Image Credit: TN General Assembly
The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –
The “Protecting Religious Liberty and Expression in Public Schools Act” has passed the House Judiciary Committee in a 14 to 4 vote along party lines and is scheduled to be heard in the House Education Committee today, April 8th, 2026.
Sponsored by Representative Gino Bulso (R-Brentwood-District 61), House Bill 1491 as amended seeks to allow for voluntary Bible studies and prayer times in public schools.
By requiring public schools to teach the Bible as literature and in a historical context, the legislation would also remedy what the sponsor has stated he believes to be an incorrect interpretation of the idea of separation of church and state.
The companion Senate Bill, (SB1714), sponsored by Senator Joey Hensley (R-Hohenwald-District 28), is up for a full vote by the Senate on Thursday, April 9th.
To find the contact information for your Tennessee Senator, go HERE.
Contact information for members of the House Education Committee may be found below.
House Education Committee – HB1491 schedule to be heard April 8, 2026.
HB1491 seeks to allow for voluntary Bible studies and prayer times in Tennessee public schools.
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
About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
