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HB1944 • 2026

DNA and Genetic Testing

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 68, Chapter 5, relative to sickle cell.

Children Parental Rights
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Love, Akbari
Last action
2026-04-09
Official status
Transmitted to Governor for his action.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill text specifies that the act takes effect upon becoming a law, but does not provide an exact date for when testing must start.

Newborn Sickle Cell Testing Law

This bill requires the Tennessee Department of Health to test newborns for sickle cell trait and notify parents or guardians if the test is positive.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the department of health to test every newborn for sickle cell trait starting from a certain date.
  • If a newborn tests positive for sickle cell trait, the department must tell the parent or legal guardian as soon as possible.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Newborns in Tennessee
  • Parents and guardians of newborns

Terms To Know

Sickle cell trait
A condition where a person has one sickle cell gene and one normal gene, which can be passed on to children.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify the exact date when testing must start.
  • It is unclear what actions parents or guardians should take after receiving notification about their child's test results.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Transmitted to Governor for his action.

  2. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Senate Speaker

  3. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by H. Speaker

  4. 2026-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly

    Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.

  5. 2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate, Ayes 32, Nays 0

  6. 2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.

  7. 2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  8. 2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Companion House Bill substituted

  9. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Received from House, Passed on First Consideration

  10. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Consent Calendar 2 for 4/6/2026

  11. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee

  12. 2026-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.

  13. 2026-03-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  14. 2026-03-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed H., Ayes 77, Nays 9, PNV 0

  15. 2026-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 3/30/2026

  16. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 3/26/2026

  17. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Health and Welfare Committee calendar for 4/1/2026

  18. 2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee

  19. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Health Committee for 3/24/2026

  20. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Reset on Final calendar of Senate Health and Welfare Committee

  21. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Health Committee to 3/24/2026

  22. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Health and Welfare Committee calendar for 3/18/2026

  23. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Health and Welfare Committee to 3/18/2026

  24. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Health Committee for 3/17/2026

  25. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Health Committee

  26. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Health and Welfare Committee calendar for 3/17/2026

  27. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Health Subcommittee for 3/11/2026

  28. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Health Subcommittee to 3/11/2026

  29. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Health Subcommittee for 3/4/2026

  30. 2026-02-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Health Subcommittee to 3/4/2026

  31. 2026-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Health Subcommittee for 2/18/2026

  32. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Health Subcommittee

  33. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Health Committee

  34. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  35. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  36. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Health and Welfare Committee

  37. 2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  38. 2026-01-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 1697
By Akbari

HOUSE BILL 1944
By Love
HB1944
010763
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 68,
Chapter 5, relative to sickle cell.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 68-5-504, is amended by adding the
following as a new subsection:
(d)
(1) The department shall test for the presence of sickle cell trait in each
newborn born on or after the effective date of this act.
(2) If the test results are positive for sickle cell trait, then the department
shall notify the parent or legal guardian of the newborn tested as soon as
practicable.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.