House Bill 1834, sponsored by Eldridge, seeks to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, to affirm the right of local board of education members to open school board meetings with a personal prayer. The bill introduces a new provision that allows a board member to lead a prayer at the beginning of a meeting, provided that attendance and participation in the prayer are voluntary and that no individual is coerced or harassed to participate. This legislative move is positioned as a reinforcement of religious freedom within the context of public education, reflecting recent Supreme Court rulings that support the expression of religious beliefs in public settings.

The bill is titled the "Tennessee Religious Freedom Act" and is set to take effect on July 1, 2026. It aims to clarify the legal standing of personal prayers in school board meetings, addressing the varying opinions among school districts regarding such practices. By codifying this right, the bill seeks to ensure that school board members can exercise their religious beliefs openly while maintaining a non-coercive environment for all meeting attendees.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 49-2-203(b), 49-2-203