{"county":null,"description":"The Tennessee State Senate is the upper chamber of the state legislature, with 33 members elected from single-member districts to four-year terms. Seats are staggered so roughly half are on the ballot every two years. Senators pass state laws, approve the state budget, confirm gubernatorial appointments, and \u2014 together with the House \u2014 propose constitutional amendments. Candidates must be at least 30 years old, U.S. citizens, Tennessee residents for at least seven years, and district residents for at least one year.","district":"028","districtgroup":"state_senate","id":337,"key":"state_senate_028","lastchangeby":null,"name":null,"next_election":null,"notes":null,"officegroup":"tn_senate","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":4,"terms":[{"current":0,"description":"","electiondate":"2020-11-03","name":"Joey Hensley","person":{"biography":"# Biography of Senator Joey Hensley\n\n## Education\n- A.S., Columbia State Community College\n- B.S., University of Memphis\n- M.D., University of Tennessee-Memphis\n\n## Family\n- Children; son Joseph, daughters Jenna and Jada\n\n## Career\n- Physician\n\n## Committees\n- 2nd Vice-Chairperson, [Finance, Ways and Means Committee](https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/CommitteeInfo/SenateComm.aspx?ga=113&committeeKey=650000)\n- Member, [Council on Pensions](https://capitol.tn.gov/joint/committees/pension-ins.html)\n- Member, [Education Committee](https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/CommitteeInfo/SenateComm.aspx?ga=113&committeeKey=630000)\n- Member, [Health and Welfare Committee](https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/CommitteeInfo/SenateComm.aspx?ga=113&committeeKey=660000)\n\n## Community Involvement\n- Senate member of the 108th through 113th General Assemblies\n- House member of the 103rd through 107th General Assemblies\n- Fellow, American Academy of Family Physicians\n- Tennessee Academy of Family Physicians\n- American Medical Association\n- Tennessee Medical Association\n- Member and Former Chairman, Lewis County School Board\n- Former member, Lewis County Commission\n- Lewis County Medical Examiner\n- Lewis County Health Council\n- Founding Member, Lewis County Education Foundation\n- Member, Lewis County Chamber of Commerce\n- Member, Lewis County Youth Council\n\n## External Links\n[https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/legislatorinfo/member.aspx?district=S28](https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/legislatorinfo/member.aspx?district=S28)","firstname":"Joey","lastname":"Hensley","token":"xNrC0Z2b7Y"},"term_end":"2024-11-05","term_start":"2020-11-03"}],"title":"State Senate District 28","type":"legislative","url":null,"whenchanged":"2026-06-19 17:40:13"}