Health Care - As introduced, authorizes a patient with a severe chronic disease or terminal illness to access, and a physician to recommend, investigational stem cell treatment; requires the commissioner of health to promulgate rules to, among other things, list the medical conditions that constitute a qualifying severe chronic disease or terminal illness. - Amends TCA Title 53; Title 63 and Title 68.
SB 152 allows patients with severe chronic diseases or terminal illnesses to access investigational stem cell treatments (adult stem cell therapies still in clinical trials and not yet FDA-approved) after their doctors confirm other FDA-approved treatments aren't viable. It requires Tennessee’s health commissioner to create rules listing qualifying medical conditions and mandates doctors to document that all standard treatments were considered before recommending these experimental therapies. The bill also protects physicians from license penalties for following these guidelines and prohibits government interference with patient access. This directly affects patients with qualifying conditions and their treating physicians in Tennessee.
Bill status
passed
3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2025
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 16, 2025
Last action Apr 3, 2025
Floor votes · Senate Mar 31, 2025
How they voted
35–0
Passed
Total votes 35
Mar 31, 2025
D
Democratic7
100% Yea
R
Republican28
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
9
Key actions
3
Committee
3
Mar 31, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate, Ayes 30, Nays 0
upper
Mar 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee
lower
Mar 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on Senate Health and Welfare Committee calendar for 3/26/2025
lower
Jan 27, 2025
Committee
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Health and Welfare Committee
upper
Jan 16, 2025
Introduced
Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Mark Pody
RRepublican
Ask Maddy
·
AI policy assistant
Ask Maddy about SB 152
Scope: TN
Hi! I can help you understand SB 152. What would you like to know?
Try one of these
i
Maddy answers using official bill text and legislative records. Always verify before sharing.
Sources cited inline