Health Care - As introduced, enacts the "Maternal Health Care Protection Act," which prohibits the exercise of a healthcare provider's right of conscience under the Medical Ethics Defense Act from allowing the provider to refuse to participate in or pay for pregnancy-related healthcare procedures, treatments, or services that are within the scope of the provider's license and professional obligations; prohibits the exercise of such right from allowing a healthcare institution or healthcare payer to adopt or enforce a policy, guideline, or contractual provision that results in the denial of pregnancy-related healthcare procedures, treatments, or services. - Amends TCA Title 63, Chapter 1, Part 9.
HB 2523, the "Maternal Health Care Protection Act," would prevent healthcare providers, institutions, and payers in Tennessee from refusing pregnancy-related care based on conscience objections. It bars providers from declining to perform or pay for services within their professional scope - such as emergency care, prenatal treatment, or standard obstetric care - and stops institutions from creating policies that deny such care. The bill specifically targets exemptions under the Medical Ethics Defense Act, ensuring patients cannot be denied essential pregnancy-related services due to personal beliefs. The bill is currently pending before the Population Health Subcommittee.
Bill status
failed
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Feb 4, 2026
Last action Mar 10, 2026
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
15
Key actions
1
Committee
3
Mar 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Population Health Subcommittee for 3/10/2026
lower
Feb 5, 2026
Committee
P2C, ref. to Health Committee
lower
Feb 5, 2026
Committee
Assigned to s/c Population Health Subcommittee
lower
Feb 4, 2026
Introduced
Intro., P1C.
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Aftyn Behn
DDemocratic
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