Bill Amending State Pronoun Law To Protect Individuals From Being Coerced Into Using Preferred Honorifics To Be Heard In Tennessee Subcommittee

Image Credit: capitol.tn.gov & Canva

The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –

A bill amending current state pronoun law to protect individuals from being coerced into using preferred honorifics will be heard in the House Public Service Subcommittee on Wednesday, February 11th, 2026.

Sponsored by Representative Aron Maberry (R-Clarksville-District 68), House Bill 1666 (HB1666) would amend the Tennessee’s pronoun law to protect individuals from being coerced into using preferred honorifics in addition to preferred names and pronouns.

In 2023, lawmakers passed legislation protecting the right of educators to choose not to refer to students by preferred pronouns in place of the pronouns that match a student’s biological gender.

Republican lawmakers followed up with another bill last year to expand these protections to students as well.

HB1666 would amend the law again to protect the rights of individuals to refuse to call a biological male “Miss,” “Ma’am” or “Mrs.” or a biological female “Mr.” or “Sir.”

Contact information for the members of the House Public Service Subcommittee is listed below.

Rep.iris.rudder@capitol.tn.gov

Rep.rick.eldridge@capitol.tn.gov

rep.michael.lankford@capitol.tn.gov

Rep.jake.mccalmon@capitol.tn.gov

Rep.gabby.salinas@capitol.tn.gov

Rep.todd.warner@capitol.tn.gov

Rep.iris.rudder@capitol.tn.gov; rep.rick.eldridge@capitol.tn.gov; rep.michael.lankford@capitol.tn.gov; rep.jake.mccalmon@capitol.tn.gov; rep.gabby.salinas@capitol.tn.gov; rep.todd.warner@capitol.tn.gov

About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.