The “Tennessee Religious Freedom Act” Is Scheduled To Be Heard In The House Education Committee On Tuesday, March 3rd, And In The Senate Education Committee On Wednesday, March 4th While The “Protecting Religious Liberty And Expression In Public Schools Act” Is On Notice In Both The House Judiciary Committee And The Senate Education Committee On Wednesday.
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The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –
The “Tennessee Religious Freedom Act” is scheduled to be heard in the House Education Committee on Tuesday, March 3rd, and in the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday, March 4th.
House Bill 1834 (HB1834), sponsored by Representative Rick Eldridge (R-Morristown-District 10) and Senate Bill 1957 (SB1957), sponsored by Senator Mark Pody (R-Lebanon-District 17) authorizes a local board of education meeting to open with a prayer led by a school board member “as long as the prayer does not require participation of any person in attendance at the meeting and no person is harassed or coerced to participate in the prayer.”
The “Protecting Religious Liberty and Expression in Public Schools Act” is on notice in both the House Judiciary Committee and the Senate Education Committee for Wednesday.
House Bill 1491 (HB1491), sponsored by Representative Gino Bulso (R-Brentwood-District 61) and Senate Bill 1714 (SB1714), sponsored by Senator Joey Hensley (R-Hohenwald-District 28) would allow for voluntary Bible studies and prayer times in public schools.
By requiring public schools to teach the Bible as literature and in a historical context, the bill seeks to remedy what Bulso believes to be an incorrect interpretation of the idea of separation of church and state. –
Finally, a bill that would authorize local school boards and governing bodies of charter schools to showcase foundational U.S. documents, as well as the Ten Commandments is scheduled to be heard in the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday also.
Senate Bill 0303 (SB0303), sponsored by Senator Mark Pody (R-Lebanon-District 17) was carried over from last year’s legislative session.
The companion House Bill 0047 (HB0047) sponsored by Representative Michael Hale (R-Smithville-District 40) has already passed in the House.
Contact information for members of the committees can be found below:
House Education Committee – HB1834 to be heard Tuesday, March 3.
HB1834 authorizes a local board of education meeting to open with a prayer led by a school board member.
Rep.mark.white@capitol.tn.gov; rep.kevin.raper@capitol.tn.gov; rep.jody.barrett@capitol.tn.gov; rep.charlie.baum@capitol.tn.gov; rep.gino.bulso@capitol.tn.gov; rep.scott.cepicky@capitol.tn.gov; rep.ronnie.glynn@capitol.tn.gov; rep.yusuf.hakeem@capitol.tn.gov; rep.kirk.haston@capitol.tn.gov; rep.tim.hicks@capitol.tn.gov; rep.chris.hurt@capitol.tn.gov; rep.gloria.johnson@capitol.tn.gov; rep.renea.jones@capitol.tn.gov; rep.aron.maberry@capitol.tn.gov; rep.sam.mckenzie@capitol.tn.gov; rep.jay.reedy@capitol.tn.gov; rep.lee.reeves@capitol.tn.gov; rep.william.slater@capitol.tn.gov; rep.robert.stevens@capitol.tn.gov
Senate Education Committee -SB1957, SB1714 & SB0303 to be heard Wednesday, March 4.
SB1957 authorizes a local board of education meeting to open with a prayer led by a school board member.
SB1714 allows for voluntary Bible studies and prayer times in public schools.
SB0303 authorizes local school boards and governing bodies of charter schools to showcase foundational U.S. documents, as well as the Ten Commandments.
Sen.dawn.white@capitol.tn.gov; sen.bill.powers@capitol.tn.gov; sen.raumesh.akbari@capitol.tn.gov; sen.rusty.crowe@capitol.tn.gov; sen.ferrell.haile@capitol.tn.gov; sen.joey.hensley@capitol.tn.gov; sen.adam.lowe@capitol.tn.gov; sen.mark.pody@capitol.tn.gov; sen.kerry.roberts@capitol.tn.gov
House Judiciary Committee – HB1491 to be heard Wednesday, March 4.
HB1491 allows for voluntary Bible studies and prayer times in public schools.
Rep.andrew.farmer@capitol.tn.gov; rep.elaine.davis@capitol.tn.gov; rep.rebecca.alexander@capitol.tn.gov; rep.fred.atchley@capitol.tn.gov; rep.gino.bulso@capitol.tn.gov; rep.clay.doggett@capitol.tn.gov; rep.rick.eldridge@capitol.tn.gov; rep.johnny.garrett@capitol.tn.gov; Rep.ga.hardaway@capitol.tn.gov; rep.torrey.harris@capitol.tn.gov; rep.gloria.johnson@capitol.tn.gov; rep.kelly.keisling@capitol.tn.gov; rep.william.lamberth@capitol.tn.gov; rep.mary.littleton@capitol.tn.gov; rep.jason.powell@capitol.tn.gov; rep.lowell.russell@capitol.tn.gov; rep.gabby.salinas@capitol.tn.gov; rep.rick.scarbrough@capitol.tn.gov; rep.tom.stinnett@capitol.tn.gov; rep.chris.todd@capitol.tn.gov; rep.joe.towns@capitol.tn.gov; rep.ron.travis@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.
