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Committee approves bill requiring state agencies to use 'Judea and Samaria' instead of 'West Bank'
Summary
Sen. Rose's SB 16-63 would require Tennessee agencies to refer to the West Bank as 'Judea and Samaria' in official documents. Supporters argued historical and religious accuracy; opponents called the measure compelled political speech and outside Tennessee's scope. The committee passed the bill and it will move to calendar.
Sen. Rose presented SB 16-63, which "simply states that any official documents mentioning the West Bank ... should refer to that geographical area as Judea or Samaria." He said the measure creates a uniform terminology requirement for state agencies and is similar to laws in several other states.
Proponents, including Daryl Heading of the Shai Fund, Laurie Cardoza Moore of Proclaiming Justice to the Nations, and Tennessee resident Brian Hoffman, testified the terms carry historical and religious significance. Heading told the committee: "The continued use of the term West Bank only serves to endorse ethnic cleansing, religious intolerance, and anti Semitic behavior," and asked members to advance the bill.
A witness opposing the bill, Hanny Nofal, identified as an American of Palestinian descent, cautioned the committee that adopting the terminology "forces Tennessee agencies to replace West Bank with Judea and Samaria, language aligned with one side of a foreign conflict" and said that compulsion of political language is not neutral.
Committee debate touched on separation of church and state, neutrality in foreign affairs, and educational clarity for students. After extended discussion and witness testimony, the committee voted in favor (tally: five ayes, three nays, one pass) and the chair said SB 16-63 will move to calendar.
The bill's passage in committee signals further consideration by the full Senate calendar, though witnesses and several members stressed the symbolic rather than operational nature of the change.
