HB 47 Tennessee House · 114th Regular Session (2025-2026)

Education - As enacted, authorizes local boards of education and public charter school governing bodies to allow schools in the LEA or the public charter school, as applicable, to display the Ten Commandments, the first sentence of the second paragraph of the preamble to the Declaration of Independence, and the preamble to the United States Constitution in a prominent location in a school building. - Amends TCA Title 49.

HB 47 allows Tennessee public schools and charter schools to display specific historical documents - including the Ten Commandments, U.S. Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and Tennessee Constitution - in prominent school areas like entryways or cafeterias. It permits local school boards to choose which documents to display, their size, and placement, while encouraging free wall posters or printed materials. The bill directly affects all public schools in Tennessee by authorizing this display for educational purposes related to historical significance. It does not require schools to display any documents, nor does it alter curriculum content. The bill is currently pending in the Education Committee.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2026
House Passage
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
May 2026
Signed into Law
May 2026
Introduced Jan 14, 2025 Signed May 7, 2026
Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
50
Key actions
21
Committee
15
May 7, 2026
Signed into law
Signed by Governor.
lower
May 5, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by Senate Speaker
upper
Apr 30, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by H. Speaker
lower
Apr 23, 2026
Lower · Passed
Conf. comm. report adopted, Ayes 70, Nays 17 PNV 0
lower
Apr 23, 2026
Lower · Passed
Conference Committee report adopted, Ayes 27, Nayes 5
lower
Apr 16, 2026
Lower · Passed
Conference Committee appointed. (Pody, Walley, Oliver)
lower
Apr 2, 2026
Lower · Passed
H. nonconcurred in S. am. no. 1 HB0047
lower
Mar 19, 2026
Lower · Passed
Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0682)
lower
Mar 19, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 27, Nays 6
upper
Feb 19, 2026
Introduced
Received from House, Passed on First Consideration
lower
Feb 12, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed H., Ayes 75, Nays 17, PNV 1
lower
Feb 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 2/5/2026
lower
Feb 3, 2026
Lower · Passed
Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee
lower
Jan 28, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Education Committee for 2/3/2026
lower
Jan 21, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Education Committee for 1/27/2026
lower
Apr 2, 2025
Lower · Passed
Action def. in Education Committee to Second Calendar of 2026
lower
Mar 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Education Committee for 4/1/2025
lower
Mar 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
Action def. in Education Committee to 4/1/2025
lower
Mar 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Education Committee for 3/25/2025
lower
Mar 18, 2025
Lower · Passed
Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Education Committee
lower
Mar 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Education Administration Subcommittee for 3/18/2025
lower
Jan 28, 2025
Committee
Assigned to s/c Education Administration Subcommittee
lower
Jan 16, 2025
Committee
Ref. to Education Committee
lower
Jan 15, 2025
Lower · Passed
P2C held on desk, pending appointment of Standing Committees
lower
Jan 14, 2025
Introduced
Intro., P1C.
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Michael Hale
Michael Hale
RRepublican
TN
40