Image: Rep. Mark Cochran explains his bill to the House K-12 Subcommittee. Image Credit: capitol.tn.gov
The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –
A bill that would protect teachers from being forced to refer to students by their preferred pronouns is progressing through the Tennessee House. It will be considered by the House Education Administration Committee on March 1st.
House Bill 1269 (HB1269) is sponsored by State Representative Mark Cochran (R-Englewood-District 23).
The bill, as introduced, “specifies that a teacher or other employee of a public school or LEA is not required to refer to a student using the student’s preferred pronoun if the pronoun is not consistent with the student’s biological sex; insulates a teacher or other employee of a public school or LEA from civil liability and adverse employment action for referring to a student using the pronoun that is consistent with the student’s biological sex.”
The bill was placed on the House K-12 Subcommittee calendar on February 21. It passed ayes prevailing in a voice vote. Representative Sam McKenzie (D-Knoxville-District 15) asked to be recorded as voting ‘No.”
The bill is much like one that Cochran ran last year that stalled out in the Senate.
When asked last year why he felt it was a bad thing to use a person’s preferred pronouns, Cochran replied, “Tolerance and respect go both ways, and teachers should not be forced to use a pronoun or express a message that violates their core beliefs.”
The companion Senate Bill 0466 (SB0466) is sponsored by Senator Paul Rose (R-Lauderdale/Shelby/Tipton County-District 32). It was passed on first and second consideration and was referred to the Senate Education Committee on January 30. It has yet to be placed on the calendar.
The bill is set to be heard by the House Education Administration Committee on March 1st.
If you are in favor of this bill and would like to express your support, please contact the members of the committee as listed below prior to that March 1 meeting.
House Education Administration Committee
Mark White (R) (Chair) – rep.mark.white@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-4415
William Slater (R) (Vice-Chair) – rep.william.slater@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-2534
Charlie Baum (R) – rep.charlie.baum@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-6849
Gino Bulso (R) – rep.gino.bulso@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-6808
Ed Butler (R) – rep.ed.butler@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-1260
Scott Cepicky (R) – rep.scott.cepicky@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-3005
Monty Fritts (R) – rep.monty.fritts@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-7658
Ron Gant (R) – rep.ron.gant@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-6890
John Gillespie (R) – rep.john.gillespie@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-8201
Kirk Haston (R) – rep.kirk.haston@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-0750
Chris Hurt (R) – rep.chris.hurt@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-2134
Justin Jones (D) – rep.justin.jones@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-2184
Justin Lafferty (R) – rep.justin.lafferty@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-4110
Harold Love, Jr. (D) – rep.harold.love@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-3831
Sam McKenzie (D) – rep.sam.mckenzie@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-0768
Antonio Parkinson (D) – rep.antonio.parkinson@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-4575
John Ragan (R) – rep.john.ragan@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-4400
Bryan Richey (R) – rep.bryan.richey@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-3560
Robert Stevens (R) – rep.robert.stevens@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-3830
Todd Warner (R) – rep.todd.warner@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-4170
About the Author: Jason Vaughn, Media Coordinator for The Tennessee Conservative ~ Jason previously worked for a legacy publishing company based in Crossville, TN in a variety of roles through his career. Most recently, he served as Deputy Director for their flagship publication. Prior, he was a freelance journalist writing articles that appeared in the Herald Citizen, the Crossville Chronicle and The Oracle among others. He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor’s in English-Journalism, with minors in Broadcast Journalism and History. Contact Jason at news@TennesseeConservativeNews.com
