Image Credit: U.S. NAVY via Picryl / Public Domain
The Tennessee Conservative [By Rebecca Scott] –
A bill dealing with Local Education Agencies and the process by which complaints can be filed by certain persons regarding prohibited concepts being taught or promoted in public and charter schools has been placed on the calendar for the House Education Administration committee for January 24, 2024.
House Bill 1377 (HB1377) is sponsored by Representative John Ragan (R-Oak Ridge-District 33) and “as introduced, creates a process by which certain individuals may file a complaint with an LEA or public charter school for the LEA’s or public charter school’s including or promoting certain prohibited concepts as part of a course of instruction, in a curriculum or instructional program, or by allowing teachers or other employees to use supplemental materials that include or promote certain prohibited concepts. – Amends TCA Section 49-6-1019.”
According to the bill, those allowed to register a complaint include students, parents or legal guardians, or residents of the school district in which the non-compliant LEA or public charter school is located. It then details the process by which the legitimacy of the complaint is determined.
Its companion bill, Senate Bill 1141 (SB1141) failed in the Senate Education Committee in March of 2023. Republican Senators Gardenhire, Haile, Lundberg and Powers voted the bill down with the help of Democrat Raumesh Akbari.
Simultaneously, House Bill 1377 was deferred until 2024 and will now be considered this week.
It will be interesting to see how the bill fares in the House’s Education Administration committee considering its failure in the Senate last session and if the Senate will consider hearing the bill again if it is passed in the House.
To voice your support or opposition to House Bill 1377, contact the House Education Administration members listed below:
Mark White – Chair (R) – rep.mark.white@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-4415
William Slater – Vice-Chair (R) – rep.william.slater@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-2534
Charlie Baum (R) – rep.charlie.baum@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-6849
Gino Bulso (R) – rep.gino.bulso@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-6808
Ed Butler (R) – rep.ed.butler@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-1260
Scott Cepicky (R) – rep.scott.cepicky@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-3005
Monty Fritts (R) – rep.monty.fritts@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-7658
Ron M. Gant (R) – rep.ron.gant@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-6890
John Gillespie (R) – rep.john.gillespie@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-8201
Kirk Haston (R) – rep.kirk.haston@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-0750
Chris Hurt (R) – rep.chris.hurt@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-2134
Justin Lafferty (R) – rep.justin.lafferty@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-4110
Harold Love, Jr. (D) – rep.harold.love@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-3831
Sam McKenzie (D) – rep.sam.mckenzie@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-0768
Antonio Parkinson (D) – rep.antonio.parkinson@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-4575
John D. Ragan (R) – rep.john.ragan@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-4400
Bryan Richey (R) – rep.bryan.richey@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-3560
Robert Stevens (R) – rep.robert.stevens@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-3830
Todd Warner (R) – rep.todd.warner@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-4170
Rebecca Scott is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative.
You can reach Rebecca at Rebecca@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
