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House committee advances bill to make February ‘Songwriters Month,’ drawing concern about Black History Month timing
Summary
Chairman Faizan's bill to designate February as Tennessee Songwriters Month advanced with a positive recommendation after members debated whether the month duplicates Black History Month and whether May (national Songwriters Month) would be preferable.
Chairman Faizan, the bill sponsor, told the House Naming and Designating Committee HB 16-29 is an administration-backed, bipartisan measure to "dedicate the month of February to songwriters month in the state of Tennessee." He framed the proposal as a way to honor Tennessee's musical heritage from Memphis to Bristol and cited several famous songs and songwriters tied to the state.
Not all members agreed February was the right time. Representative Dixie asked the sponsor to consider moving the observance to March "so Black History Month can stand on its own," calling the overlap an optics problem. Representative Barrett explained the bill would convert an existing statutory recognition—the last week of February in section 15-2-129—into a full month, saying the change explains why February was chosen. The committee reported the vote as 8 ayes, 1 nay and 1 present-not-voting; the bill moves forward with a positive recommendation to the State and Local Government Committee.
"Our Department of Tourism would like to dedicate the month of February to songwriters month in the state of Tennessee," Faizan said during his presentation. Representative Dixie stated, "I don't want anything to step on those toes" of Black History Month, urging the sponsor to consider March instead.
