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A group of Tennessee parents and public school students gathered at the Tennessee State Capitol this morning to express opposition to legislation that would effectively ban books from public school libraries by creating an "approved book list" developed by the Tennessee Textbook Commission.

Gov. Bill Lee’s signature education funding reform initiative passed today even as concerns have been raised that the plan will do little to fundamentally alter the status quo for school districts in a state consistently ranked 45th in the nation in school funding.

William “Doc” Holladay felt he could no longer sit on the sidelines while Williamson County Schools implemented a curriculum he saw as misaligned with his political and religious values.

So the Franklin resident joined in protest starting in 2020 alongside other residents, such as Robin Steenman and Gary Humble.

The Republican-led Tennessee legislature passed a bill Wednesday that would require public school librarians to submit to the state a list of book titles for approval, as a GOP lawmaker suggested burning books that are deemed inappropriate.

State Rep. Jerry Sexton said Wednesday he would “burn” books found obscene by an expanded state textbook commission charged with policing school library selections.

In debate with Sexton over legislation requiring school districts to submit lists of library books to the commission, state Rep. John Ray Clemmons, D-Nashville, asked what the state would do with the books, put them out in the street or set them on fire?

Late Monday night, Speaker Cameron Sexton snuck in a last-minute amendment to HB2666 that would require that all school boards and librarians not only provide a list of library books, but would also require them to get approved from the TN textbook commission, which includes controversial Laurie Cardoza-Moore. Ahead of the House’s vote on the bill at 9am this morning, pastors, parents, students, and public school advocates spoke out in defense of librarians and against censorship by politicians.

Tennessee Republicans advanced legislation Wednesday that would place more scrutiny over what books are placed in public schools libraries, moments after the bill’s House sponsor said any inappropriate book should be burned.

Tennessee legislators passed a bill Wednesday that would allow the state’s textbook commission to approve or reject books in school libraries.

A version of the legislation passed the state House with a last-minute amendment that would give a state-appointed textbook commission the “final say” on books in public school libraries. The bill also seeks to increase the number of members on the commission and require it to issue guidance to local education agencies when it reviews library collections.

A last-minute amendment to give a politically appointed textbook commission final approval over books in Tennessee school libraries sparked a Capitol protest and heated debate in the General Assembly on Wednesday.

The legislation, HB 2666, passed the Senate earlier this month as a relatively straightforward bill to add members to the state's textbook commission and task the commission with providing guidance for schools when reviewing materials to ensure they are "appropriate for the age and maturity levels" of students.

Those rabble rousers over at the Tennessee Association of School Librarians (TASL) are out with a statement condemning the “gross overreach” of an amendment to HB2666 that would give the State Textbook Commission authority over books in school libraries. That is, the bill would require all books in school libraries to be on an “approved” list provided by the Textbook Commission.

The Tennessee House of Representatives plans to vote on a bill Wednesday regarding the regulation of education materials.

Introduced by House Speaker Cameron Sexton, HB 2666 is set to change what materials will be allowed in schools due to the belief that specific materials should not be available for students due to inappropriate content.

Gov. Bill Lee's new education funding plan is approaching the finish line after clearing finance committees in the House and Senate Tuesday.

The new plan, called Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement, would replace the current funding formula called the Basic Education Program.