WSMV Channel 4 TN Senate to vote on naming state evergreen tree

TN Senate to vote on naming state evergreen tree

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A proposal to name the eastern red cedar as Tennessee's official evergreen tree is headed for a full Senate vote.

The Senate State and Local Government Committee on Tuesday unanimously advanced the measure sponsored by Sen. Mike Faulk of Kingsport.

Faulk told the panel that the state already has a state tree in the tulip poplar, but no official evergreen. He noted that the tree was used to landscape Andrew Jackson's Heritage estate and that the hill where the state Capitol is located was once known as Cedar Knob.

Faulk's presentation about the cedar's significance in state history was cut off by colleagues eager to vote on the measure. It received an 8-0 vote to send it to the Senate floor.

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