NASHVILLE (AP) - Republican state Rep. Joey Hensley says he plans to run for a new state Senate district in southern Middle Tennessee.

Hensley, a 56-year-old Hohenwald physician, noted Wednesday that the Senate seat created through the state's redistricting plans includes Lewis, Lawrence and Wayne counties, which he has represented in the House for nearly 10 years.

Hensley's decision to run for the Senate comes after the Legislature last week approved plans to draw Hensley's House seat together with fellow Republican Rep. Vance Dennis of Savannah.

Hensley has been a strong tobacco opponent in his time in office. He supported various unsuccessful efforts to ban smoking in public places before the Legislature finally passed an indoor ban in 2007.