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Committee advances bill aimed at protecting employees and students from coerced speech
Summary
House Bill 1270, sponsored by Leader Cochran, passed the Education Committee and would bar public school employees, students and contractors from being compelled to speak in ways contrary to their deeply held religious beliefs; committee members debated legal precedents.
NASHVILLE — The House Education Committee voted to advance House Bill 1270, a measure described by its sponsor as a protection against coerced speech for students, teachers, employees and contractors in public schools and local education agencies.
Leader David Cochran told the committee the bill ‘‘protects the right to free speech for students, teachers, employees, and contractors at public schools and LEAs and all state employees,’’ and would ensure no party ‘‘is ever coerced into saying something that is in opposition to their deeply held religious convictions.’’
During committee debate, Representative Revs McKenzie criticized the proposal as effectively forcing how people are addressed in schools and expressed concern about the effect on students who prefer different names or pronouns. Cochran and other supporters responded by citing federal court decisions they said supported conscience-based protections. Cochran referenced Merriweather v. Trustees of Shawnee State University and cases involving USD 475 and Garrity v. Jackson Local School District as examples where courts found compelled speech violations.
A motion to end debate carried and the committee vote was recorded as 14 ayes, 3 nays and 1 present not voting; the bill was reported to the Finance calendar.
Committee members asked that questions remain focused on the bill's text; Cochran said the bill is intended as a protection against coercion rather than an imposition of particular forms of address.
What’s next: House Bill 1270 moves to Finance for further consideration and legal review.
