Hensley Highlights Legislative Activity in Senate Update

State Senator Joey Hensley of Hohenwald is outlining several measures advancing in the Tennessee General Assembly.

Among them is legislation titled the Protecting Religious Freedom and Expression in Public Schools Act, which would require public and charter schools to teach portions of the Bible as literature in a historical context. The bill also outlines guidelines for student prayer outside instructional time with parental consent and provides an option for students to opt out of Bible instruction. The measure has passed the Senate Judiciary Committee and now heads to the full Senate.

Hensley also reported progress on a proposal to create a Hunger-Free Campus Grant Program aimed at addressing food insecurity among college students. The program would provide grants to qualifying institutions to support campus-based food access initiatives and would be funded through gifts, donations, and future appropriations. The bill has advanced through the Senate Finance Committee.

In addition, the Senate Judiciary Committee has approved legislation designed to revise how lawsuits challenging state laws are filed. The measure would require plaintiffs to demonstrate a direct injury before bringing a case, restoring standards that were in place prior to 2018.

All three measures continue to move through the legislative process.