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HB2598 • 2026

Nurses, Nursing

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 29; Title 56, Chapter 32, Part 1; Title 56, Chapter 7, Part 24; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71, Chapter 5, relative to midwifery.

Healthcare
Active

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

Sponsor
Camper, Lamar
Last action
2026-03-26
Official status
Comp. SB subst.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary text indicates that the scope was expanded to include 'other states' beyond just neighboring ones, but this is not reflected in the official digest or bill text.

Study on Certified Nurse Midwives' Practice Independence

This bill requires the Tennessee Department of Health to study how neighboring states allow certified nurse midwives to practice independently and report findings by December 31, 2026.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the commissioner of health to use existing resources to conduct a study on how neighboring states allow certified nurse midwives to practice independently.
  • Includes an analysis of maternal health outcomes, provider shortages, and best practices for independent practice.
  • Requires the commissioner to compile findings and recommendations into a report by December 31, 2026.
  • Specifies that the report must be sent to the chief clerks of both houses of the Tennessee General Assembly and the legislative librarian.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The commissioner of health in Tennessee
  • Certified nurse midwives in neighboring states

Terms To Know

certified nurse midwife
A healthcare professional who is trained to provide care for women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period.
maternal health outcomes
The results of medical care provided to pregnant women, including rates of complications and deaths.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify how the study will be funded beyond using existing resources.
  • Expands the scope from neighboring states to other states but does not define 'other states'.
  • The bill does not provide details on what recommendations should be included in the report.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

Amendment 1-0 to SB2286

Plain English: The amendment requires the commissioner of health to study how other states allow certified nurse midwives to practice independently and how these policies affect maternal health outcomes.

  • Requires the Tennessee Department of Health to conduct a study on independent practice levels for certified nurse midwives in other states.
  • Includes an analysis of how different levels of independence for certified nurse midwives correlate with maternal health outcomes, such as morbidity and mortality rates.
  • Incorporates data from geographically diverse states about maternity care deserts, provider shortages, hospital closures, recent policy changes to expand practice autonomy, and best practices.
  • The exact details of how the study will be conducted are not specified in the amendment text.
  • It is unclear what specific recommendations the commissioner may make based on the findings of the study.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Governor.

  2. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Transmitted to Governor for action.

  3. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by H. Speaker

  4. 2026-03-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Senate Speaker

  5. 2026-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. SB subst.

  6. 2026-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Enrolled and ready for signatures

  7. 2026-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed H., Ayes 88, Nays 0, PNV 0

  8. 2026-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Subst. for comp. HB.

  9. 2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  10. 2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.

  11. 2026-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 3/26/2026

  12. 2026-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  13. 2026-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to House

  14. 2026-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 32, Nays 1

  15. 2026-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0589)

  16. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 3/19/2026

  17. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee

  18. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 3/19/2026

  19. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  20. 2026-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    No Action Taken

  21. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Health Committee for 3/10/2026

  22. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  23. 2026-03-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 9, Nays 0 PNV 0

  24. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  25. 2026-02-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Commerce and Labor Committee calendar for 3/3/2026

  26. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Health Subcommittee

  27. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Health Committee

  28. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  29. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  30. 2026-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  31. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  32. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

ON MARCH 19, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 2286, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #1
e
xpands the scope of the study to include "other states" instead of "neighboring states" and requires that the study include

an analysis of how independent practice policies correlate to maternal health outcomes for a state, including maternal morbidity and mortality rates; examine policies and maternal health outcome data in a geographically diverse set of states; and include
information on maternity care deserts, provider shortages, hospital closures, recent state policy changes to expand pr
actice autonomy, and best practice recommendations regarding independent practice for certified nurse midwives.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 2286
By Lamar

HOUSE BILL 2598
By Camper
HB2598
012329
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4,
Chapter 29; Title 56, Chapter 32, Part 1; Title 56,
Chapter 7, Part 24; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71,
Chapter 5, relative to midwifery.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. The commissioner of health shall use existing resources to conduct a
study of neighboring states to determine the level of independent practice provided to certified
nurse midwives. The purpose of the study is to examine the varying levels of practice
independence that may or may not be granted to certified nurse midwives in neighboring states.
The commissioner shall compile the findings of the study and any recommendations the
commissioner may have in a report and transmit the report no later than December 31, 2026, to
the chief clerk of the senate, the chief clerk of the house of representatives, and the legislative
librarian. Publication and transmission of the report may be accomplished by electronic means.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.