Joel Ebert

USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee

Tennessee is poised to make history as the first state in the nation to recognize the Holy Bible as its official book.

After nearly 30 minutes of debate, the state Senate on Monday approved the measure, sponsored by Sen. Steve Southerland, R-Morristown, with a 19-8 vote, sending the legislation to Gov. Bill Haslam’s desk.

While proponents stressed the historic significance of the holy book and its religious meaning, some opponents argued that the bill trivializes something they hold sacred while others stressed constitutional reservations.

Bible bill expected to pass Senate

Haslam: Bible as official Tennessee book not 'respectful'

Haslam and Attorney General Herbert Slatery have raised similar questions about the constitutionality of the legislation. Last year, Slatery issued an opinion suggesting the measure would violate separation of church and state provisions in the federal and state constitutions.

Southerland tried to allay those fears, arguing that his bill relies on the historical and cultural impact the Bible has had on the state.

"The Holy Bible is a history book," he said, quoting comments he received from a Jewish friend, during an at times emotional plea in favor of the legislation.

Arguing against the measure, Sen. Ferrell Haile, R-Gallatin, said he believes the measure would degrade the Holy Scriptures.

"The Bible is a book of history, but it is not a history book to be placed on the shelf," he said.

Sen. Jeff Yarbro, D-Nashville, noted that when lawmakers are sworn into office, they place their hand on a Bible while making an oath to uphold the state and federal constitutions.

"I understand that it's hard to vote against the Bible — no one wants to do that," he said. "We have an obligation to follow the Constitution."

Speaking in favor of the legislation, Sen. Kerry Roberts, R-Springfield, said he understood the difficulty of the decision his colleagues were making.

Roberts shared a story about George Washington's inauguration, which he said was filled with religious references.

"The very founding of our nation — the very form of government that we have today — was put forth by men of faith, based on their faith, based on what they read in Holy Scripture," he said.

Roberts, who voted in favor of the bill, said he was torn on the issue because he was tired of those who have tried to make the country a secular nation, while he also questioned whether he wanted to put the Bible next to other state symbols.

"This book has done more to bring us to where we are today than any other book in the history of mankind," he concluded.

The legislation generated one of the more interesting votes of the 2016 session, with the chamber's Democrats and Republicans equally split on the issue.

Two Democrats — Sens. Thelma Harper, D-Nashville, and Sara Kyle, D-Memphis — joined the 17 Republicans who voted in favor of the bill. Six Republicans, including Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, sided with two Democrats — Yarbro and Sen. Lee Harris, D-Memphis — to vote against the measure.

Five Senators — four Republicans and one Democrat — did not vote on the measure.

After the session ended, Ramsey reiterated his concerns about the bill.

"This is much more than a history book," he said, adding that should Haslam veto the legislation he is unsure whether there would be enough votes to override it.

Barrett M82 sniper rifle becomes official state rifle

If Haslam signs the bill, the Bible would join a list of state symbols such as the raccoon as the state’s wild animal, the Eastern box turtle as the state reptile, the square dance as the state folk dance, milk as the official state beverage and the Barrett M82 sniper rifle as the official state rifle, which lawmakers approved earlier in the session.

All state symbols are listed in the Tennessee Blue Book, an annual guide to state government.

Although the House narrowly approved the measure last year with a 55-38 vote, the bill was thought to be dead after the Senate sent it to a committee, effectively killing the legislation for the year.

The effort, however, was revived last week and was given approval by the Senate Judiciary Committee, which held its final meeting for the year on March 29.

Tennessee Senate committee approves Bible bill

In an attempt to address the constitutional concerns, last year the House sponsor of the bill, Rep. Jerry Sexton, R-Bean Station, tried to amend the legislation to make Andrew Jackson’s Bible the official state book, but that effort failed.

Haslam’s decision on whether to sign the bill into law will likely draw national attention.

Tennessee lawmakers are not alone in an attempt to make the Bible their official state book. Last year, legislators in Mississippi and Louisiana took similar approaches but ultimately failed to pass their version of the Bible bill.

In Alabama the Bible used to swear in Jefferson Davis as president of the Confederate States is the state’s official Bible, but not the state’s official book.

Other states have proposed or named official state books.

In 2003 Massachusetts named "Make Way for Ducklings" the state's official children’s book. Minnesota lawmakers once considered making Laura Ingalls Wilder’s "Little House on the Prairie" their state book.

It remains unclear whether opponents of Tennessee's Bible bill will take the issue to court should Haslam sign the measure.

But during Monday's floor discussion, Southerland said the Family Action Council of Tennessee would be willing to defend the legislation, should it become law.

Immediately after the chamber's vote, ACLU-Tennessee Executive Director Hedy Weinberg criticized the move, saying lawmakers have reduced what many consider a sacred text to a "political football."

"Lawmakers’ thinly veiled effort to promote one religion over other religions clearly violates both the United States and Tennessee Constitutions, as our state attorney general has already pointed out," she said, noting that the state is diverse in terms of faith.

"Privileging one religion over another not only tramples on the Constitution, it marginalizes the tens of thousands of Tennesseans who choose to practice other religions or not to practice religion at all," Weinberg said, while calling on Haslam to veto the legislation.

Since becoming governor in 2011, Haslam has only vetoed three bills, according to the Associated Press.

The speakers of the House and Senate must physically sign off on the legislation before Haslam can take action. If he fails to sign or veto the measure within 10 days of receiving it — excluding Sundays — the bill would automatically become law.

Reach Joel Ebert at 615-772-1681 and on Twitter @joelebert29.