Committee advances bill to allow voluntary prayer and add Bible to curriculum after heated testimony

The House Judiciary Committee voted to send House Bill 14‑91, as amended, to the Education Committee after extended public testimony and member questions about constitutional and operational concerns.

Sponsor Chairman Bolson described the bill as authorizing voluntary vocal prayer in public schools and directing that the Bible be taught as history and literature in K‑12 instruction when the state board of education next reviews ELA and social‑studies standards. He told members the provision would not take effect until the board integrates any changes during its routine standards review.

Two witnesses who signed up to speak opposed the bill. Johanna Cohen, who identified herself as a Robertson County resident, said the fiscal note and the risk to federal education funding weighed against the bill, warning of possible losses under ESSA, IDEA and other federal programs and raising constitutional concerns. Macy Fluharty, a Davidson County resident, said the bill would make public schools less welcoming for students of different faiths and would add emotional burden to teachers.

Representative Johnson asked how teachers could fit new material into an already overloaded daily schedule; the sponsor said the board of education would weave Bible material into existing ELA and social‑studies standards, and that parents could opt students out. Representative Johnson asked whether other religions would be treated similarly; the sponsor said the board would be responsible for standards. The clerk recorded the committee tally as 14 ayes and 4 nos; House Bill 14‑91 as amended moves to Education.

Members stressed that curriculum changes would be carried out by the state board and not by the committee. Opponents urged caution about the potential for lost federal funding and for exclusionary effects in classrooms.