common ground across partisan and factional lines, brokers compromises that hold, and forms working majorities even when consensus is hard to reach.","quantity":1,"source":null,"state":"tn","term_end":null,"term_start":null,"term_years":2,"terms":[{"current":0,"description":"","electiondate":"2022-11-08","name":"Gary Hicks","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nGary W. Hicks Jr. is a Republican member of the Tennessee House of Representatives representing District 9 [1]. He assumed office on January 12, 2016, and his current term ends on November 3, 2026 [1]. As of May 2026, he remains in office [7].\n\nHicks is seeking re-election to the Tennessee House of Representatives for District 9 in the 2026 election cycle [1]. He is listed as a candidate on the ballot for the Republican primary scheduled for August 6, 2026 [1]. His campaign office is located at 425 John Lewis Way North Suite 606 in Nashville, Tennessee, with a residence in Rogersville [4].\n\nIn his current legislative role, Hicks serves as the chairman of the House Finance, Ways, and Means Committee [6]. He also holds assignments on the Health Committee, the Insurance Committee, and the Calendar & Rules Committee [1][6]. His legislative priorities have included support for healthcare providers, earning him recognition as a 2025 Hospital Hero from the Tennessee Hospital Association [10].\n\n## Background and education\n\nGary W. Hicks Jr. was born in Rogersville, Tennessee [3][8]. He is a Baptist who self-describes as a member of Shepard's Chapel Baptist Church [6].\n\nHicks earned a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science from East Tennessee State University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Tennessee [3][4][6].\n\n## Career\n\nPrior to his legislative service, Hicks worked as a technology director [6]. He holds a Bachelor of Science in computer science from East Tennessee State University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Tennessee [3][4][6].\n\nHicks has served in the Tennessee House of Representatives since assuming office on January 12, 2016 [1][7]. He represents District 9, having succeeded Michael Harrison [3]. In the legislature, he has held leadership roles including chairman of the Finance, Ways, and Means Committee for the 114th General Assembly [13]. His committee assignments include the House Rules Committee and the Health Committee [1][6].\n\nIn recognition of his legislative work regarding healthcare policy, Hicks was named a 2025 Hospital Hero by the Tennessee Hospital Association [10].\n\n## Office history\n\nGary W. Hicks Jr. has served as a Republican member of the Tennessee House of Representatives for District 9 since assuming office on December 21, 2015 [3]. He was first elected in 2015 to succeed Michael Harrison and began his tenure in early January 2016 [1][7]. In Tennessee, state representatives serve two-year terms without term limits [2]. As of the current cycle, Hicks is running for re-election to represent District 9 in the Republican primary scheduled for August 6, 2026 [1].\n\nThroughout his tenure, Hicks has held significant leadership roles within the chamber. He previously served three terms as chairman of the House Finance, Ways and Means Subcommittee [13]. For the 114th Tennessee General Assembly, he was appointed chairman of the full House Finance, Ways, and Means Committee, a position in which he guides the passage of the state budget [13]. During the 2023-2024 legislative session, his committee assignments included Finance, Ways, and Means; Health; Insurance; and House Rules [1]. He also serves on the Calendar & Rules Committee and the Select Committee on Rules [6].\n\nIn addition to his current service, Hicks has run for re-election in previous cycles. Sources identify him as a candidate for Tennessee State House District 9 in the elections of 2022 and 2024 [4].\n\n## Legislative record and accomplishments\n\nRepresentative Gary Hicks serves as the Chairman of the House Finance, Ways, and Means Committee for the 114th Tennessee General Assembly, a role in which he guides the passage of the state budget to maintain fiscal strength [13]. His committee assignments also include the Health Committee, the Insurance Committee, and the House Rules Committee [1]. As chairman, Hicks oversees the Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee, having previously served three terms as its chairman [13].\n\nHicks has received recognition for his legislative work on healthcare policy, including being named a 2025 Hospital Hero by the Tennessee Hospital Association for his support of hospitals across the state [10]. His voting record reflects consistent conservative positions; he holds an 84% lifetime rating from the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) [9]. According to the Family Action Council of Tennessee, Hicks voted in favor of key legislation including SB 16/HB 1 (Tennessee Sports Gaming Act), SB 1257/HB 1029 (Human Life Protection Act), and SB 2196/HB 2263 (Governor Lee's Pro-Life Bill) [11].\n\n## Business interests and wealth source\n\nGary W. Hicks Jr. holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from East Tennessee State University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Tennessee [3]. Prior to his legislative career, he worked as a technology director [6]. He resides at 733 Cloud Creek Road in Rogersville, Tennessee [4].\n\nPublicly available biographical profiles do not detail specific business ownership stakes, sales of enterprises, or the primary source of personal wealth beyond his professional background in technology and legislative service [5]. Hicks has filed personal financial disclosures as part of his legislative duties, which are tracked by databases such as LegiStorm [12], but the specific contents of these disclosures regarding assets or income sources are not provided in the available reference materials.\n\n## Family\n\nGary W. Hicks Jr. is married to Laura [4]. The couple has two children, Madelyn and Caroline [3][4]. Hicks self-describes as a Baptist who attends Shepard's Chapel Baptist Church [6].\n\n## Sources\n\n[1] [Gary Hicks (Tennessee) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Gary_Hicks_(Tennessee))\n[2] [Tennessee House of Representatives District 9 - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Tennessee_House_of_Representatives_District_9)\n[3] [Gary Hicks (politician) - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Hicks_(politician))\n[4] [Gary Hicks, Jr.'s Biography](https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/100745/gary-hicks-jr)\n[5] [Vote-USA | Gary W. Hicks, Jr. | Currently Elected State Representative District 9, Tennessee](https://vote-usa.org/Intro.aspx?State=TN&Id=TNHicksGaryWJr)\n[6] [Representative Gary Hicks \u2014 Tennessee House Republican Caucus](https://tnhousegop.org/members/representative-gary-hicks/)\n[7] [State Representative Gary Hicks | BillTrack50](https://www.billtrack50.com/LegislatorDetail/21075)\n[8] [Gary Hicks - Representative from Tennessee](https://sengov.com/states/tennessee/gary-hicks/)\n[9] [Gary Hicks \u2014 State Representative from Tennessee \u2014 84% Lifetime CPAC Rating](https://www.cpac.org/bio/tn-gary-hicks)\n[10] [THA Recognizes Rep. Gary Hicks as a 2025 Hospital Hero - Tennessee Hospital Association](https://tha.com/2025/11/13/tha-recognizes-rep-gary-hicks-as-a-2025-hospital-hero/)\n[11] [Rep. Gary Hicks - Family Action Council of Tennessee](https://scorecard.factennessee.org/representatives/gary-hicks)\n[12] [Tennessee State Rep. Gary Hicks - Biography | LegiStorm](https://www.legistorm.com/person/bio/253343/Gary_W_Hicks_II.html)\n[13] [Tennessee Rep. Gary Hicks appointed chairman of key finance committee](https://wcyb.com/news/local/tennessee-rep-gary-hicks-appointed-chairman-of-key-finance-committee)","firstname":"Gary","lastname":"Hicks","token":"ul8qFmfK6L"},"term_end":"2024-12-31","term_start":"2023-01-01"}],"title":"State Representative District 9","type":"legislative","url":"https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/legislatorinfo/member.aspx?district=H9","whenchanged":"2026-06-19 17:40:13"}