Two state lawmakers in the Tennessee General Assembly introduced a bill to mirror the Trump administration’s “One Flag Policy” which prohibits the flying of all but the American flag at all U.S. facilities, both domestic and abroad.
The bill, introduced by State Representative Gino Bulso (R-Brentwood) and State Senator Joey Hensley (R-Hohenwald) would prohibit state and local government entities from displaying or allowing the display of flags other than Tennessee and U.S. flags on courthouses, public roads, and sidewalks.
As written, the legislation would further grant standing to any Tennessee citizen to file a civil action against a local government who fails to comply under the bill if it were to become law.
In addition, the bill would also prohibit LEAs and public charter schools from displaying in public schools flags other than the official U.S. flag and Tennessee flag, with exceptions including but not limited to the POW/MIA flag, a flag representing the armed forces, an official school flag, and others.
Parents or guardians of students who are either enrolled in and attend or are eligible to enroll in and attend an LEA-operated school or public charter school would also be granted standing to file a civil action in a chancery court to enforce the bill if it were to become law, only after providing a written notice of the alleged violation and waiting ten days to give the institutions an opportunity to align with the policy.
The bill, filed as HB 0304/SB 0266, is scheduled to be debated in the House Public Service Subcommittee on Wednesday.
The Tennessee bill comes weeks after the U.S. Department of State under President Donald Trump issued guidance authorizing only the U.S. flag “to be flown or displayed at U.S. facilities, both domestic and abroad, and featured in U.S. government content.”
In an effort to codify similar guidance into law, Tennessee U.S. Representative Diana Harshbarger (R-TN-01) introduced a bill last week that would bar the flying of all flags other than the American flag in public buildings, military installations, and U.S. embassies or consulates, with exceptions.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
