Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-6-1011 (2026)

• (a) No teacher or administrator in an LEA shall be prohibited from using or reading from, during the course of educational instruction, or from posting in a public school building, classroom or event, any of the following or any excerpts or portions of the following:
  • (1) The national motto;
  • (2) The national anthem;
  • (3) The Pledge of Allegiance;
  • (4) The Constitution of Tennessee;
  • (5) The Declaration of Independence;
  • (6) The writings, speeches, documents and proclamations of the founders or presidents of the United States or the founders or governors of this state;
  • (7) Opinions of the United States and Tennessee supreme courts;
  • (8) Acts of the United States congress and acts of the Tennessee general assembly; and
  • (9) The United States Constitution.

• (b) The list of historically significant or venerated documents, writings or records set out in subsection (a) shall not be construed to be exclusive, and the doctrine of ejusdem generis shall not be applied to prohibit the use, reading or posting of other such documents, writings or records.

• (c) The use, reading or posting of the types of documents, writings and records authorized by this section shall be undertaken for educational purposes only and shall not be used to promote or establish any religion or religious belief.

• (d) There shall be no content-based censorship of American or Tennessee history or heritage based on any religious references contained in such documents, writings or records.

• (e) Each student shall be taught the documents, writings or records set out in subsection (a).

• (f) The documents, writings or records set out in subsection (a) shall be taught at an age appropriate time prior to graduation from high school as determined by the state board of education.

Amended by 2014 Tenn. Acts, ch. 939,s 2, eff. 7/1/2014.

Amended by 2014 Tenn. Acts, ch. 939,s 1, eff. 7/1/2014.

Acts 1993, ch. 116, § 1.