HB0188 • 2026

Physicians and Surgeons

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 8, Chapter 27; Title 56; Title 68 and Title 71, relative to pregnancy serological testing.

Healthcare

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor: Martin G
Last action: 2025-02-03
Official status: Withdrawn.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill text specifies requirements for syphilis testing but does not include details about rubella immunity or hepatitis B surface antigen testing beyond mentioning them in the context of existing law.

Amending Pregnancy Serological Testing Requirements

This bill amends Tennessee's laws to require syphilis testing for pregnant women at specific times during pregnancy and delivery.

What This Bill Does

Requires doctors, surgeons, or other healthcare providers who attend a pregnant woman to take blood samples from the woman to test for syphilis infection at three different times: first examination, between weeks 28 and 32 of pregnancy, and at delivery.

Who It Names or Affects

Pregnant women who receive medical care during their pregnancies in Tennessee.
Healthcare providers who attend pregnant women in Tennessee.

Terms To Know

Serological testing: Blood tests to check for specific diseases or infections, like syphilis and hepatitis B.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill was withdrawn on February 3, 2025, and its status is uncertain.
It does not specify what happens if a pregnant woman refuses the syphilis tests.

Bill History

Date Tennessee General Assembly
2025-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly
Withdrawn.
2025-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly
Assigned to s/c Population Health Subcommittee
2025-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly
P2C, ref. to Health Committee
2025-01-27 Tennessee General Assembly
Intro., P1C.
2025-01-16 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Summary

Present law requires a
physician, surgeon, or other person permitted by law to attend a pregnant woman d
uring
pregnancy to take or cause to be taken a blood sample to test for rubella immunity, hepatitis B surface antigen, and syphilis infection during certain stages of pregnancy and report any positive results to the local health department. However, the t
est for syphilis must only be performed at the first examination, although high-risk patients may be tested again for hepatitis B or syphilis infection in the 28
th
week of gestation.

This bill requires a
pregnant woman
,
during each pregnancy
, to be teste
d
for syphilis infection
at (i) the
first examination
, (ii) after the 27
th
week but before the 33
rd
week of gestation, and (iii) at the t
ime of delivery.

Each blood sample must be sent to a laboratory approved by the department
of health
for testing for s
yphilis infection.

A positive test for syphilis must be reported to the local health department, and regulations governing the control of communicable diseases in this state.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

<BillNo> <Sponsor>

HOUSE BILL 188
By Martin G

HB0188
001016
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 8,
Chapter 27; Title 56; Title 68 and Title 71, relative
to pregnancy serological testing.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 68-5-601(5), is amended by adding
the language ", hepatitis B surface antigen," after "syphilis infection".
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 68-5-602(a), is amended by deleting
the subsection and substituting:
(a)
(1)
(A) Each physician, surgeon, or other person permitted by law to
attend a pregnant woman during gestation shall take or cause to be taken
a sample of blood from each pregnant woman at the first examination and
visit or within ten (10) days after the first examination for testing for
rubella immunity and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). If the first visit
is at the time of or after delivery, then the testing required by this
subdivision (a)(1) must be performed at that time.
(B) The blood sample must be sent to a laboratory approved by
the department for testing for rubella immunity and HBsAg. In the same
manner, a sample of blood must be taken during or after the twenty-
eighth week of gestation for a woman whom the attending physician
determines to be at high risk of hepatitis B according to the current

- 2 - 001016

standards of care. This second sample must be sent to a laboratory
approved by the department for testing for HBsAg.
(C) Additional testing for rubella immunity is not required in
subsequent pregnancies once a positive result is verified or a
documented history of vaccination against rubella is available. All
pregnant women must be tested for hepatitis B during an early prenatal
visit in each pregnancy.
(D) A positive test for hepatitis B must be reported to the local
health department in accordance with this chapter and rules governing
the control of communicable diseases in this state.
(2)
(A) Each physician, surgeon, or other person permitted by law to
attend a pregnant woman during gestation shall take or cause to be taken
a sample of blood from each pregnant woman for testing for syphilis
infection at each of the following:
(i) The time of the first examination and visit;
(ii) Any time after the twenty-seventh week but prior to the
thirty-third week of gestation; and
(iii) Time of delivery.
(B) Each blood sample must be sent to a laboratory approved by
the department for testing for syphilis infection.
(C) All pregnant women must be tested for syphilis as described
in this subdivision (a)(2) during each pregnancy.

- 3 - 001016

(D) A positive test for syphilis must be reported to the local health
department in accordance with this chapter, and regulations governing
the control of communicable diseases in this state.
SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 68-5-602(b), is amended by deleting
the subsection and substituting:
(b) Each person attending a pregnant woman who is not permitted by law to take
blood samples shall cause a sample of blood to be taken by a healthcare provider
permitted by law to take the samples as described in subsection (a). These samples
must be submitted to the same approved laboratories for testing for HBsAg and syphilis
infection. If no rubella immunity is documented, then testing for rubella is required.
SECTION 4. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it.