Public school students in Alabama are one step closer to being required to hear the national anthem at least once a week.

A state senate committee on Wednesday approved along party lines a bill by Sen. Gerald Allen, R-Tuscaloosa. The bill, if approved by the legislature, will then have to be approved by voters in a statewide referendum as a state constitutional amendment.

The bill specifies only the first stanza of the “Star Spangled Banner” will be heard – bypassing the third stanza that refers to slavery that has drawn criticism in the past when Allen has proposed the bill.

Still, the three Democrats on the State Governmental Affairs committee — Linda Coleman-Madison and Merika Coleman of Birmingham and Robert Stewart of Selma — voted against the bill.

Coleman disagreed with Allen’s justification for the bill that it would promote patriotism. She described growing up as a “military brat” on bases around the world and frequently hearing the song.

“That did not make me patriotic, that it was a routine,” Coleman said. “What made me patriotic and actually love this country is because of the history of this country. And at times when there were certain communities in this country that were discriminated against, not treated fairly, we rose up and we did the right things for all of the folks in this country. That’s what made me patriotic, not listening to a song.”

This is the fourth straight year that Allen has introduced the bill and the first time it has made it out of committee. A change from past bills is that the latest version does not require the song to be played at school athletic events.

“I think it’s going to serve purpose for the young children that may not have opportunity to hear the national anthem,” Allen said. “Although many of you, like myself, go to ball games and hear the national anthem. In fact, recently at my granddaughter’s softball game a couple of weeks ago, the national anthem was played. But at the same time, young children don’t have that opportunity because some of those children … parents don’t go the ball games and sporting events.”

Coleman-Madison said she believed the bill should come from the state board of education. She echoed Coleman’s sentiments that hearing the song itself will not lead to more patriotic students.

“If you really want to instill patriotism in our young people, this is not the answer,” Coleman-Madison said.

Allen disagreed, saying he believed it would be a way to encourage patriotism.

“Teaching our children to be patriotic and loving this country, it starts early on,” Allen said. “And certainly, I think that’s the driving force behind why I think this bill is important.”