(The Center Square) – A bill dubbed the “Dismantle DEI Act” passed the Tennessee House on Thursday, with one Democrat calling it the “White Fragility Act.”

The bill would prevent local governments and higher education institutions from making decisions based on diversity policies.

It easily passed the Republican-dominated House 73-24 along party lines. The Senate is expected to vote on the measure Monday.

Sponsor Rep. Aron Maberry, R-Clarksville, did not speak on the bill Thursday. The bill is sponsored by Majority Leader Jack Johnson in the Senate, who told a committee earlier this month the Lee administration did not bring the bill.

“Diversity is a wonderful thing but diversity for diversity’s sake alone and making diversity the No. 1 priority over merit and over running an effective and efficient state government, I think that is wrong,” Johnson said.

Rep. Justin Jones, D-Nashville, presented an amendment that would have called the bill the “Dismantle Civil Rights Act.” Rep. Justin Pearson, D-Memphis, labeled the bill “Another Racist Act.”

The amendments failed, along with one by Rep. Gloria Johnson, D-Nashville, who wanted to name the bill the “White Fragility Act.” She said the implication that DEI is affirmative action is wrong

“With diversity, equity and inclusion, we do have some interest in who we recruiting and who we hire, because certainly organizations that serve the entire state of Tennessee or the entire public want their employees to look like that public,” Johnson said. “Why are you all so afraid of making sure that every person of every race, of every religion, disabled, women veterans, why are you doing everything you can to complicate the relationships in the workplace? “

Democrats objected to a call for the vote, saying they wanted more time to debate.

“What happened today wasn’t just a political maneuver – it was a violation of our responsibility to the people of Tennessee,” said House Minority Leader Karen Camper., D-Memphis. “My colleagues and I were prepared to speak on behalf of our constituents, to oppose a bill that undermines fairness and opportunity for all Tennesseans. Instead, we were silenced.”

(The Center Square) – The Tennessee House and Senate passed a $59.8 billion budget amid questions from some lawmakers about possible federal cuts.

The fiscal year 2026 spending package represents more modest growth, a 2% rate.

“With revenues at more typical levels after years of historic growth, this budget reflects the careful discipline needed to protect Tennessee’s financial future,” said Sen. Bo Watson, R-Hixson, chairman of the Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee. “We’ve kept recurring spending in check and preserved low taxes, while supporting critical community services and investing in rural hospitals that serve some of our most vulnerable populations.”

The budget bill adds just shy of $146 million for the Education Freedom Scholarships, the state’s school choice program approved by the General Assembly in a January special session.

Also included is $26 million in nonrecurring funds to help those affected by Hurricane Helene and $20 million in nonrecurring money to match FEMA relief dollars. 

The largest chunk of money is a $1 billion allocation for transportation projects.

Gov. Bill Lee told The Center Square during an interview last month that the state has a $30 billion backlog of road projects that built up over decades. Lawmakers passed the Transportation Modernization Act two years ago as a vehicle to partner with the private sector to enhance the roads and made a $3 billion investment.

The governor said the $1 billion is a step in the right direction.

“We have worked to maintain our roads and our bridges and our highways,” Lee said. “We have not spent the money that we need to to expand those. We put a strong effort in maintaining, which is why we have a good road system that people are fairly satisfied with. We have congestion however and that has to be addressed.”

Democrats said they were concerned about possible cuts from the federal government that could affect consumers. House and Senate Democrats sent a letter to Finance and Administration Secretary Jim Bryson earlier this week, asking for more information about the impact of possible federal cuts. The questions continued during the budget debate. 

“Speaking broadly, we should have measures that are going to cut costs for families right now,” said Sen. Charland Oliver, D-Nashville. “Folks are trying to figure out where do they save in their household budgets and one of the things that we took out in this piece of legislation in the appropriations amendment was something that the governor requested which was a $60 million starter home fund.”

The $60 million starter home fund was slashed in committee. 

Legislators also agreed to issue bonds for some capital projects, most of them at the state’s colleges and universities.

“It’s been a while since we have issued debt,” said Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson, R-Franklin. “This will have no affect on our AAA credit ratings. At the beginning of the Lee administration, our debt service amounted to 2.4% of our tax collections. Today that number stands at 1.36%.”

The budget goes to Lee’s office for his consideration.