Image Credit: TN General Assembly
The Tennessee Conservative [By Adelia Kirchner] –
On the final day of the Tennessee 2025 legislative session, a resolution designating a time of prayer and fasting for the “physically able and spiritually inclined” to seek “God’s hand of mercy and healing on Tennessee” officially passed the state Senate by a 27-3 vote.
House Joint Resolution 51 (HJR0051), sponsored by Rep. Monty Fritts (R-Kingston-District 32), designates July as a month of prayer and fasting to seek “God’s hand of mercy and healing on Tennessee” for those who are “spiritually inclined and physically able.”
Under a similar resolution, Rep. Fritts traveled to all 95 Tennessee counties last summer to meet with Tennesseans as they participated in the commitment to prayer and fasting.
HJR0051 passed by an 81-8 vote on the House floor in early March, but was reportedly “held hostage” in the Senate for unspecified reasons.
In the House, lawmakers from both sides of the political isle acknowledged their “sins and shortcomings, both individually and as a people” and agreed to “humbly” ask for the Lord’s forgiveness by voting in favor HJR0051.
However, when the resolution was finally taken up on the Senate floor during the last day of Tennessee’s 2025 legislative session, it passed along party lines.
Republican Senators Raumesh Akbari, Paul Bailey, Janice Bowling, Richard Briggs, Rusty Crowe, Todd Gardenhire, Ferrell Haile, Bobby Harshbarger, Tom Hatcher, Joey Hensley, Ed Jackson, Jack Johnson, Adam Lowe, Mark Pody, Bill Powers, Shane Reeves, Kerry Roberts, Paul Rose, Jessie Seal, Steve Southerland, John Stevens, Brent Taylor, Page Walley, Bo Watson, Dawn White, Ken Yager and Lt. Gov. Randy McNally all voted to pass the resolution.
Democrat Senators Sara Kyle, London Lamar and Charlane Oliver voted against it.
HJR0051 was carried in the Senate by Sen. Mark Pody (R-Lebanon-District-17).
Senators Ken Yager and John Stevens also signed on as co-sponsors of the resolution.
“This is something that we did last year and we actually toured and we went to all 95 counties and there was prayer in all 95 counties,” Sen. Pody said on the floor. “What we’re asking again is that we set aside the month of July for those that are physically able and spiritually inclined to have a month of prayer and intermittent fasting.”
There ended up being 43 co-sponsors in the House, including Republicans Scott Cepicky, Jody Barrett, Todd Warner, Jerome Moon, Kevin Raper, Gino Bulso, Ed Butler, Chris Hurt, Michele Reneau, Kelly Keisling, Michael Hale, Rick Eldridge, Bud Hulsey, Chris Todd, Debra Moody, Sabi “Doc” Kumar, Clay Doggett, Elaine Davis, Jeremy Faison, John Crawford, Dennis Powers, Mike Sparks, Jason Zachary, Tim Rudd, Aron Maberry, Timothy Hill, Rusty Grills, Tandy Darby, Rebecca Alexander, Jay Reedy, Jake McCalmon, Brock Martin, Rush Bricken, David Hawk, William Lamberth, Rick Scarbrough, Jeff Burkhart, Kip Capley, Lee Reeves, Mark White, Renea Jones, Michelle Carringer and Justin Lafferty.
Now that HJR0051 has been passed by both chambers of the legislature, it will soon be sent to the desk of Gov. Bill Lee (R-TN) for his signature.
About the Author: Adelia Kirchner is a Tennessee resident and reporter for the Tennessee Conservative. Currently the host of Subtle Rampage Podcast, she has also worked for the South Dakota State Legislature and interned for Senator Bill Hagerty’s Office in Nashville, Tennessee. Adelia is The Tennessee Conservative’s on-site reporter for the Tennessee General Assembly. You can reach Adelia at adelia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
