Tennessee House Bill HB0829

Tennessee 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/30/23
• Refer: 2/2/23
• Failed: 3/14/23

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 20; Title 39; Title 49; Title 53; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71, relative to reproductive health care.

Impact

The bill proposes significant amendments to existing provisions within Tennessee Code Annotated, affecting multiple titles related to health care and reproductive rights. It aims to remove certain restrictions and limitations imposed on individuals concerning reproductive health, signaling a shift towards safeguarding personal choice in family planning and reproductive decisions. Specifically, it disconnects the rights of a fetus from those of the pregnant individual, which could align Tennessee's law with those of other states that protect reproductive health more broadly.

Summary

House Bill 0829, known as the 'Fundamental Right to Reproductive Health Care Act,' aims to define and secure the fundamental rights related to reproductive health in Tennessee. It establishes that every individual has the right to make decisions about their reproductive health, including the ability to access or decline contraceptive methods and the right to terminate a pregnancy. This bill explicitly states that a fertilized egg, embryo, or fetus does not possess independent rights under the law, emphasizing the individual's autonomy over reproductive decisions.

Contention

Despite its intent, HB 0829 has faced resistance and failed to pass in the Population Health Subcommittee of the Health Committee. Critics argue that the bill does not sufficiently address the complexities surrounding reproductive health and fails to provide necessary safeguards against potential governmental overreach in regulating individuals' reproductive choices. Detractors also express concern about the implications of such broad rights without adequate constraints, fearing that it might lead to legal disputes over reproductive health services and access in Tennessee.