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HB1834Introduced in the House

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, relative to education.

Passed

Introduced by Rick Eldridge, District 10

What does this bill do?

Plain-English breakdown

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Official description

As enacted, enacts the "Tennessee Religious Freedom Act," which authorizes a local board of education to open a meeting of the board with a prayer led by a member of the board as long as the prayer does not require participation of any person in attendance at the meeting and no person is harassed or coerced to participate in the prayer. - Amends TCA Title 49.

Where it stands

Comp. became Pub. Ch. 710

May 5, 2026

How did lawmakers vote?

HouseStage: HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE: Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee · March 24, 2026

17

Yes

1

No

0

Absent or Not Voting

18 representatives recorded in this House vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.

See how each representative voted

RepresentativeDistrictVote
Renea Jones4Yes
Tim Hicks6Yes
Robert Stevens13Yes
Sam McKenzie15Yes
Kevin Raper24Yes
Yusuf Hakeem28Yes
William Slater35Yes
Charlie Baum37Yes
Gino Bulso61Yes
Scott Cepicky64Yes

Bill history

  1. Filed for introduction

  2. Intro., P1C.

  3. P2C, ref. to Education Committee

  4. Assigned to s/c Education Administration Subcommittee

  5. Sponsor(s) Added.

  6. Placed on s/c cal Education Administration Subcommittee for 2/17/2026

  7. Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Education Committee

  8. Placed on cal. Education Committee for 3/3/2026

  9. Action def. in Education Committee to 3/10/2026

  10. Placed on cal. Education Committee for 3/10/2026

  11. Action def. in Education Committee to 3/17/2026

  12. Sponsor(s) Added.

  13. Placed on cal. Education Committee for 3/17/2026

  14. Action def. in Education Committee to 3/24/2026

  15. Placed on cal. Education Committee for 3/24/2026

  16. Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee

  17. Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 3/26/2026

  18. H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 3/30/2026

  19. Sponsor(s) Added.

  20. Comp. SB subst.

  21. Comp. became Pub. Ch. 710

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