HB0326 • 2026

Holidays and Days of Special Observance

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 15, Chapter 2, relative to days of special observance.

Children Education

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor: Bulso, Campbell
Last action: 2025-02-27
Official status: Received from House, Passed on First Consideration
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide specific details about the recognition of the founding of Nashville's first charter school or the exact nature of the honors given to Sister Sandra Olivia Smithson for her work in education and religious service.

Sister Sandra Smithson Day

This bill designates March 3 as Sister Sandra Smithson Day in Tennessee to honor her contributions to education and religious service.

What This Bill Does

Designates March 3 of each year as 'Sister Sandra Smithson Day'.

Who It Names or Affects

People living in Tennessee who are aware of Sister Sandra Smithson’s contributions.

Terms To Know

Legal holiday: A day recognized by law where businesses and government offices may be closed. March 3 is not a legal holiday under this bill.

Limits and Unknowns

March 3 is observed as Sister Sandra Smithson Day but it does not affect business closures or public holidays.
The bill does not provide funding for any activities related to the day.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HA0004

Amendment 1-0 to HB0326

Plain English: The amendment adds March 3 of every year as 'Sister Sandra Smithson Day' to honor her contributions to education in Tennessee.

Adds March 3 each year as 'Sister Sandra Smithson Day'.
Honors Sister Sandra Smithson for her work with underprivileged children and founding Nashville's first charter school.

The day is not a legal holiday, so it does not affect regular business operations.

Bill History

2025-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly
Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate State and Local Government Committee
2025-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/11/2025
2025-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly
Action deferred in Senate State and Local Government Committee to 3/11/2025
2025-02-27 Tennessee General Assembly
Received from House, Passed on First Consideration
2025-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly
Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.
2025-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/4/2025
2025-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly
Action deferred in Senate State and Local Government Committee to 3/4/2025
2025-02-24 Tennessee General Assembly
Passed H., as am., Ayes 96, Nays 0, PNV 0
2025-02-24 Tennessee General Assembly
Sponsor(s) Added.
2025-02-24 Tennessee General Assembly
H. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA0004)
2025-02-20 Tennessee General Assembly
H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 2/24/2025
2025-02-19 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 2/20/2025
2025-02-18 Tennessee General Assembly
Sponsor(s) Added.
2025-02-18 Tennessee General Assembly
Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee
2025-02-18 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 2/25/2025
2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. Education Committee for 2/18/2025
2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate State and Local Government Committee
2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly
Rec. for pass; ref to Education Committee
2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly
Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. Naming & Designating Committee for 2/10/2025
2025-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly
P2C, ref. to Naming & Designating Committee - Education Committee
2025-01-31 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction
2025-01-27 Tennessee General Assembly
Intro., P1C.
2025-01-23 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

ON FEBRUARY 24, 2025, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 326, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #1
revises and adds additional whereas clauses to the preamble about Sister Sandra Smithson.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SENATE BILL 631
By Campbell

HOUSE BILL 326
By Bulso

HB0326
002038
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 15,
Chapter 2, relative to days of special observance.

WHEREAS, Sister Sandra Olivia Smithson was an educator, visionary, and advocate for
low-income families through education; and
WHEREAS, Sister Smithson spent sixty-seven years of her life in religious service,
working in missions in both the United States and South America; and
WHEREAS, Sister Smithson returned to her hometown of Nashville in the 1980s and
saw a great and critical need to better the lives of children by creating educational opportunities;
and
WHEREAS, Sister Smithson founded Nashville's first charter school, Smithson
Craighead Academy; now, therefore,
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 15, Chapter 2, is amended by adding
the following as a new section:
March 3 of every year is observed as "Sister Sandra Smithson Day," to honor the
immeasurable impact Sister Smithson had on this state by bettering the lives of children
in need through the power of improved educational opportunities and the founding of
Nashville's first charter school. This day is not a legal holiday as defined in § 15-1-101.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.