Tennessee House Bill HB1626

Tennessee 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 12/21/23
• Refer: 1/10/24
• Failed: 3/5/24

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 20; Title 37; Title 39; Title 49; Title 53; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71, relative to reproductive health care.

Impact

The enactment of HB1626 would significantly alter the landscape of reproductive healthcare in Tennessee by prohibiting state interference in individuals' fundamental reproductive rights. This includes preventing any state agency or entity from criminalizing actions taken by individuals exercising their reproductive rights. Furthermore, it mandates that healthcare plans available through state exchanges must offer coverage for reproductive health care as defined in the bill, ensuring access to a wide array of reproductive health services.

Summary

House Bill 1626, known as the 'Fundamental Right to Reproductive Health Care Act', seeks to amend multiple sections of the Tennessee Code Annotated, specifically addressing reproductive health care rights. The bill asserts that every individual has a fundamental right to make decisions concerning their reproductive health, which includes the right to use or refuse contraceptive procedures and the choice to continue a pregnancy or undergo an abortion. Importantly, it declares that fertilized eggs, embryos, or fetuses do not possess independent rights under Tennessee law.

Contention

There are notable points of contention surrounding HB1626, particularly among lawmakers and advocacy groups. Supporters advocate that the bill is essential for protecting individual freedoms concerning reproductive health decisions. Conversely, opponents express concerns that while promoting individual rights, the bill could undermine existing state regulations designed to protect vulnerable populations and ensure safe practices in reproductive health care. Critics may see the removal of state oversight as potentially harmful, raising debates about the balance between personal freedoms and regulatory oversight in health care.