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The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –
With the beginning of a new legislative year, two bills have been filed by Republicans focused on school enhancements, with one seeking to allow school chaplains and another requiring annual anti-drug and anti-violence prevention programs.
SB1041 by Sen. Janice Bowling (R-Tullahoma-District 16) was originally filed in 2025 but was stalled in the committee process. The bill would allow a local board of education or public charter school to employ or accept a volunteer school chaplain “to provide support, services, and programs for students, school staff, and students’ parents.”
Under the legislation, “school chaplain” is defined as a “member of the clergy who is credentialed by a religious organization to function in a pluralistic environment and support, directly or indirectly, the free exercise of religion by all individuals in schools.”
The chaplain would not have to be certified by the state board of education but would be required to undergo the relevant criminal history check and investigations per state statutes.
It would also provide liability protections for the chaplain, ensuring a person does not have a cause of action for “an action taken or statement made by the school chaplain while the school chaplain” so long as those actions or statements were not “taken or made maliciously, willfully, or deliberately intended to cause harm or harass or intimidate those seeking support, services, and programs from the school chaplain.”
The companion bill, HB1250, is carried by Rep. Aron Maberry (R-Clarksville-District 68) and is scheduled for the House Finance, Ways, and Means Committee on Tuesday, Jan. 20.
House Finance, Ways, & Means Committee
Rep.john.gillespie@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.charlie.baum@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.karen.camper@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.jesse.chism@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.mark.cochran@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.john.crawford@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.jeremy.faison@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.bob.freeman@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.johnny.garrett@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.rusty.grills@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.michael.hale@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.william.lamberth@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.harold.love@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.larry.miller@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.debra.moody@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.antonio.parkinson@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.johnny.shaw@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.mike.sparks@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.kevin.vaughan@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.ryan.williams@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.jason.zachary@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.gary.hicks@capitol.tn.gov, rep.john.gillespie@capitol.tn.gov, rep.charlie.baum@capitol.tn.gov, rep.clark.boyd@capitol.tn.gov, rep.karen.camper@capitol.tn.gov, rep.kip.capley@capitol.tn.gov, rep.jesse.chism@capitol.tn.gov, rep.mark.cochran@capitol.tn.gov, rep.john.crawford@capitol.tn.gov, rep.jeremy.faison@capitol.tn.gov, rep.bob.freeman@capitol.tn.gov, rep.ron.gant@capitol.tn.gov, rep.johnny.garrett@capitol.tn.gov, rep.rusty.grills@capitol.tn.gov, rep.michael.hale@capitol.tn.gov, rep.david.hawk@capitol.tn.gov, rep.tim.hicks@capitol.tn.gov, rep.bud.hulsey@capitol.tn.gov, rep.william.lamberth@capitol.tn.gov, rep.harold.love@capitol.tn.gov, rep.larry.miller@capitol.tn.gov, rep.debra.moody@capitol.tn.gov, rep.antonio.parkinson@capitol.tn.gov, rep.lee.reeves@capitol.tn.gov, rep.johnny.shaw@capitol.tn.gov, rep.mike.sparks@capitol.tn.gov, rep.kevin.vaughan@capitol.tn.gov, rep.ryan.williams@capitol.tn.gov, rep.jason.zachary@capitol.tn.gov
The second school-focused bill, HB0902/SB0821, is carried by Rep. Renea Jones (R-Unicoi-District 4) and Sen. Joey Hensley (R-Hohenwald-District 28) and would mandate schools have an annual “evidence-based substance abuse and violence prevention program” for grades 3-12 to “reduce tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drug use by students”.
The program selected by the schools must meet several criteria defined in the legislation:
- Must include drug-prevention-related education that promotes anti-drug norms, teaches “drug-refusal skills” and life skills training that “fosters the development of personal self-management skills and general social skills”.
- It can only supplement, not replace, any other drug abuse or life skills education provided by the schools, like the DARE program.
- Must be provided to students throughout the school year.
HB0902 is scheduled to be heard by the House Education Committee on Tuesday, Jan. 20 while SB0821 will go before the Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee next Tuesday, Jan. 27.
House Education Committee
Rep.kevin.raper@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.jody.barrett@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.charlie.baum@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.scott.cepicky@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.ronnie.glynn@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.yusuf.hakeem@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.kirk.haston@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.gloria.johnson@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.renea.jones@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.aron.maberry@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.sam.mckenzie@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.william.slater@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.robert.stevens@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.mark.white@capitol.tn.gov, rep.kevin.raper@capitol.tn.gov, rep.jody.barrett@capitol.tn.gov, rep.charlie.baum@capitol.tn.gov, rep.gino.bulso@capitol.tn.gov, rep.scott.cepicky@capitol.tn.gov, rep.ronnie.glynn@capitol.tn.gov, rep.yusuf.hakeem@capitol.tn.gov, rep.kirk.haston@capitol.tn.gov, rep.tim.hicks@capitol.tn.gov, rep.chris.hurt@capitol.tn.gov, rep.gloria.johnson@capitol.tn.gov, rep.renea.jones@capitol.tn.gov, rep.aron.maberry@capitol.tn.gov, rep.sam.mckenzie@capitol.tn.gov, rep.jay.reedy@capitol.tn.gov, rep.lee.reeves@capitol.tn.gov, rep.william.slater@capitol.tn.gov, rep.robert.stevens@capitol.tn.gov
Senate Finance, Ways, & Means Committee
Sen.john.stevens@capitol.tn.gov
Sen.joey.hensley@capitol.tn.gov
Sen.ferrell.haile@capitol.tn.gov
Sen.jack.johnson@capitol.tn.gov
Sen.london.lamar@capitol.tn.gov
Sen.bill.powers@capitol.tn.gov
Sen.page.walley@capitol.tn.gov
Sen.jeff.yarbro@capitol.tn.gov
Sen.bo.watson@capitol.tn.gov, sen.john.stevens@capitol.tn.gov, sen.joey.hensley@capitol.tn.gov, sen.ferrell.haile@capitol.tn.gov, sen.jack.johnson@capitol.tn.gov, sen.london.lamar@capitol.tn.gov, sen.bill.powers@capitol.tn.gov, sen.paul.rose@capitol.tn.gov, sen.page.walley@capitol.tn.gov, sen.ken.yager@capitol.tn.gov, sen.jeff.yarbro@capitol.tn.gov
About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
