Bill To Protect Educators From Forced Usage Of Students’ Preferred Pronouns Passes House Education Committee

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 continues to move through the state House of Representatives.

It passed the State House Education Administration Committee on March 1 and has been referred to the House Finance, Ways, and Means Committee.

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.”

Discussion of the bill became tense at times with both lawmakers and private citizens speaking out against it.

Representative Sam McKenzie (D-Knoxville-District 15) questioned whether the bill could cause a violation of Title IX and potentially cause schools to lose more than $1 billion worth of federal funding.

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a Federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination in educational programs or activities on the basis of sex.

Cochran stated that he did not think that was likely to happen.

“In 50 years of Title IX, no school system, no LEA has ever lost federal funding due to a Title IX violation,” Cochran said. “And I would argue to the exact opposite, that there’s far more court precedent in favor of protecting a teacher’s First Amendment rights than in favor of the current administration’s opinion of Title IX.”

In the end, the bill was passed with a voice vote. McKenzie asked to be recorded a “no,” along with Representatives John Gillespie (R-Memphis-District 97), Justin Jones (D-Nashville-District 52), and Harold Love, Jr. (D-Nashville-District 58).

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.

HB1269 has been referred to the House Finance, Ways, and Means Committee but no date has been set.

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.

House Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

Patsy Hazlewood (Chair) (R) – rep.patsy.hazlewood@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-2746

Charlie Baum (Vice-Chair)  (R) – rep.charlie.baum@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-6849

Jody Barrett (R) – rep.jody.barrett@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-3513

Clark Boyd (R) – rep.clark.boyd@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-7086

Scotty Campbell (R) – rep.scotty.campbell@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-2050

Karen Camper (D) – rep.karen.camper@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-1898

Mark Cochran (R) – rep.mark.cochran@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-1725

John Crawford (R) – rep.john.crawford@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-7623

Jeremy Faison (R) – rep.jeremy.faison@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-6871

Bob Freeman (D) – rep.bob.freeman@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-0709

Ron Gant (R) – rep.ron.gant@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-6890

Johnny Garrett (R) – rep.johnny.garrett@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-3893

David B. Hawk (R) – rep.david.hawk@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-7482

Gary Hicks (R) – rep.gary.hicks@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-7480

Kelly Kiesling (R) – rep.kelly.kiesling@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-6852

William Lamberth (R) – rep.william.lamberth@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-1980

Harold Love, Jr. (D) – rep.harold.love@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-3831

Susan Lynn (R) – rep.susan.lynn@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-7462

Sam McKenzie (D) – rep.sam.mckenzie@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-0768

Larry Miller (D) – rep.larry.miller@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-4453

Jerome Moon (R) – rep.jerome.moon@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-5481

Antonio Parkinson (D) – rep.antonio.parkinson@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-4575

Johnny Shaw (D) – rep.johnny.shaw@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-4538

Mike Sparks (R) – rep.mike.sparks@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-6829

Sam Whitson (R) – rep.sam.whitson@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-1864

Ryan Williams (R) – rep.ryan.williams@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-1875

Jason Zachary (R) – rep.jason.zachary@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-2264

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