Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

Tennessee Senate Bill SB0474 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1
2	2	HOUSE BILL 387
3	3	By Butler
4	4
5	5	SENATE BILL 474
6	6	By Bowling
7	7
8	8
9	9	SB0474
10	10	001897
11	11	- 1 -
12	12
13	13	AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 63
14	14	and Title 68, relative to healthcare providers.
15	15
16	16	BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
17	17	SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 63, Chapter 1, Part 1, is amended by
18	18	adding the following as a new section:
19	19	(a) As used in this section, "healthcare provider":
20	20	(1) Has the same meaning as defined in § 63-1-117(k);
21	21	(2) Includes an employee, assistant, or contractor of such professional,
22	22	establishment, or facility; and
23	23	(3) Does not include a psychiatrist or psychologist licensed pursuant to
24	24	chapter 6 or 11 of this title.
25	25	(b) A healthcare provider shall not:
26	26	(1) Inquire as to the patient's ownership, possession of, or access to
27	27	firearm ammunition or firearm accessories;
28	28	(2) Require information described in subdivision (b)(1) to be disclosed
29	29	before providing treatment to the patient;
30	30	(3) Deny future treatment of a patient based upon a patient's ownership
31	31	or control of a firearm, firearm ammunition, or firearm accessories;
32	32	(4) Enter, or have another enter, information described in subdivision
33	33	(b)(1) into a patient's record unless the information is relevant to the patient's
34	34	medical care or safety or the safety of others; or
35	35	(5) Share the information described in subdivision (b)(1) with an insurer.
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37	37
38	38	- 2 - 001897
39	39
40	40	(c) A healthcare provider shall not discriminate against a patient based upon the
41	41	patient's exercise of the constitutional right to own and possess a firearm, firearm
42	42	ammunition, or firearm accessories.
43	43	(d) If a healthcare provider does inquire as to the patient's ownership,
44	44	possession of, or access to firearm ammunition or firearm accessories, then the
45	45	healthcare provider shall provide written notice to the patient that the patient has no duty
46	46	to respond to the inquiry.
47	47	(e)
48	48	(1) A healthcare provider who violates subsection (b) or (c) is guilty of
49	49	unethical conduct and is subject to:
50	50	(A) Disciplinary action by the healthcare provider's licensing
51	51	authority; and
52	52	(B) A fine of one thousand dollars ($1,000) per violation.
53	53	(2) In addition to other penalties available to the provider's licensing
54	54	authority, the healthcare provider's licensing authority may take disciplinary
55	55	action and seek injunctive or other relief as appropriate against that healthcare
56	56	provider or an entity for a violation of this section.
57	57	SECTION 2. If any provision of this act or the application of any provision of this act to
58	58	any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or
59	59	applications of the act that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to
60	60	that end, the provisions of this act are severable.
61	61	SECTION 3. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it, and
62	62	applies to conduct occurring on or after that date.