KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Tennessee

HB0551 • 2026

Health Care

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 20; Title 29; Title 39; Title 49; Title 50; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71, relative to the right of conscience in health care.

Healthcare
Active

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

Sponsor
Cochran, Rose
Last action
2025-02-05
Official status
Assigned to s/c Health Subcommittee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not explicitly require the inclusion of findings and recommendations, it only urges the human rights commission to conduct the study.

Health Care Providers' Rights

This bill urges the human rights commission to study discrimination against healthcare providers who refuse to offer certain medical services based on religious, moral, or ethical beliefs.

What This Bill Does

  • Urges the human rights commission to study problems of discrimination against healthcare providers in Tennessee because they choose not to participate in a healthcare service due to their religious, moral, or ethical beliefs.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Healthcare providers who refuse to offer certain services based on personal beliefs.
  • The human rights commission, which will conduct the study and include findings and recommendations in its annual report.

Terms To Know

Human Rights Commission
A group that looks into issues of fairness and equality in Tennessee.
Healthcare providers
Doctors, nurses, hospitals, clinics, and other places or people who give medical care.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not change any laws but asks for a study.
  • It is unclear what specific services the healthcare providers might refuse to offer.

Bill History

  1. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Withdrawn.

  2. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recalled from Senate Commerce & Labor Committee

  3. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Commerce and Labor Committee calendar for 3/11/2025

  4. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Commerce and Labor Committee

  5. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  6. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Health Subcommittee

  7. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Health Committee

  8. 2025-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  9. 2025-01-29 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  10. 2025-01-28 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 372
By Rose

HOUSE BILL 551
By Cochran

HB0551
001282
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4;
Title 20; Title 29; Title 39; Title 49; Title 50; Title
56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71, relative to the
right of conscience in health care.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 21, Part 2, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
The human rights commission is urged to study problems of discrimination
against healthcare providers in this state because of their decision to decline to
participate in a healthcare service on the basis of religious, moral, or ethical beliefs. The
commission shall include in an annual report submitted pursuant to § 4-21-203(c)(10) its
findings and recommendations from any such study.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.