HALL MONITOR: “YES” to prohibit political imagery in Tennessee Public Schools (HB 1605)

Name: House Bill 1605

Summary: Ensures public schools only display Tennessee and United States flags on school grounds.

Status: Prefiled for 2024

Sponsor: Representative Gino Bulso

Breakdown: House Bill 1605 ensures that Tennessee public schools may not display flags other than the Tennessee state flag or the United States flag. 

Why does PDE Action support this bill? 

Public schools are government agencies and therefore should not take stances on political issues. Unfortunately, schools across the country have hung flags promoting political causes, such as the Black Lives Matter movement—which has advocated for harmful policies like abolishing the police and the nuclear family. 

This bill ensures that flags of any political ideology—whether it’s Black Lives Matter or MAGA—may not be displayed on public school property. It is not the job of public schools to publicize political messages to children.