The American Conservative Union Foundation has released its ratings for the 2017 meeting of the Tennessee General Assembly, giving the state’s Senate and House a rating of 86 and 70 percent.

The foundation called the 2017 session “an unfailing success for the Tennessee General Assembly, maintaining the state’s reputation as one of the ACUF’s top conservative scorers throughout the year.”

The organization says the state’s two chambers worked in unison to pass legislation approved by the foundation, and boosted its overall conservative score. The Senate’s average score increased by 6 percentage points this year, jumping from 80 percent in 2016 to 86 percent in 2017. The House’s score maintained its 2016 score of 70 percent.

The ratings, a portion of the comprehensive and nationwide ratings released by the ACUF, are designed by the foundation to reflect how elected officials view the role of government.

The ACUF reviewed each piece of legislation voted on in both the Tennesee Senate and House of Representatives to produce the average scores for each chamber, as well as individual scores for each sitting member.

Local Rep. Shelia Butt, R-Columbia, received a score of 77 percent for 2017 and Sen. Joey Hensley, R-Hohenwald, was given a rating of 86 percent for the year.

Tennessee lawmakers took pen to paper on various issues during the 2017 legislative session, including the sale of alcohol at performances, firearm possession and suppressors, free speech, school choice and abortion restrictions. The 2017 Tennessee General Assembly saw both chambers working closely together.

In one or both chambers, lawmakers voted to:

◆ Permit the sale and consumption of alcohol during performances at historic performing arts centers;

◆ Allow individuals to carry firearms in boats and watercraft;

◆ Allow the possession, transfer, or sale of firearm suppressors;

◆ Prohibit “free speech zones” on college campuses, which limit First Amendment rights to specific areas;

◆ Direct additional funding to state charter schools and strengthen their performance and accountability standards;

◆ Prohibit an abortion if a fetus is viable after 20 weeks (5 months).

Founded in 1964, the ACUF hails itself as the nation’s original conservative organization. Fore more than 50 years, the foundation has served as an umbrella organization representing conservative values including strong national defense and personal responsibility.