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Tennessee · 114th Regular Session (2025-2026) · Bill

SB 1957: Local Education Agencies - As enacted, enacts the "Tennessee Religious Freedom Act," which authorizes a local board of education to open a meeting of the board with a prayer led by a member of the board as long as the prayer does not require participation of any person in attendance at the meeting and no person is harassed or coerced to participate in the prayer. - Amends TCA Title 49.

Enacted Official data

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed one chamber
  4. Passed both chambers
  5. Enacted

Last official action: ·Record last updated:

Plain-language summary

SB 1957 is a bill introduced in the Tennessee Senate on January 22, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: Local Education Agencies - As enacted, enacts the "Tennessee Religious Freedom Act," which authorizes a local board of education to open a meeting of the board with a prayer led by a member of the board as long as the prayer does not require participation of any person in attendance at the meeting and no person is harassed or coerced to participate in the prayer. - Amends TCA Title 49. Primary sponsor: Mark Pody (Republican). Most recent recorded action (May 5, 2026): Pub. Ch. 710.

Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Republican 1

NameRolePartyChamberDistrict
Mark PodyPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate17

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

  1. Pub. Ch. 710
  2. Effective date(s) 07/01/2026
  3. Signed by Governor.
  4. Signed by H. Speaker
  5. Transmitted to Governor for action.
  6. Enrolled and ready for signatures
  7. Signed by Senate Speaker
  8. Subst. for comp. HB.
  9. Passed H., Ayes 86, Nays 0, PNV 7
  10. Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.
  11. Passed Senate, Ayes 32, Nays 0
  12. Sponsor(s) Added.

Showing 12 most recent of 21 actions. Full history

Sources

  1. Open States / Plural (data from the official legislature website)
  2. Official legislature source