This bill, known as the "Tennessee Women's Childbirth Alternatives, Resources, and Education Act" (or "Trixtian's Law"), protects pregnant and postpartum individuals in Tennessee's criminal justice system by prohibiting the use of their pregnancy-related health information as evidence in criminal cases. It bans criminal charges based on pregnancy outcomes like miscarriage, stillbirth, or drug exposure during pregnancy, and requires correctional facilities to provide pregnancy testing within 72 hours. Facilities must also report annual data on incarcerated pregnant individuals and birth outcomes (without personal identifiers) to the Department of Health, while expediting transfers of pregnant people to state custody. These provisions directly affect incarcerated women, correctional facilities, and health data reporting practices across Tennessee.
SJR 565 is a resolution designating March 2026 as "Endometriosis Awareness Month" in Tennessee. It does not create new laws or policies but aims to promote public and healthcare education about endometriosis, a chronic condition affecting approximately 1 in 10 women of childbearing age. The resolution highlights key issues like delayed diagnosis (averaging 10 years), symptoms including pelvic pain and infertility, and the need for greater awareness to improve early detection. This symbolic measure directly affects Tennessee residents by encouraging community engagement and education efforts during March 2026.
SB 1806 amends Tennessee law to remove a three-year deadline (statute of repose) for filing healthcare liability claims when an injury wasn't discovered at the time of the negligent act. Instead, it allows such claims to be filed within one year of when the injury was discovered. This change directly affects patients who later discover medical negligence, such as delayed diagnosis of a surgical error or misdiagnosis. The bill modifies Tennessee Code Annotated Sections 29-26-116(a) and related provisions in Titles 28 and 29. The policy change clarifies the timeframe for filing these specific medical malpractice claims.
HB 1844 expands safe surrender options for newborns in Tennessee by adding 24-hour ambulance stations to the list of facilities where parents can legally leave infants without legal consequences. The bill amends Tennessee Code (Sections 68-11-255) to explicitly include ambulance stations staffed 24/7 by licensed emergency medical providers, alongside existing options like hospitals and fire departments. It also updates language to require facilities to have "staff scheduled continuously on a 24-hour basis" rather than simply "being staffed." This change directly affects parents seeking to voluntarily surrender newborns, providing additional accessible, safe locations for this process.
SB 2045 requires healthcare regulatory authorities in Tennessee to report quarterly to the Department of Health the number and type of disciplinary actions taken against providers who knowingly perform or offer prohibited medical procedures on minors. This applies specifically to disciplinary actions under Tennessee Code Annotated, Titles 63 and 68, Chapter 33. The bill mandates that these reports include details about violations involving minors and prohibited procedures, enhancing transparency for the Department of Health. It does not change the definition of prohibited procedures but focuses on requiring regular reporting of disciplinary outcomes. The bill directly affects healthcare providers who violate these provisions and the regulatory bodies overseeing their licensing.
SB 1947 requires blood banks to follow a physician's order for a patient's own blood donation (autologous) or a donation designated for a specific patient (directed). It also mandates hospitals to permit such donations for scheduled medical procedures when ordered by a physician, unless medically unsafe. Both blood banks and hospitals may charge reasonable administrative fees but must still comply with all federal and state blood safety, testing, and compatibility requirements. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, directly affecting patients, blood banks, and hospitals in Tennessee.
SB 2060 requires counties with populations under 800,000 and non-metropolitan municipalities to provide unpaid, job-protected leave for certain medical emergencies to eligible employees starting January 1, 2027. It applies to county and municipal workers who have completed 11 months/3 weeks of service, meet federal FMLA eligibility, and have no other available leave options for the emergency. The bill defines "qualifying medical emergencies" as birth, stillbirth, caring for a family member with a serious health condition, or the employee’s own serious health condition. It does not apply to counties over 800,000 population or those with metropolitan government structures. This policy change mandates local government employers to establish leave policies aligning with federal FMLA standards for covered employees.
SB 1753 amends Tennessee law to prohibit using the terms "clinical informatics," "lifestyle medicine," or "medical virtualist" after a person’s name to mislead others into believing they are licensed to practice medicine or osteopathic medicine. The bill directly affects healthcare professionals who might use these titles without proper medical licensure. It adds these specific terms to the existing list of prohibited designations under Tennessee Code Annotated Sections 63-6-204(m)(1) and related chapters. The legislation aims to prevent public confusion about who is legally authorized to provide medical care. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Health and Welfare Committee after passing initial committee stages.
SB 2076 expands the scope of practice for Tennessee optometrists by allowing them to perform specific minor surgical procedures under local anesthesia, such as removing small eyelid lesions or treating minor lacerations. It directly affects licensed optometrists in Tennessee who meet certification requirements for administering local anesthetics. The bill permits procedures like excising non-malignant skin lesions under 5mm or draining eyelid abscesses, but explicitly prohibits more complex surgeries like cataract removal, LASIK, or retinal procedures. These changes are codified in amendments to Tennessee Code Annotated § 63-8-102, with all new surgical authority subject to board approval and strict limitations.
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.
