Image Credit: capitol.tn.gov
The Tennessee Conservative Staff –
The House passed legislation on Thursday that would establish a reporting process for complaints regarding the teaching of divisive concepts in Tennessee’s colleges and universities.
House Bill 2784 (HB2784) was presented by sponsor Representative John Ragan (R-Oak Ridge-District 33). The House voted to conform to and substitute companion Senate Bill 2501 (SB2501).
Ragan introduced the legislation by explaining that it would strengthen existing law by requiring institutions to report results of investigations regarding complaint of divisive concepts to the comptroller within 10 days. Additionally, they would be required to give a status update on pending investigations every 30 days.
If the comptroller determines that an institution is failing to comply, they may be required to report before the Joint Government Operations Committee. If an institution has more than 10 reported investigations, the comptroller is required to report that to the Education Committees of both bodies.
Representative Justin Pearson (D-Memphis-District 86) started off a string of opposition coming from House Democrats regarding the legislation.
Pearson argued that the bill was requiring reporting of conversations that “need to happen” in institutions of higher education.
He went on to call the bill “inherently harmful and divisive” because it was stifling conversations that are “not easy but are necessary.”
Ragan countered that the legislation banning the teaching of divisive concepts passed last year; this bill simply allows the tracking mechanism to determine if there is a problem or not.
According to Representative Sam McKenzie (D-Knoxville-District 15), the legislation was “harsh” and asked, “You got rid of DEI…when do you call it success and move on?”
Representative Justin Jones (D-Nashville-District 52) followed, arguing that college students are adults, not impressionable children, and that college is the time for those difficult discussions. He stated that legislators were seeking to “punish anyone who doesn’t feed into the dominant narrative.”
Previous question was called on the bill, and the body voted on the legislation.
The bill passed in both chambers along party lines with only Democrats voting in opposition.
In the House, the bill passed with 65 ayes and 23 nays. SB2501 passed in the Senate on April 1st with 26 ayes and 5 nays.
