Bill pushing to teach TN students marriage before kids as one key to success heads to Gov. Lee’s desk

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – A bill that would require Tennessee public schools to teach certain keys to a successful life is now headed to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk.

On Monday, HB 0178/SB 0471 passed in the House 73-20. The bill already passed in the Senate with the following amendment: “AMENDMENT #1 changes the effective date from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2026, and applies the bill to the 2026-2027 school year, instead of the 2025-2026 school year, and each school year thereafter.”

The bill aims to teach a success sequence to students, which includes finishing high school, then getting a job or moving to higher education, getting married and then having children.

It was introduced by Rep. Gino Bulso (R-Brentwood) and Sen. Janice Bowling (R-Tullahoma).

“Some children are not privileged to recognize that or live within that,” said Sen. Bowling. “And so in these classes, these children will be given this key to success.”

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