Rep. Dennis Powers Uses Bogus Reason to Support His House Bill 0357

by Hayden Bradfield

Published Wednesday, April 30, 2025

While the legislative season in Tennessee for 2025 has approached a close, questions have appeared as to why Representative Dennis Powers (R-Jacksboro) stood behind a bill placing additional red tape and restrictions on rescue squads.

While Dennis Powers was presenting to the House Government Operations Committee, he voiced a brief example of two civilians in west Tennessee operating out of a boat claiming they were a rescue squad. Oddly, Dennis Powers represents Campbell County in east Tennessee, so why is he concerned about two men in a boat from west Tennessee?

Remember, Rep. Dennis Powers office was reached starting in October 2024 regarding the lack of adequate emergency services within his district. Efforts have been made to voice improvements in emergency services and to investigate a volunteer fire department in his district. Instead of taking action to correct the problem, he introduces legislation to impede efforts to establish districts to address voids in these lack of services.

Thankfully, it appears this bill has been laid to rest this legislative season, but is it for good?