Title 4, State Government

Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the Robert Spicer Memorial Buck Dance Championship is hereby designated the official buck dance competition of Tennessee.

The bluetick coonhound is designated as the official state dog.

The official nickname of this state is “The Volunteer State.”

(1) The official state foods of this state are as follows:(1) Hot slaw;(2) Memphis barbecue; and(3) Nashville hot chicken. (1) Hot slaw; (2) Memphis barbecue; and (3) Nashville hot chicken.

Cleveland, Tennessee, is hereby designated as the hot slaw capital of this state.

(a) The general assembly finds and declares that:(1) A member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame, Brenda Lee was just thirteen (13) years of age when she recorded the Christmas classic “Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree” in 1958;(2) At seventy-ei…

(a) The following are designated as the official state books:(1) Farewell Address to the American People, George Washington (1796);(2) The Papers of Andrew Jackson, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville;(3) Democracy in America, Alexis de Tocqueville (1…

The Southern Stars Symphonic Brass is hereby designated as the official brass band of the state of Tennessee.

Lake County is designated as the Eagle Capital of Tennessee.

Cast iron cookware is designated and adopted as the official frontier cookware of this state.

The annual winner of the Old Time Bluegrass and Fiddlers' Jamboree is hereby declared the state champion fiddler in this state.

The Rhododendron and the Fall-O-Dendron festivals of Roan Mountain are designated the official Rhododendron and Fall-O-Dendron festivals of Tennessee in recognition of such festivals' contributions to the preservation of the heritage, history, and beautiful landscapes of this sta…

(a) There shall be observed in each and every part of this state only standard time as fixed for such area by the United States department of transportation. No town, city, municipal corporation, taxing district, county or other governmental subdivision shall possess power to ado…

Whenever the due date for filing any schedule, form or return with any state department or agency or for paying any tax due the state occurs on a Saturday or Sunday, the taxpayer shall have until the close of business hours for such department or agency on the following Monday to…

Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, a person meeting all other requirements shall not be ineligible for appointment or reappointment to any state board or commission because of age.

English is hereby established as the official and legal language of Tennessee. All communications and publications, including ballots, produced by governmental entities in Tennessee shall be in English, and instruction in the public schools and colleges of Tennessee shall be cond…

(a) The general assembly recognizes that many Tennessee institutions, both public and private, have elected to select symbols, mascots, and names to represent those institutions. The symbols, mascots, and names are often chosen in recognition of the area's heritage and to honor a…

(a) Whenever the official United States flag or the official state flag is displayed, appropriate flag display protocol requires that when flown on the same pole on property owned, operated or controlled by the state or any political subdivision of the state, including all educat…

(a) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:(1) “Demonstrates” means meets the burdens of going forward with the evidence and of persuasion under the standard of clear and convincing evidence;(2) “Exercise of religion” means the exercise of religion under t…

(a) Each department and agency of state government shall strive to achieve economic efficiency through utilization of innovative approaches and methodologies while maintaining the highest level of service for the citizens of Tennessee. (b) In achieving economic efficiency, each d…

The governor shall designate one (1) day of each calendar year during the month of April as “Autism Awareness Recognition Day” in order to promote knowledge within the state's communities about the condition, the need for community services and appropriate medical treatment for t…

The governor shall designate the first Thursday during the month of May of each calendar year as “Tennessee's Day of Prayer” on which the people of this state may turn to prayer, meditation or otherwise give thanks, in accordance with their own faiths and consciences.

The month of July each year shall be observed as “Tennessee Genealogy Month,” to be proclaimed as such by the governor.

(a) For purposes of this section:(1) “Commission” means the Tennessee monuments and memorials commission established pursuant to this section;(2) “Historic conflict” means any war, battle, or military conflict in which citizens of the United States or any state or territory of th…

The month of August shall be designated “Women in STEM” month to raise awareness of the opportunities for women to pursue a career in a science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) related field.

The governor shall designate the first weekend in August of each calendar year as “Tennessee's Weekend of Prayer Over Students” on which the people of this state may, in accordance with their own faith and consciences, turn to prayer, meditation, or otherwise give thanks for the …

The month of September shall be designated “Tennessee Archaeology Awareness Month” to encourage all citizens to learn more about prehistoric and historic archaeology in Tennessee.

September 18 of each calendar year shall be designated “Carbon Monoxide Awareness Day” to bring awareness to the dangers of carbon monoxide.

The month of November each year shall be designated as “Lung Cancer Awareness Month” in order to promote knowledge within the state concerning lung cancer diagnosis, treatment, and research.

(a) There is established an award to be known as the “Tennessee Tri-Star General Award.” (b) (1) The governor may recognize distinguished individuals who have a record of outstanding service to this state or a local subdivision of this state by awarding such individuals the Tenne…

The month of April is designated as “Tennessee Craft Beer and Cider Month” in recognition of the contributions of Tennessee craft breweries and cideries to this state's economic growth and diversification.

(a) Reelfoot Lake is designated as a Tennessee Heritage Site. (b) A department or agency of this state may use the terms “Reelfoot Lake” or “Tennessee Heritage Site,” or both, for purposes of publications, advertisements, marketing, and other communications.

(1) The following cultural groups are recognized as Tennessee's first peoples:(1) The Algonquian peoples, including the Shawnee and Lenape;(2) The Chickamaugan peoples;(3) The Iroquoian peoples, including the Cherokee;(4) The Muskogean peoples, including the Alabama, Coosa, Chick…

(a) As used in this section, “political subdivision” means a local governmental entity, including, but not limited to, a municipality, metropolitan government, county, utility district, school district, public building authority, and development district created and existing purs…

(a) A state entity shall not submit payment with an entity that has engaged in a cybersecurity incident on an information technology system by encrypting data and then subsequently offering to decrypt that data in exchange for a ransom payment. (b) A state entity experiencing a r…

The month of November is designated as “Christian Heritage Month” to encourage citizens to learn more about Christian heritage in this state.

(a) Beginning January 1, 2025, the district attorneys general conference shall collect and analyze data from law enforcement agencies on the number of persons not lawfully present in the United States charged or convicted of a criminal offense in this state during the previous ye…

(1) In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the date upon which Thomas Jefferson wrote that “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” are among the unalienable rights of all citizens:(1) The month of June shall be known as th…

(a) (1) A department, agency, or other unit of state government shall not use a discriminatory preference in an effort to increase diversity, equity, or inclusion or establish or maintain an office, division, or department for such purposes. All mandates, policies, programs, acti…

(a) The World Health Organization, the United Nations, and the World Economic Forum have no jurisdiction in this state. This state and its political subdivisions must not be compelled to enforce, or collaborate with the enforcement of, requirements or mandates issued by the World…

(a) The attorney general and reporter may review whether a local government action violates state law or the Constitution of Tennessee. If the attorney general and reporter concludes that a local government action reviewed pursuant to this subsection (a) violates state law or the…

Each state agency shall include information on transnational repression, as defined in § 39-16-802, in agency policies and procedures and provide for direct complaints of transnational repression to be made to a representative of the agency.

(a) A state agency shall deny, revoke, or refuse or renew a certification, registration, license, or permit issued to a corporate entity if the state agency receives satisfactory proof that an officer, director, or employee of the corporate entity provides material support or res…

(a) The general assembly finds and declares that:(1) The regions known as Judea and Samaria (“Shomron” in Hebrew) are the ancestral heartland of the Jewish people, comprising the historical, spiritual, and geographical core of the Land of Israel;(2) Judea and Samaria are repeated…

(a) (1) (A) No later than January 1, 2027, each local governmental entity shall revise any existing ordinance, resolution, rule, policy, and procedure that includes a reference to a natural person's sex or gender to state that those terms are defined as the immutable characterist…