Kirk A. Bado

USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee

A Tennessee lawmaker has amended his bill to make the phrase “In God We Trust” optional instead of required on all license plates after an attorney general opinion found the requirement “constitutionally suspect.”

Bill sponsor Rep. Bill Sanderson, R-Kenton, requested Tennessee Attorney General Herbert Slatery III’s opinion, and concluded that while requiring the phrase would violate the Constitution, simply giving drivers in Tennessee the option did not raise any legal red flags.

The amended bill also would eliminate the $19 million cost to Tennessee to manufacture new license plates by not making the phrase a requirement.

Easily passing in the House Transportation Subcommittee, the bill moves on to full committee sometime next week. Sanderson says it will be smooth sailing for the rest of the legislative process after his amendment was adopted.

“I can’t see any opposition whatsoever,” he said, “It’s not forcing anyone to do anything.”

Reach Kirk A. Bado on Twitter at @kirk_bado.