Tennessee’s governor will seek to end a yearly honor for a Confederate general.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Gov. Bill Lee will introduce legislation this year that would amend a law requiring Tennessee to honor Confederate Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest, an early leader of the Ku Klux Klan.

Lee’s office confirmed Friday that the Republican, who has expressed his displeasure over the honor, was working on the bill.

According to the law, Tennessee governors must sign six proclamations throughout the year designating the following days of special observance: Robert E. Lee Day on Jan. 19, Abraham Lincoln Day on

Feb. 12, Andrew Jackson Day on March 15, Confederate Decoration Day on June 3, Nathan Bedford Forrest Day on July 13 and Veterans Day on Nov. 11.

The law encourages the governor to invite the public to observe each day in schools and churches. It does not outline a penalty should the governor choose to not sign the proclamation.

Lee received national backlash in July when he not only signed the Nathan Bedford Forrest proclamation but declined to answer reporter questions over whether he thought the law should change.

The governor later clarified that he did not like signing the proclamation.

“While it is my job as governor to enforce the law, I want Tennesseans to know where my heart is on this issue,” Lee said at the time. “Our state’s history is rich, complex and in some cases painful. With this in mind, I will be working to change this law.”

As of Saturday, Tennessee’s secretary of state’s website did not show that Lee had signed the Robert E. Lee Day proclamation. His office did not respond to questions if the governor wanted to change that day celebrating the Confederate general, which falls the day before Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Bill Lee