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Legislature Considering Controversial Bills

Posted at 10:29 PM, Apr 17, 2016
and last updated 2016-04-18 07:45:44-04

The fate of the controversial Bible and transgender bathroom bills may be decided this week. 

The bill that would make the Bible Tennessee's official state book has already been vetoed by Governor Bill Haslam. State lawmakers have said they may plan to seek a veto override on the bill. They may announce their plans for a veto override Monday.

Haslam said he vetoed the bill because of a legal opinion from the state attorney general saying it would violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the federal constitution and Article 1 Section 3 of the Tennessee constitution.

Meanwhile, the controversial transgender bathroom bill has been moving forward. The bill would require transgender students in public schools to use restrooms according to the gender listed on their birth certificate.

“I hope that parents will feel better,” said the bill's sponsor, Rep. Susan Lynn, R-Mt. Juliet. "They will feel that their daughter is in the ladies room, and there's only girls in their too.”

The state Attorney General has said federal education money earmarked for Tennessee could be at stake if the bill passes.

Both the House and senate versions of the bathroom bill will be in committees scheduled for Monday.