Bill > SB1663

This bill, known as the "Recognizing Judea and Samaria Act," amends Tennessee law to officially recognize the regions of Judea and Samaria by their historical names, asserting their significance as the ancestral heartland of the Jewish people and the historical core of the Land of Israel, as referenced extensively in the Hebrew Bible. The bill declares that the term "West Bank" is a political construct imposed during a period of Jordanian occupation and that its use is an attempt to erase the Jewish identity of the region. It further states that Israel's control of Judea and Samaria is essential for its defense and serves the strategic interests of the United States by preventing the emergence of terrorist-controlled states and promoting regional stability. Consequently, state agencies are prohibited from using the term "West Bank" in official government materials, with certain exceptions for federal communications, academic work, and individual speech, and state funds cannot be used to create such materials. The act takes effect on July 1, 2026.