In previous years, abortion and gender-affirming care have each taken a turn dominating the headlines made by the Tennessee General Assembly. This year, legislators have introduced a smorgasbord of new bills in the health care realm that play off laws from past sessions.
Perhaps the most extreme bill comes from Rep. Gino Bulso (R-Brentwood), who wants to create a $5 million civil penalty for companies or people who distribute mifepristone for the purpose of a medication abortion. As it stands, Tennesseans can order the drug in the mail, despite past attempts from the legislature to ban that capability. Since the end of last year’s legislative session, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that anti-abortion groups did not have the legal standing to challenge the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of the drug too. Mifepristone can be used in pregnancies at fewer than 70 days gestation and accounts for nearly two-thirds of abortions in 2023, but the drug is also used in hospitals during miscarriages.
During the previous legislative session, Sen. Richard Briggs (R-Knoxville), who is a physician, said he would introduce legislation to allow for abortions in the case of fatal fetal anomalies — fetuses with complications so severe that they could not sustain life outside of the womb. After tabling the bill following pressure from lobbyists, Briggs told the Scene it was his biggest disappointment of the session. He tells the Scene that, as of this writing, he is not prepared to release a statement on bringing similar legislation this year.
Sen. Richard Briggs describes ‘biggest disappointment of the session’
From the Democrats, a bill introduced by Rep. Yusuf Hakeem (D-Memphis) would allow for abortions in the case of rape and incest. Similar legislation, including a law that would allow abortions for children under age 13, was shot down in 2024. In addition, Senate Minority Leader Raumesh Akbari (D-Memphis) has introduced a bill to protect the existing rights to IVF and hormonal birth control, following the failure of a similar effort in 2024. Rep. Aftyn Behn (D-Nashville) and Sen. London Lamar (D-Memphis) are making a second symbolic attempt to legalize abortion in the state as well.
Sen. Charlane Oliver (D-Nashville) and Behn have also introduced legislation that would make preschool free for every 4-year-old in Tennessee.
Tennessee is one of 10 states that have not expanded Medicaid coverage, and several pieces of legislation seek to slightly loosen the program’s restrictions. A bipartisan bill was filed by Sen. Jeff Yarbro (D-Nashville) and Rep. Charlie Baum (R-Murfreesboro) to establish a TennCare benefits program that could provide assistance on a temporary basis for those who don’t qualify for TennCare. Baum is also seeking to establish a statewide cost savings incentive program for health care, a model that rewards individuals or groups for saving money. Another bill urges TennCare to cover testing for preeclampsia.
‘I want to at least make sure they’re going to make it out alive,’ says Memphis Democrat of expectant mothers
Additional legislation from Rep. Brock Martin (R-Huntingdon) and Sen. Ed Jackson (R-Jackson) would establish minimum and maximum reimbursement rates for rural hospitals, with other legislation focusing on TennCare reimbursement rates for air ambulances and ground ambulance services.
Lamar is also planning to build on her previous doula-related legislation with SB 44, which directs the Department of Health to provide a process by which doulas can be certified to be covered by TennCare.
The 114th Tennessee General Assembly will consider education, immigration, guns and health care
