PRIA Logo™
TennesseeSB 0298114th General Assembly (2025-2026)SenateWALLET

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 6, relative to the nonsectarian, nonreligious study of the Bible.

Sponsored By: Kerry Roberts (Republican)

Became Law

Education, Curriculum

Your PRIA Score

Score Hidden

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to start

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Bible elective added for high schools statewide

Beginning July 1, 2025, the State Board of Education includes an elective, nonsectarian, nonreligious Bible study on the approved high school course list. Public charter schools follow the same rules as districts for these classes. By July 1 each year, the state education department must send written notice to every district and charter that they can offer a state-funded Bible elective and can develop a local curriculum.

Local approval and online posting for Bible classes

Beginning July 1, 2025, any Bible class that uses a district or charter’s own curriculum and materials must be approved by the local school board or the charter’s governing body and meet the law’s general prerequisites. Classes approved by the state before July 1, 2025 do not need new local approval. The state education department must post a list of districts and charters that offer approved Bible classes and the state-approved standards. Each district and charter must also post its approved Bible curricula and the list of instructional materials on its website.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Kerry Roberts

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Paul Rose

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 121 • No: 8

Senate vote • 4/15/2025

FLOOR VOTE: as Amended Third Consideration 4/15/2025

Yes: 31 • No: 0

House vote • 4/15/2025

FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/15/2025

Yes: 82 • No: 8

Senate vote • 3/12/2025

SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE

Yes: 8 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Pub. Ch. 314

    5/13/2025

  2. Effective date(s) 07/01/2025

    5/13/2025

  3. Signed by Governor.

    5/2/2025Senate

  4. Transmitted to Governor for action.

    4/22/2025Senate

  5. Signed by Senate Speaker

    4/21/2025Senate

  6. Signed by H. Speaker

    4/21/2025House

  7. Enrolled and ready for signatures

    4/17/2025Senate

  8. Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0200)

    4/15/2025Senate

  9. Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 31, Nays 0, PNV 1

    4/15/2025Senate

  10. Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

    4/15/2025Senate

  11. Subst. for comp. HB.

    4/15/2025House

  12. Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA0231)

    4/15/2025House

  13. Passed H., Ayes 82, Nays 8, PNV 2

    4/15/2025House

  14. Senate Reset on calendar for 4/15/2025

    4/14/2025Senate

  15. Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/15/2025

    4/14/2025Senate

  16. Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/14/2025

    4/11/2025Senate

  17. Senate Reset on calendar for 4/14/2025

    4/9/2025Senate

  18. Senate Reset on calendar for 4/9/2025

    4/7/2025Senate

  19. Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/9/2025

    4/7/2025Senate

  20. Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/7/2025

    4/4/2025Senate

  21. Senate Reset on calendar for 4/7/2025

    4/3/2025Senate

  22. Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/3/2025

    4/1/2025Senate

  23. Senate Reset on calendar for 4/3/2025

    3/31/2025Senate

  24. Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 3/31/2025

    3/28/2025Senate

  25. Senate Reset on calendar for 3/31/2025

    3/17/2025Senate

Bill Text

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation