Healthcare

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 11, 2026

SB 1767: Health Care - As introduced, enacts the "Tennessee mRNA Pharmaceutical Sovereignty and Safety Act," which prohibits individuals, including professional providers of health care and veterinary medicine, from administering any vaccine or other injectable solution that contains an mRNA vaccine or vaccine material. - Amends TCA Title 33; Title 37; Title 44; Title 47; Title 49; Title 53; Title 63 and Title 68.

SB 1767, the "Tennessee mRNA Pharmaceutical Sovereignty and Safety Act," prohibits healthcare and veterinary providers from administering any vaccine or injectable solution containing mRNA technology. It directly affects medical professionals, hospitals, clinics, and animal care facilities by banning the use of all mRNA-based vaccines (like current COVID-19 vaccines) for humans and animals. The bill amends multiple Tennessee Code titles to implement this prohibition, targeting the specific medical products rather than broader healthcare policies. It does not address vaccine efficacy or safety claims but mandates a legal ban on administering these specific products.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBans mRNA vaccines, restricting medical providers' ability to administer approved vaccines, directly limiting patient access to a key healthcare service.95% confidence

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signed · Tennessee · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 2031: Healthcare Liability - As enacted, authorizes a person to bring a civil action against a healthcare professional for an injury that is a result of a medical procedure, if the procedure was for enabling the person to identify with, or live as, a purported identity inconsistent with the person's sex or treating purported discomfort or distress from a discordance between the person's sex and asserted identity, and the person consented; or if the person was a minor at the time of the procedure, the person's parent, guardian, or representative consented due to an act of coercion by the professional. - Amends TCA Title 29; Title 63 and Title 68.

SB 2031 creates a new legal right for individuals to sue healthcare professionals if they were coerced into receiving certain medical procedures - such as puberty blockers, hormones, or surgeries - based on false claims about gender identity. It specifically applies when patients (or parents/guardians for minors) consented due to coercion by the provider, and the procedure was intended to help someone "identify with a purported identity inconsistent with sex." The bill defines "medical procedure" broadly to include hormone treatments, surgical interventions, and related care. Lawsuits must be filed within 18 years of the procedure or when the injury was discovered.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill creates legal liability for healthcare providers who coerce patients into gender-affirming procedures (e.g., puberty blockers), restricting access to these treatments by increasing provider risk.90% confidence

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 2, 2026

SB 1949: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, enacts the "mRNA Bioweapons Prohibition Act," which prohibits the manufacture, acquisition, possession, or making accessible to others of mRNA injections and products; requires state and local government officials to use all lawful means necessary to investigate or enforce suspected violations; punishes violations the same as manufacturing, acquiring, possessing, or transferring a weapon of mass destruction, which is a Class B felony. - Amends TCA Title 8; Title 14; Title 39; Title 40; Title 53; Title 63 and Title 68.

SB 1949, the "mRNA Bioweapons Prohibition Act," prohibits the manufacture, possession, or distribution of modified mRNA products (including certain vaccines and gene therapies) in Tennessee, classifying violations as Class B felonies - equivalent to weapons of mass destruction offenses. It defines prohibited products as synthetic mRNA with specific genetic modifications (e.g., N-methyl-pseudouridine substitutions) used in medical treatments, excluding naturally occurring mRNA. The bill requires state and local officials to investigate violations and allows residents to sue for enforcement failures. It exempts naturally occurring mRNA and takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by classifying mRNA product violations as Class B felonies (equivalent to WMD offenses), increasing penalties without addressing criminal justice reform priorities.92% confidence ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareProhibits mRNA-based medical treatments (vaccines, gene therapies) under felony penalties, restricting patient access to healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 23, 2026

SB 1664: Health Care - As enacted, prohibits certain healthcare providers from knowingly or willfully asking a minor, or a health insurance issuer, managed care organization, or entity providing reimbursement for healthcare services from requiring or requesting a healthcare provider or facility to ask, certain gender-related questions for any purpose; makes other related changes. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 33; Title 47; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71.

Tennessee's SB 1664 prohibits healthcare providers from asking minors questions about gender identity, gender confusion, or whether they feel "normal in their body" without a parent being physically present, fully informed, and providing written consent. The bill specifically bans questions like "Do you identify as a gender different from your sex?" unless directly related to diagnosing or treating a current medical or psychological condition. It also prevents health insurers from requiring such questions for payment or penalizing providers who don't ask them. The law applies to all healthcare providers and facilities serving minors under 18, with exceptions for emergencies, mandated child abuse reporting, and minors who are emancipated or parents themselves.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareRestricts healthcare providers from discussing gender identity with minors without parental consent, limiting access to gender-affirming care and patient-provider communication for sensitive health issues.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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in committee · Tennessee · House Feb 5, 2025

HB 551: Health Care - As introduced, urges the human rights commission to study problems of discrimination against healthcare providers in this state because of their decision to decline to participate in a healthcare service on the basis of religious, moral, or ethical beliefs. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 20; Title 29; Title 39; Title 49; Title 50; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71.

HB 551 urges Tennessee's Human Rights Commission to study whether healthcare providers face discrimination for declining services based on religious, moral, or ethical beliefs. The bill requires the Commission to include its findings and recommendations in annual reports to the legislature. It directly affects healthcare providers (such as doctors or nurses) who may refuse specific services like abortion or contraception due to personal beliefs. The bill does not change existing laws but mandates a formal study of potential discrimination against such providers.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill enables healthcare providers to refuse services (e.g., abortion/contraception) based on beliefs, directly limiting patient access to care per bill's focus on provider refusal.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

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died · Tennessee · House Apr 8, 2025

HB 1000: TennCare - As enacted, makes revisions regarding determining when the annual coverage assessment is implemented and imposed; sets limits on the expenditures for directed payments to hospitals in certain circumstances. - Amends TCA Title 71, Chapter 5.

HB 1000 modifies Tennessee's TennCare program by shortening the deadline for implementing the annual coverage assessment from seven to five days. This change directly affects the TennCare program and hospitals receiving directed payments, as it streamlines the timeline for assessing coverage. The bill's key provision is the specific deadline adjustment in TCA Title 71, Chapter 5, Section 71-5-2005(d)(2)(D). The bill became law as Public Chapter 115 on April 8, 2025.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill sets limits on hospital payment expenditures under TennCare, restricting program funding and implementation timelines.85% confidence

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signed · Tennessee · House Apr 4, 2025

HB 395: Anatomical Gifts - As enacted, enacts the "Tennessee Genomic Security and End Organ Harvesting Act." - Amends TCA Title 56 and Title 68.

HB 395, the "Tennessee Genomic Security and End Organ Harvesting Act," prohibits Tennessee health insurers from covering organ transplants or post-transplant care if the organ was sourced from China or procured through sale/donation originating in China. It also bans medical and research facilities from using genetic sequencing equipment or software produced by entities linked to "foreign adversaries" (specifically targeting China per the bill's context), requiring replacement within 180 days. Additionally, the bill mandates that all genetic sequencing data must be stored within the United States, with remote access from outside the country prohibited without approval from the state health commissioner. The law takes effect on January 1, 2026, directly affecting health insurers, hospitals, and research facilities operating in Tennessee.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareRestricts insurer coverage for China-sourced organ transplants, limiting patient access to transplant care and prohibiting certain medical equipment use related to healthcare services.90% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyBans use of Chinese-linked genetic sequencing tech for security, restricting foreign technology access per cybersecurity focus.92% confidence

introduced · Tennessee · House Feb 10, 2025

HB 1119: Public Health - As introduced, requires the attorney general to report to the speaker of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives certain information regarding violations of the prohibition against using medical procedures to enable a minor to identify with, or live as, a purported identity inconsistent with the minor's sex or to treat purported discomfort or distress from discordance between the minor's sex and asserted identity. - Amends TCA Title 9; Title 14; Title 28; Title 29; Title 33; Title 34; Title 36; Title 37; Title 39; Title 40; Title 49; Title 50; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71.

HB 1119 requires Tennessee's Attorney General to annually report by March 1 to the Senate and House Speakers on violations of a prohibition against medical procedures for minors that are inconsistent with the minor's sex or to treat gender dysphoria. The report must include the number of violations reported, actions taken against healthcare providers, and civil penalties collected from enforcement. This bill adds a transparency requirement for existing restrictions but does not change the underlying prohibition on such medical procedures. The reporting applies only to violations reported to the Attorney General under current law.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareRestricts gender-affirming medical care for minors by requiring enforcement reporting on violations of existing prohibitions against such procedures.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

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in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 4, 2025

HB 1156: Children - As introduced, deletes the responsibility of a parent or legal guardian to ensure that such person's child receives vaccines as recommended by guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the American Academy of Pediatrics. - Amends TCA Title 37.

HB 1156 would remove a Tennessee law requiring parents or legal guardians to ensure their children receive vaccines recommended by the CDC or AAP. This change directly affects parents and guardians in Tennessee who currently have this legal obligation under TCA Title 37. The bill specifically deletes Section 37-10-401(a) of the Tennessee Code but clarifies it won't impact existing school, daycare, or childcare immunization requirements. The legislation is currently pending in the Health Committee for further review.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareRemoves legal mandate for childhood vaccinations, weakening public health enforcement without altering school requirements90% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health

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passed both · Tennessee · Senate Apr 4, 2025

SB 318: Anatomical Gifts - As enacted, enacts the "Tennessee Genomic Security and End Organ Harvesting Act." - Amends TCA Title 56 and Title 68.

SB 318, the "Tennessee Genomic Security and End Organ Harvesting Act," prohibits Tennessee health insurers from covering organ transplants sourced from the People's Republic of China or performed there, effective January 1, 2026. It also bans medical and research facilities from using genetic sequencing equipment or software produced by or linked to "foreign adversaries" (defined as nations on U.S. sanctions lists), requiring replacement within 180 days. The bill restricts storage of genetic sequencing data to U.S. geographic locations and prohibits remote access from outside the U.S. without state health commissioner approval. These provisions directly affect health insurers, hospitals, and research facilities operating in Tennessee.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareProhibits insurers from covering China-sourced organ transplants and bans foreign-linked genetic equipment, restricting healthcare access and coverage options.90% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyRestricts use of genetic sequencing tech from foreign adversaries, banning equipment linked to sanctioned nations and requiring replacement within 180 days.95% confidence

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