3/26/26 UPDATE

Your advocacy is making an impact.

SB 1663 has passed the Senate State & Local Government Committee by just ONE vote.

That narrow margin is a direct result of the pressure, calls, emails, and presence from our community. Your voices are being heard.

What happened in committee:

• Strong opposition was demonstrated through coordinated community outreach

• A Palestinian Tennessean and U.S. Navy veteran delivered powerful testimony opposing the bill, grounding the issue in lived experience and service to this country.

• Legislators heard directly from constituents pushing back against government overreach and harmful narratives

What’s next:

The bill is now headed to the Senate floor

It has not yet been scheduled, but we anticipate a vote within the next week or so

This is the final and most critical stage to stop the bill

ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE:

1. Use this tool to continue to email your State Senators
2. Call your Senator

3/12/26 UPDATE

Over the past couple of weeks, our community has shown up in powerful ways to oppose HB1446, the “West Bank Erasure” bill, also referred to as the "Recognizing Judea and Samaria Act."

More than 300+ people have taken action, 30 volunteers joined phone banks, and dozens of community members attended committee hearings to voice their opposition. We also worked with Palestinian community members to deliver powerful testimony and met directly with elected officials to raise concerns about the bill.

Despite this strong advocacy, HB1446 passed the full Tennessee House on Monday by a vote of 68–21 (with 2 Present Not Voting). Notably, GOP House leadership did not allow debate on the bill during the vote, a procedural tactic often used by the supermajority when leadership wants to avoid extended discussion or public accountability on a controversial issue.

However, the fight is not over.

The bill has now been deferred to next week in the Senate State and Local Government Committee, giving us another critical opportunity to stop it.

Our advocacy is making an impact. Legislators are hearing from constituents, and continued pressure in the coming days will be essential.

Here’s how you can help right now:

Continue contacting your legislators and urge them to vote NO on SB1663.  

Encourage friends and family to take action.  

Stay connected for rapid updates and opportunities to engage. Follow our WhatsApp broadcast channel and Instagram for the latest updates, action alerts, and ways to participate in the days ahead.

Your voice matters, and this is a moment when the community’s engagement can make a difference.

3/9/26 UPDATE

The Senate State and Local Government Committee is scheduled to vote on Tuesday, March 10, on SB1663 – the Recognizing Judea and Samaria Act, sponsored by Senator Rose. The is the Senate companion bill that would require Tennessee state agencies to stop using the internationally recognized term “West Bank” and instead mandate the use of “Judea and Samaria” in official government materials.

The Tennessee House is expected to vote on HB 1446 – Recognizing Judea and Samaria Act, sponsored by Rep. Todd on Mon March 9th. The bill would require Tennessee state agencies to stop using the internationally recognized term “West Bank” and instead use the terms “Judea and Samaria” in official state government materials.

This legislation unnecessarily inserts Tennessee into an international conflict and promotes a one-sided political and religious narrative that does not belong in state law.

We urge community members to contact their legislators and ask them to oppose SB1663/HB1446.

Why These Bills Raises Serious Concerns

1. It erases Palestinians and their lived reality

• The term “West Bank” is the internationally recognized geographic name used by the United Nations, the U.S. State Department, international media, and humanitarian organizations.

• By prohibiting Tennessee agencies from using this term, the bill promotes a politically motivated renaming that effectively erases Palestinian identity and history from official state communications.

2. The bill introduces religion and Islam into state legislation

• SB1663/HB1446 goes beyond geography and frames the conflict as:“a broader civilizational struggle between Judeo-Christian values and radical Islamic ideologies.”

• This language is deeply concerning because it injects religion into Tennessee state law and frames a foreign political conflict as a struggle against Islam.

• State legislation should not characterize global conflicts as religious battles, nor should it promote language that risks associating Islam with extremism.

• Muslim Tennesseans are part of the fabric of this state and deserve laws that treat all communities with fairness and respect.

3. Even Christian communities commonly use the term “West Bank”

• Many Christian denominations with long-standing churches in Bethlehem, Jerusalem, and the surrounding areas routinely use the term West Bank. Christian humanitarian organizations and pilgrimage groups working with Palestinian Christians also use this terminology.

• This bill, therefore, does not represent a unified Christian perspective, despite its religious framing.

4. Tennessee should focus on Tennessee

• SB1663/HB1446 directs state agencies to adopt a specific political position about territory thousands of miles away.

• At a time when Tennesseans are facing pressing challenges—such as housing affordability, healthcare access, education funding, and infrastructure—state resources should not be used debating terminology related to foreign territorial disputes.

• Tennessee taxpayers expect their legislature to focus on the needs of people in this state.