House plans to hold Bible bill vote Wednesday

The effort to override Gov. Bill Haslam's veto of the bill that would make the Holy Bible the state's official book formally began on Monday, with a vote expected later this week.

Rep. Jerry Sexton, R-Bean Station, officially filed his intention to re-pass the bill during the chamber's evening floor session.

After reading Haslam's veto message aloud, House Clerk Joe McCord said under the chamber's rules, any attempt to override the veto would have to wait until Wednesday's floor session, which is scheduled for 9 a.m.

Because the legislation is a House bill, it has to be voted on in that chamber first.

Sexton, who declined to answer questions from The Tennessean after the floor session, said he was concerned that the Senate might adjourn for the year before the House could send the bill to the upper chamber.

Even though the Senate does not have a floor session scheduled for Wednesday, McCord said both chambers are expected to end their work for the session at the same time.

A spokesman for Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey confirmed that the chamber is expected to schedule a floor session to take up any final bills left for consideration.

While announcing his veto on Thursday, Haslam cited Attorney General Herbert Slatery's 2015 opinion that said the measure would violate the state and federal constitutions. The governor also said he believed the measure would trivialize the Bible.

Proponents of the legislation argue they are simply trying to honor the historic and economic significance the Bible has had on the state.

It remains unclear whether the measure will successfully make its way through both chambers to override Haslam's veto, which was just the fourth since he entered office. Last week, Haslam said he's talked to several lawmakers who said although they voted in favor of the measure the first time, if given a second chance they would vote differently.

In 2015 the House passed the measure by a 55-38 margin — just five votes above the amount needed for passage. Earlier this month, the Senate approved the bill with a 19-8 vote — two more than the necessary threshold.

Reach Joel Ebert at 615-772-1681 and on Twitter @joelebert29.