NASHVILLE, Tenn. — New legislation is being proposed here in Tennessee. We spoke with two Tennessee legislators that give their insight into proposed bills in the State House of Representatives and the State Senate.
Senate Bill 2423 bans red 40 dye, and all petroleum-based synthetic colors. It passed in the Senate Monday. It prohibits an LEA or public charter schools to sell, offer to sell, or provide it to students through the school nutrition program.
“The studies that were done used massive amounts of red dye on mice. They’re not studies that are used on kids, and I’m not saying that these dyes couldn’t cause something, but for me there are so many other things that we need to be concerned with in our schools,” said Rep. Gloria Johnson (D), Tennessee State Representative (District 90).
Senate Bill 0303 would allow locals boards of education and governing bodies to display The Ten Commandments, The Declaration of Independence, The U.S. Constitution, The Constitution of Tennessee, and The Bill of Rights.
“I think we’re just clarifying in state law that our LEA’s have the ability to display that if they want to. It’s a permissive bill that doesn’t require them to if I understand it, but it will certainly clarify that they’re able to do this,” said Rep. Chris Todd (R), Tennessee State Representative (District 73)…