NEWBERN, Tenn. – State Rep. Rusty Grills, R-Newbern, has officially kicked off his re-election campaign to serve the 77th District of the Tennessee House of Representatives.
“It has been my distinct honor and privilege to serve the residents of North West Tennessee for the last five years,” Grills said. “Tennessee leads because Republicans continue to stand strong to preserve the common-sense conservative values that are important to the people of this state. With your support, I will help ensure our economy continues to thrive, personal freedoms are protected and opportunities are available for all Tennesseans to be successful.”
Grills, a ninth-generation farmer born and raised in Newbern, is proudly serving his third term in the Tennessee General Assembly. He was elected in 2019 to represent House District 77, which includes Dyer, Lake, and part of Obion counties.
A proven leader with a solid conservative record, Grills serves as chair of the House Agriculture and Natural Resource Subcommittee. The committee is empowered with oversight of all laws pertaining to energy, forestry, natural resources, conservation, games and fish as well as mines and minerals.
Grills has been a strong advocate for his district. He had guided the passage of legislative initiatives to improve infrastructure and economic growth to bring higher-paying jobs to North West Tennessee. He strongly supported legislation that expanded broadband internet services to underserved rural areas, improved roads, and worked to expand health care in rural communities. He has secured over $30 million for various economic development initiatives for Dyer, Lake, and Obion counties. These include broadband expansion, community development grants, infrastructure and site development, and downtown and historic revitalization projects.
As a member of the Transportation Committee, Grills was instrumental in legislative efforts to secure a $3.3 billion investment to modernize Tennessee’s infrastructure and address critical transportation needs in rural Tennessee. To protect public safety, Grills continues to fight for funding to pave and repair neglected roads throughout North West Tennessee.
Among his legislative accomplishments, Grills led the fight against illegal immigration in Tennessee after witnessing the crisis firsthand at the Texas border. He guided the passage of a new lawthataids and supports law enforcement at every level to communicate and cooperate with ICE. It ensures law enforcement notifies the appropriate federal authorities whenever someone they come into contact with is found to be in the country illegally.
Grills passed the Second Amendment Financial Privacy Act, a new law prohibiting financial institutions like banks and credit card companies from requiring a specific merchant category code (MCC) to identify transactions at firearms retailers in the state.
Another new law Grills passed addresses a dangerous trend in which minors are being recruited by adults to steal or break into businesses, homes, and cars. The new law aims to deter and redirect at-risk young people so they do not become repeat violent offenders in the future.
Grills supported $8.5 billion this year for major investments in education, including early childhood literacy, interventions, and expansion of vocational and technical training. He and his Republican colleagues have invested more than $2 billion new dollars in education since 2020.
He led efforts to improve safety in public schools, including passing a bill that enhanced penalties for communicating a threat of mass violence against a K-12 school or college campus. He voted to prohibit curriculum promoting racist and divisive concepts in Tennessee. Grills worked to secure $21.5 million for environmental and conservation initiatives.
He voted to protect the competitive balance of girls’ sports by ensuring boys are not able to displace girls in competitive events that could deny female athletes’ victories, opportunities, or scholarships. Grills co-sponsored legislation banning radical sex-changing procedures and treatments on minors.
“I am incredibly proud of the example Tennessee continues to set regarding fiscal responsibility and good conservative governance. I look forward to working to advance the best interests of the people of House District 77 and to ensure Tennessee’s future remains prosperous for everyone. I appreciate your support and humbly ask for your vote again in 2024.”
