Jake Lowary

USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee

A controversial bill that has drawn protests and opposition from city managers across the state passed easily through the Senate after several revisions and discussions over the past three weeks.

The bill, from gubernatorial candidate Sen. Mark Green, R-Clarksville, passed by a 25-5, with two Republicans voting against the bill, Sen. Steve Dickerson, R-Nashville, and Sen. Doug Overbey, R-Maryville. There were no protesters in the rotunda ahead of the vote Thursday.

The bill prevents local governments from taking "discriminatory action" — like negating or not approving a contract — with a company based on the company's internal policies related to personnel or employee benefits. So, for example, a city couldn't evaluate a contract proposal from a company that does not offer maternity benefits or have protections in place for LGBT individuals.

Green has insisted the bill is necessary to avoid creating a "patchwork" of policies in cities and municipalities across the state.

"Make (state law) consistent across the state," Green said. "That's the reason for the bill."

But several state and federal agencies already have different nondiscrimination policies. For example, few state departments and agencies specifically include sexual orientation or gender identity in their nondiscrimination policies, but two state universities, University of Memphis and Austin Peay State University, do include those specific populations in those clauses, which are used in hiring and university procurement.

Opposition in the Senate was primarily from Democrats who said the bill would open the state to litigation, as well as the Tennessee City Managers Association, which is opposed to the measure.

"I believe (the bill) is a solution looking for a problem," said Sen. Jeff Yarbro, D-Nashville.

National pro-LGBT organizations almost immediately stood in opposition to the passage. GLAAD, a pro-LGBT rights organization, called the bill a "license to discriminate."

“With its thriving music industry, Tennessee is an important cultural center for the country," GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said in a statement. "But SB 127, with its ‘license to discriminate’ language, puts the state’s economic well-being – as well as its reputation – at risk.

"Tennesseans and the media must hold lawmakers accountable for the negative impact that state-sanctioned discrimination invites on the state. We only need to look to North Carolina or Indiana to see the harm done by these kinds of ill-advised measures.”

The House will now take up the bill, which is sponsored in that chamber by Rep. Jason Zachary, R-Knoxville. If passed there, it will go to Gov. Bill Haslam's desk for final approval.

Jake Lowary covers Tennessee politics and state government for the USA Today Network. Reach him at 615-881-7039 or follow him on Twitter @JakeLowary.