House Bill 1473, sponsored by Bulso, amends Tennessee law regarding marriage by introducing new provisions that exempt private citizens and organizations from recognizing same-sex marriages. Specifically, the bill adds a subsection to Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 36-3-113, stating that private entities are not bound by the Fourteenth Amendment or the Supreme Court's ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, which legalized same-sex marriage. This means that individuals and organizations in Tennessee are not required to acknowledge marriages between individuals of the same sex.

Additionally, the bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 17-5-301, to prevent disciplinary actions against individuals who choose not to celebrate or officiate at marriage ceremonies that do not align with the traditional definition of marriage as outlined in the code. The provisions of this act will take effect on July 1, 2026, and will apply to actions occurring on or after that date.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 36-3-113, 17-5-301