Lance Loftis
Election Information:
Party:
Democrat
District:
35
Office:
State House or Assembly
Contact Information:
https://lanceloftisfortn.com/
Survey Responses:
S = Support
O = Oppose
NR = No Response
O = Oppose
NR = No Response
|
Life
|
S | O | NR |
|---|---|---|---|
1.Protecting Life: Protecting the right to life of an unborn baby with a beating heart. |
X | ||
2.Taxpayer Funded Abortion: Allowing taxpayer dollars to fund organizations that provide abortion. |
X | ||
3.Physician-Assisted Suicide: Allowing voluntary physician-assisted suicide for terminally ill patients. |
X |
|
First Amendment
|
S | O | NR |
|---|---|---|---|
4.Conscience Rights for Professionals: Prohibiting the government from denying required licensure or certification to individuals because of their religious or political beliefs. |
X | ||
5.Conscience Rights for Faith-Based Organizations: Exempting faith-based organizations (e.g. adoption/foster care providers, private schools) from regulations that cause them to violate their sincerely held religious beliefs. |
X | ||
6.Prohibiting De-Banking/Insuring Based on Beliefs: Prohibiting financial institutions from shutting a customer’s bank account or canceling their insurance because of their religious or political views. |
X |
Candidate's Comments:
I believe government should not deny professional licenses or certifications solely because of an individual's sincerely held religious or political beliefs. Licensing decisions should be based on a person's qualifications, competence, ethical conduct, and ability to perform the duties of their profession while complying with applicable laws. I support protecting the religious freedom of faith-based organizations while also ensuring that children, families, and the public are treated fairly and safely. Religious organizations should be able to operate according to their sincerely held beliefs, provided those beliefs do not jeopardize public safety or violate the fundamental rights of others. I believe individuals should not lose access to essential financial or insurance services solely because of their lawful religious or political beliefs. Decisions to close accounts or deny services should be based on objective business, legal, or safety concerns—not viewpoint discrimination.
|
Family
|
S | O | NR |
|---|---|---|---|
7.Protecting Kids from Social Media: Requiring platforms to by default prevent underage accounts without parental permission, preserve parents' authority when access is allowed, and remove addictive design features and data exploitation from underage accounts. |
X | ||
8(a).Parental Rights: Allowing parents to obtain professional counseling for a child struggling with gender confusion to help the child find comfort with his or her biological sex. |
X | ||
8(b).Parental Rights: Protecting parents from losing custody of their child solely because they treat their child consistent with his or her biological sex. |
X |
Candidate's Comments:
I support giving parents the primary role in decisions involving their children's online activity. Social media companies should take stronger steps to protect minors by requiring parental involvement where appropriate, limiting addictive design features, and restricting the collection and exploitation of children's personal data. I believe families should have access to qualified, licensed mental health professionals without the government dictating the outcome of counseling. At the same time, a child's age and maturity matter. Younger children generally require greater parental involvement in medical and counseling decisions, while older teenagers who demonstrate the ability to make informed decisions should have an appropriate voice in their care. My priority is ensuring that each child receives compassionate, evidence-informed care that supports their overall well-being while respecting the important roles of both parents and the child. I do not believe a parent should lose custody solely because they hold and practice a good-faith belief regarding their child's biological sex. Custody decisions should always be based on the child's safety, health, and overall welfare, not solely on differences in beliefs or viewpoints.
|
Education
|
S | O | NR |
|---|---|---|---|
9.School Choice: Allowing the use of tax credits, vouchers, and/or education savings accounts to cover the cost of children attending the school of their parents’ choice, including private religious schools. |
X | ||
10.Free Speech at School: Protecting teachers and students from being forced to refer to a person by inaccurate pronouns that do not align with the person’s sex. |
X | ||
11.School Healthcare Disclosure to Parents: Requiring schools to inform parents of any mental, physical, or emotional health information and treatment that a child is receiving at school. |
X | ||
12.Transparency in School Curriculum & Activities: Giving parents access to the curriculum, presentations, and activities that their children are learning in school and allowing them to opt their children out of school extra-curricular activities, presentations, or specific lessons to which the parents object. |
X |
Candidate's Comments:
I support giving parents quality educational choices, but I do not support diverting taxpayer dollars from public schools through vouchers or education savings accounts. Tennessee's public schools are already underfunded, and I believe we should invest in improving neighborhood public schools, increasing teacher pay, and providing every student with a high-quality education regardless of where they live. I believe respect should be shown to every individual, regardless of their beliefs or identity. At the same time, I do not believe the government should compel teachers or students to use specific language that conflicts with their sincerely held beliefs. I encourage respectful dialogue and mutual understanding rather than government mandates. Parents play the primary role in raising their children and should generally be informed about significant mental, physical, and emotional health matters involving their child. Schools should work in partnership with parents while recognizing that there may be limited exceptions when disclosure would place a child at immediate risk of abuse or serious harm, consistent with existing child protection laws. I believe parents should have full access to their children's curriculum, instructional materials, and school activities. Transparency builds trust between schools and families, and that transparency should go both ways. Parents should have the opportunity to request that their child be excused from specific lessons or activities when they have a legitimate educational, religious, medical, or sincerely held moral concern. Those requests should include a reason and be reviewed through a fair, consistent process that respects both parental rights and the school's responsibility to provide a complete education.
|
Health and Welfare
|
S | O | NR |
|---|---|---|---|
13.Medical Rights of Conscience: Protecting health care workers from losing their jobs if they decline to participate in a procedure or treatment that violates their personal beliefs and conscience. |
X | ||
14.Women’s Privacy: Preventing males who identify as female from entering sex-separated spaces intended for females, such as showers, locker rooms, bathrooms, dormitories, women’s shelters, prisons, etc. |
X | ||
15.Protecting Pregnancy Centers: Ensuring pregnancy centers that provide life-affirming support to women and their families are not targeted or penalized by government officials. |
X |
Candidate's Comments:
1. Protecting the right to life of an unborn baby with a beating heart – Support I believe every human life has value, including the unborn. I support protecting unborn children while recognizing that tragic circumstances can occur. I believe there should be limited exceptions when the life of the mother is in serious danger and in cases such as rape or incest. I also believe we have a responsibility to support mothers, children, and families through access to quality healthcare, adoption resources, and community support. 2. Allowing taxpayer dollars to fund organizations that provide abortion – Oppose I do not believe taxpayer dollars should directly fund organizations whose primary mission includes providing abortions. At the same time, I support ensuring that women have access to comprehensive healthcare services through providers that focus on preventive care, prenatal care, cancer screenings, and other essential medical services. 3. Allowing voluntary physician-assisted suicide for terminally ill patients – Support I support allowing voluntary physician-assisted death for terminally ill adults under strict legal and medical safeguards. The patient must be mentally competent, acting voluntarily, and fully informed of all available treatment and palliative care options. The decision should be subject to multiple physician evaluations, waiting periods, and a clearly defined legal process to protect vulnerable individuals from coercion or abuse. My support is rooted in respecting personal autonomy while ensuring strong safeguards and accountability.