Tennessee House Bill HB0047

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 12/19/24
• Refer: 1/16/25
• Refer: 3/18/25
• Refer: 2/3/26
• Engrossed: 2/12/26
• Enrolled: 4/30/26
• Passed: 5/7/26
• Chaptered: 5/14/26

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, relative to the display of historical documents.

Summary

HB0047 authorizes local boards of education and public charter school governing bodies to permit displays of the Ten Commandments, the first sentence of the second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence, and the preamble to the U.S. Constitution in prominent locations within school buildings. The stated purpose is educational: to teach students about the historical significance of these documents and their role in shaping the common cultural heritage of the school district, Tennessee, and the United States. If a school chooses to display the Ten Commandments, the bill prescribes the exact text that must be used. It also encourages fraternal organizations and other individuals to donate funds or materials for the displays. Schools retain discretion over the size and placement of the display, but the bill requires that it be in a prominent location, such as an entryway, cafeteria, or common area, and that the text be at least 26-point font and easy for students to see and read. The act takes effect July 1, 2026, and applies beginning with the 2026-2027 school year.

Impact

The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 49, Chapter 6, Part 20 by adding a new section governing historical-document displays in public schools and public charter schools. It does not mandate displays statewide, but it expressly permits local school authorities to authorize them and sets content and formatting requirements if they do. The measure affects local boards of education, charter school governing bodies, and school facilities by creating a new statutory framework for religious and historical displays in schools.

Sentiment

The bill appears to have had generally favorable support among legislative majorities, advancing through committee and floor votes with clear yes margins at multiple stages. Its passage and final approval indicate strong backing from supporters who framed it as a restoration of historical and cultural recognition in schools. At the same time, the recorded nays show that a meaningful minority opposed the measure throughout the process.

Contention

The main point of contention is the inclusion of the Ten Commandments in public school displays, which critics are likely to view as a religious endorsement issue, while supporters characterize it as a historical and cultural display. The bill’s findings explicitly reference the decline of the Lemon test and the Supreme Court’s Kennedy v. Bremerton decision, signaling that constitutional concerns about church-state separation were central to the debate. Opposition likely focused on the appropriateness of religious text in schools and the risk of litigation, while supporters emphasized history, tradition, and educational value.