Image Credit: TN General Assembly
The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –
Legislation creating three new holidays in the state of Tennessee honoring the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the unalienable rights contained therein passed the full Senate 26-6 on Wednesday, March 26.
SB0503, sponsored by Sen. Paul Rose (R-Lauderdale-District 32), selected three months with historical significance in American or Tennessee history and ties to one of the Declaration’s core tenets.
June would be designated “Celebration of Life” month, “because it was on June 24, 2022, that the Supreme Court of the United States decided the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization,” referring to legal case that overturned the Roe v Wade case of 1973, which enshrined abortion as a federal right.
July would become “Celebration of Liberty” month, “because it was on July 4, 1776, that America gained its independence.”
And August would be known as “Celebration of the Pursuit of Happiness” month, “because it is during August when school children across Tennessee return to school to prepare for their futures.”
On the Senate floor, Sen. Rose specified the holiday designations would only apply to the 2026 official state calendar, the year of the 250th anniversary.
Democrat Senator Jeff Yarbro raised objection to the bill over the “Celebration of Life” provision, claiming it was alienating and too political.
“When I first saw this legislation just by its titles, I was actually pretty excited about it. The 250th anniversary of the founding of the country is exciting news and I think most of us know that we desperately in this time need things that can actually bring the country together, maybe focus on the things we share in common, like the common commitments that are in the Declaration of Independence. I was disappointed in seeing that even this statement about something so basic and so fundamental about what it means to be an American gets linked to something that is, at the end of the day, pretty deeply partisan and a pretty deeply divisive issue that’s frankly not supported by the majority of Tennesseans, much less majority of the country. I do think that it’s a bigger problem when we start defining the things about what it means to be an American in ways that are divisive,” he stated.
There was no further discussion or comment on the bill and the body moved to the vote.
The legislation passed 26-6 along party lines with all six Senate Democrats voting against, presumably in protest to the “Celebration of Life Month”.
Senators voting “Yes” were Bailey, Bowling, Briggs, Crowe, Gardenhire, Haile, Harshbarger, Hatcher, Jackson, Johnson, Lowe, Massey, Pody, Powers, Reeves, Roberts, Rose, Seal, Southerland, Stevens, Taylor, Walley, Watson, White, Yager, and Speaker McNally.
Those voting “No” were Senators Akbari, Campbell, Kyle, Lamar, Oliver, and Yarbro.
The House companion, HB0327, is carried by Rep. Gino Bulso (R-Brentwood-District 61) and is scheduled for the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, April 2.
To contact the members of this committee, please use the information below:
HB0327/SB0503 Summary: As introduced, designates the month of June as “Celebration of Life” month, the month of July as “Celebration of Liberty” month, and the month of August as “Celebration of the Pursuit of Happiness” month in Tennessee. – Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 1, Part 4.
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.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.dennis.powers@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
Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
