Bill > HB1446

This bill, known as the "Recognizing Judea and Samaria Act," amends Tennessee law to officially recognize the regions of Judea and Samaria, asserting their historical, spiritual, and biblical significance to the Jewish people and their ancestral homeland. The act declares that the term "West Bank" is a political construct imposed during Jordan's occupation and that the historical names "Judea" and "Samaria" are the accurate terms for the land. It mandates that state agencies, in their official government materials, must use "Judea" and "Samaria" instead of "West Bank" and prohibits the use of state funds to create materials using the term "West Bank" when referring to these regions, with exceptions for federal agency communications and academic freedom. The bill also outlines the strategic importance of these regions to Israel's defense and its alignment with Judeo-Christian values and U.S. interests, emphasizing that this recognition is consistent with international law and does not infringe on free speech or academic expression.