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The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –
June of 2026 in Tennessee will soon be recognized as “Nuclear Family Month” after the Senate passed a joint resolution recognizing the importance of the nuclear family in the state.
HJR0182 by Rep. Bud Hulsey (R-Kingsport-District 2) was initially introduced in the House at the beginning of the 2025 legislative session but has just finally made it to a Senate vote after nearly a year. At its core, the resolution recognizes that “the nuclear family is God’s perfect design for humanity and is aligned with the long-held traditional values of Tennessee.”
It further defines the nuclear family as one consisting of one husband, one wife, and any biological, fostered, or adopted children and finds that fatherless families encounter challenges and risk factors a traditional nuclear family does not, including higher rates or suicide and adverse behavior.
“Fatherless families are four times more likely to live in poverty than married couple families; children without fathers are ten times more likely to abuse chemical substances; children from fatherless homes are more likely to have mental health and behavioral issues; sixty percent of youth suicides are from fatherless homes; seventy-one percent of high school dropouts are from fatherless homes; fatherless youths are twenty times more likely to be incarcerated; eighty-five percent of youths in prison come from fatherless homes; and in a 2016 study by Peter Langman on the psychology behind fifty-six school shooters, eighty-two percent of the shooters were raised in an unstable family environment or without both biological parents together,” the resolution reads.
The House passed HJR0182 at the end of last year’s legislative session 72-18 along party lines, with the measure picking up numerous Republican co-sponsors along the way.
In the Senate, the resolution finally found its way to the chamber’s floor after almost a year from its passage in the House, and the 26-4 vote was again split along party lines.
Now that the Senate has adopted and passed the resolution, HJR0182 will head to Gov. Lee for his signature before it goes into effect, officially designating June 2026 as “Nuclear Family Month”.
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.
