HB 2585 Tennessee House · 114th Regular Session (2025-2026)

Damages - As introduced, states that the amount of damages awarded as noneconomic damages must not exceed $1 million in a health care liability action arising from obstetric or maternity negligence resulting in the death or permanent injury of a pregnant or postpartum woman. - Amends TCA Section 29-39-102.

HB 2585 would cap noneconomic damages at $1 million in medical malpractice lawsuits involving obstetric or maternity negligence that causes a pregnant or postpartum woman's death or permanent injury. It directly affects patients (or their families) who might file such lawsuits and healthcare providers facing these claims. The bill amends Tennessee law to limit compensation for pain, suffering, and emotional distress (noneconomic damages) to $1 million in these specific cases, while leaving economic damages (like medical bills) unaffected. This is a concrete policy change to restrict damage awards in a defined subset of medical liability cases.
Bill status died 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Apr 2026
House Passage
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 4, 2026 Last action Apr 23, 2026
Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the House by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
28
Key actions
17
Committee
17
Amendments
1
Apr 22, 2026
Introduced
Received from House, Passed on First Consideration
lower
Apr 21, 2026
Lower · Passed
H. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA1145)
lower
Apr 21, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed H., as am., Ayes 88, Nays 0, PNV 0
lower
Apr 14, 2026
Lower · Passed
Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee
lower
Apr 14, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/14/2026
lower
Apr 8, 2026
Lower · Passed
Action def. in Judiciary Committee to 4/15/2026
lower
Apr 8, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 4/14/2026
lower
Apr 1, 2026
Lower · Passed
Action def. in Judiciary Committee to 4/8/2026
lower
Apr 1, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 4/7/2026
lower
Mar 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
Action def. in Judiciary Committee to 4/1/2026
lower
Mar 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 4/1/2026
lower
Mar 18, 2026
Lower · Passed
Action def. in Judiciary Committee to 3/25/2026
lower
Mar 18, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/23/2026
lower
Mar 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
Action def. in Judiciary Committee to 3/18/2026
lower
Mar 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/18/2026
lower
Mar 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Judiciary Committee
lower
Mar 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/11/2026
lower
Feb 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Civil Justice Subcommittee for 3/4/2026
lower
Feb 5, 2026
Committee
P2C, ref. to Judiciary Committee
lower
Feb 5, 2026
Committee
Assigned to s/c Civil Justice Subcommittee
lower
Feb 4, 2026
Introduced
Intro., P1C.
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Jesse Chism
Jesse Chism
DDemocratic
TN
85