Senate passes bill banning the term "West Bank" in state documents

(The Center Square) – The Middle Eastern region known as the West Bank could soon be referred to as Judea and Samaria in official Tennessee documents if Gov. Bill Lee signs a bill passed by the Senate on Thursday. Covington Republican Paul Rose told Nashville Democrat Charlane Oliver during the floor debate that he wouldn't say "we need this" when referring to House Bill 1446. "I don't think it moves the needle for the state of Tennessee, but I think it's a philosophical statement that if you choose to vote for it, that you will make," Rose said. Oliver said Tennessee has real problems that the General Assembly is not addressing. "And bills like this, as the sponsor said, is not needed," Oliver said. "And so I just want to challenge us to get to the real business. The people who elected me feel like legislation like this erases their heritage." The bill says the term "West Bank" is a "deliberate attempt to erase the Jewish identity of Judea and Samaria, and to obscure the deep historical, religious and legal connections of the Jewish people to the land. Sen. Jeff Yarbro, D-Nashville, said the bill takes a side in an ongoing political dispute that's one of the "deadliest and scariest in the world." "What we're doing through this legislation, we're forcing people to use language that compels them to take that side," Yarbro said. "We're requiring everybody else to agree with our philosophy, imposed through the words we speak." The area is governed by Israeli security forces and Palestinian civil authority. Sen. Mark Pody, R-Lebanon, said he traveled to the West Bank area and met people who supported the bill. "It is the history, it is the tradition and I don't think the words matter," Pody said. Arkansas lawmakers passed a bill in 2025 banning the term 'West Bank" in their state documents. It was signed by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Florida lawmakers considered a similar bill, but it died in the Rules Committee, according to the Florida Senate's website. The bill passed by a vote of 24-8. The bill passed the House 68-21 and moves to the governor for his signature.