AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Section 5-5-114; Section 6-54-144; Title 7; Section 15-2-116; Title 49; Title 55; Title 58 and Title 65, Chapter 31, Part 1, relative to the display of flags.
As introduced, prohibits state and local government entities from displaying or allowing display of flags other than Tennessee and U.S. flags on courthouses and public roads and sidewalks; prohibits LEAs and public charter schools from displaying in public schools flags other than the official United States flag and the official Tennessee state flag. - Amends TCA Title 4; Section 5-5-114; Section 6-54-144; Title 7; Section 15-2-116; Title 49; Title 55; Title 58 and Title 65, Chapter 31, Part 1.
114th General Assembly
(c)(1) An LEA or public charter school shall not display, nor permit any of its employees or agents to display, a flag other than the following on or in a public school: (A) The United States flag; (B) The official Tennessee state flag; (C) A flag that cannot be disturbed or altered pursuant to § 4-1- 412; (D) The POW/MIA flag; (E) A flag that represents an Indian tribe, as defined in 25 U.S.C. § 5304; (F) A flag that represents a city, county, metropolitan government, or other political subdivision of this state; (G) A flag that represents any unit, branch, or other division of the armed forces, including, but not limited to, an ROTC program; (H) The current, official flag of a country or political subdivision thereof; (I) A flag that represents a college or university; (J) A flag that is displayed temporarily as part of a bona fide course curriculum; (K) An official school flag; or (L) The flag of an organization duly authorized to use a public school building;
"Display": (A) Means to exhibit or place anywhere a passerby may see the object; and (B) Includes, but is not limited to, painting, projecting, or otherwise causing to come into existence the image of a flag on a public courthouse, roadway, or sidewalk;
A parent or guardian of a student who is enrolled in and attends, or of a child who is eligible to enroll in and attend, a school operated by an LEA or public charter school has standing to file a civil action against the LEA or public charter school in a chancery court to enforce this subsection (c)
History
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| 2025-02-10 | Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate State and Local Government Committee |
| 2025-01-27 | Introduced, Passed on First Consideration |
| 2025-01-23 | Filed for introduction |