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SB1957 • 2026
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, relative to education.
The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.
Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.
Abstract summarizes the bill.
Effective date(s) 07/01/2026
Pub. Ch. 710
Comp. became Pub. Ch. 710
Signed by Governor.
Transmitted to Governor for action.
Signed by H. Speaker
Signed by Senate Speaker
Enrolled and ready for signatures
Passed H., Ayes 86, Nays 0, PNV 7
Subst. for comp. HB.
Sponsor(s) Added.
Comp. SB subst.
H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 3/30/2026
Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 3/26/2026
Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee
Placed on cal. Education Committee for 3/24/2026
Action def. in Education Committee to 3/24/2026
Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.
Placed on cal. Education Committee for 3/17/2026
Sponsor(s) Added.
Action def. in Education Committee to 3/17/2026
Engrossed; ready for transmission to House
Sponsor(s) Added.
Passed Senate, Ayes 32, Nays 0
Placed on Senate Consent Calendar 2 for 3/9/2026
Sponsor(s) Added.
Placed on cal. Education Committee for 3/10/2026
Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee
Placed on cal. Education Committee for 3/10/2026
Action def. in Education Committee to 3/10/2026
Placed on Senate Education Committee calendar for 3/4/2026
Placed on cal. Education Committee for 3/3/2026
Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Education Committee
Sponsor(s) Added.
Placed on s/c cal Education Administration Subcommittee for 2/17/2026
Sponsor(s) Added.
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Education Committee
Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
Assigned to s/c Education Administration Subcommittee
P2C, ref. to Education Committee
Filed for introduction
Intro., P1C.
Filed for introduction
Abstract summarizes the bill.
HOUSE BILL 1834 By Eldridge SENATE BILL 1957 By Pody SB1957 011682 - 1 - AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, relative to education. WHEREAS, the framers of the United States Constitution intended for citizens to have the right to freely exercise their religious beliefs; and WHEREAS, the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution does not specifically exclude school board members from exercising religious expression; and WHEREAS, concerning religious exercise within public education, the United States Supreme Court abandoned Lemon v. Kurtzman, 403 U.S. 602 (1971) and its endorsement test in establishment of religion cases and instructed that the Establishment Clause must be interpreted by reference to historical practices and understandings in Kennedy v. Bremerton School District, 597 U.S. 507 (2022); and WHEREAS, in Town of Greece v. Galloway, 572 U.S. 565 (2014), a majority of the Supreme Court held that sectarian prayers at legislative meetings are permissible under the United States Constitution, stating, "Legislative bodies do not engage in impermissible coercion merely by exposing constituents to prayer they would rather not hear and in which they need not participate"; and WHEREAS, opinions vary among school districts as to whether a personal prayer may be recited by a school board member during a school board meeting that is open to the public; and WHEREAS, the Tennessee General Assembly takes a firm position on religious freedom by codifying the right of local board of education members to exercise their religious beliefs by reciting a non-coercive personal prayer to open a school board meeting; now, therefore, - 2 - 011682 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE: SECTION 1. This act is known and may be cited as the "Tennessee Religious Freedom Act." SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-2-203(b), is amended by adding the following as a new subdivision: (17) Open a meeting of the board of education with a prayer led by a member of the board of education; provided, that: (A) The prayer does not require participation of any person in attendance at the meeting; and (B) No person is harassed or coerced to participate in the prayer. SECTION 3. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.