Tenn. bill would make Bible official book

Governor says he has reservations based on church-and-state rule

NASHVILLE Tennessee is poised to make history as the first state in the nation to recognize the Holy Bible as its official book.

After nearly 30 minutes of debate, the state Senate approved the measure, sponsored by Sen. Steve Southerland, R-Morristown, by a 19-8 vote Monday, sending the legislation to Republican Gov. Bill Haslam’s desk.

Though proponents stressed the historic significance of the holy book and its religious meaning, opponents argued that the bill would trivialize something they hold sacred.

Both Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey and Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris told The Tennessean last week that they expected the measure to be given approval in the Senate, despite their opposition.

Haslam and Attorney General Herbert Slatery have expressed constitutional concerns regarding the legislation. Slatery issued an opinion last year suggesting that the measure would violate separation of church and state provisions in the federal and state constitutions.

If Haslam signs the bill, the Bi- ble would join a list of state symbols such as the raccoon, the state’s wild animal; the Eastern box turtle, the state’s reptile; the square dance, the state folk dance; milk, the official state beverage; and the Barrett M82 sniper rifle, which is the official state rifle, a designation lawmakers approved earlier in the session.

All state symbols are listed in the Tennessee Blue Book, an annual guide to state government.

Although the state House of Representatives narrowly approved the measure last year by a 55-38 vote, the Senate sent the bill to a committee, effectively killing the legislation for the year.

The effort was revived last week and was given approval by the Senate Judiciary Committee, which held its final meeting for the year March 29.

To address the constitutional concerns last year, the House sponsor of the bill, Rep. Jerry Sexton, R-Bean Station, tried to amend the legislation to make Andrew Jackson’s Bible the official state book, but that effort failed.

Haslam’s decision on whether to sign the bill into law will probably draw national attention.

Tennessee lawmakers are not alone in an attempt to make the Bible their official state book. Last year, legislators in Mississippi and Louisiana took similar approaches but ultimately failed to pass their version of the Bible bill.

In Alabama, the Bible used to swear in Jefferson Davis as president of the Confederate States is the state’s official Bible but not the state’s official book.

Other states have proposed or named official state books. In 2003, Massachusetts named

Make Way for Ducklings the official children’s book. Minnesota lawmakers once considered making Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little

House on the Prairie their state book.

It remains unclear whether opponents of Tennessee’s Bible bill will take the issue to court should Haslam sign the measure.

Since becoming governor in 2011, Haslam has rarely used his veto power.