The House Naming, Designating & Private Acts Committee will take up this bill on Tuesday, March 16 at 10:30 a.m.
(Last updated March 12, 2021. Check current bill status here.)
The First Amendment makes clear that the government cannot privilege one religion over another.
But state lawmakers are attempting to do just that, by once again pursuing HJR 150, a flatly unconstitutional measure that would make the Bible Tennessee’s state book.
In 2016, Governor Bill Haslam vetoed a similar measure that also clearly violated both the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and the Tennessee Constitution, just as this resolution would.
Tennesseans come from many different faith backgrounds. Our elected officials should not be in the business of placing one religion on a pedestal over another, or codifying into law the message that one Tennessean’s faith is more legitimate than another’s.
Government officials must not use their official positions to promote their own religious beliefs, much less turn their personal religious views into law.
TAKE ACTION: Please call members of the House Naming, Designating & Private Acts Committee and urge them to oppose making the Bible Tennessee’s state book.
Sample Phone Script
Hello, my name is ________________. I am calling to ask you to vote no on HJR 150. The government should not be in the business of privileging one religion over another. This resolution violates the separation of church and state and I urge you to vote no on HJR 150.
House Naming, Designating & Private Acts Committee Members’ Contact Info
Rep. David Byrd | 615-741-2190 | rep.david.byrd@capitol.tn.gov |
Rep. Glen Casada | 615-741-4389 | rep.glen.casada@capitol.tn.gov |
Rep. Barbara Cooper | 615-741-4295 | rep.barbara.cooper@capitol.tn.gov |
Rep. Clay Doggett | 615-741-7476 | rep.clay.doggett@capitol.tn.gov |
Rep. Rick Eldridge | 615-741-6877 | rep.rick.eldridge@capitol.tn.gov |
Rep. Rusty Grills | 615-741-0718 | rep.rusty.grills@capitol.tn.gov |
Rep. Gloria Johnson | 615-741-2031 | rep.gloria.johnson@capitol.tn.gov |
Rep. Tom Leatherwood | 615-741-7084 | rep.tom.leatherwood@capitol.tn.gov |
Rep. Bo Mitchell | 615-741-4317 | rep.bo.mitchell@capitol.tn.gov |
Rep. Tim Rudd | 615-741-2804 | rep.tim.rudd@capitol.tn.gov |
Rep. Jerry Sexton | 615-741-2534 | rep.jerry.sexton@capitol.tn.gov |
Rep. Paul Sherrell | 615-741-1963 | rep.paul.sherrell@capitol.tn.gov |
Rep. Ron Travis | 615-741-1450 | rep.ron.travis@capitol.tn.gov |
Rep. Todd Warner | 615-741-4170 | rep.todd.warner@capitol.tn.gov |
Rep. Terri Weaver | 615-741-2192 | rep.terri.lynn.weaver@capitol.tn.gov |
Rep. John Windle | 615-741-1260 | rep.john.windle@capitol.tn.gov |