House passes bill to no longer require Nathan Bedford Forrest Day proclamation by governor

Amid an ongoing debate over whether to remove the bust of a controversial Confederate officer from the state Capitol, the House on Thursday approved legislation that would no longer require the governor to proclaim a day in is honor.

Gov. Bill Lee in July faced criticism and drew national attention when he announced he would be signing a required proclamation for Nathan Bedford Forrest Day, before days later announcing he would work to undo the longstanding requirement.

The House passed the governor's legislation that would no longer require him to proclaim those days with a 91-0 vote, with three members casting votes of "present."

"The governor felt like it would be a good idea if he didn't sign any day," said House Republican Caucus Chairman Jeremy Faison, R-Cosby.

Not only does House Bill 2266 remove the requirement that Lee proclaim Forrest Day, it also generally removes the requirement that the governor proclaim special days of observation.

Per state law, since 1969 the Tennessee governor has been tasked with issuing proclamations for six separate days of special observation, three of which, including the July 13 Forrest Day, pertain to the Confederacy. Prior to that, those days were legal holidays.

Lee — and governors who have come before him — are also required by state law to proclaim Jan. 19 as Robert E. Lee Day, honoring the commander of the Confederate Army, as well as June 3 Confederate Decoration Day, otherwise known as Confederate Memorial Day and the birthday of Confederate President Jefferson Davis.

Current law requires the governor to proclaim Abraham Lincoln Day on Feb. 12, Andrew Jackson Day on March 15 and Veterans Day on Nov. 11, and to "invite the people of this state to observe the days in schools, churches, and other suitable places with appropriate ceremonies expressive of the public sentiment befitting the anniversary of such dates."

"Any day that we the legislature deem as noteworthy, the governor isn’t constrained to sign a proclamation for that day," said Faison, who has been among the few Republicans to speak out calling for a bust of Forrest to be removed from the Capitol

The bill remains in Senate committees.

Reach Natalie Allison at nallison@tennessean.com. Follow her on Twitter at @natalie_allison.

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