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SB0372 • 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
Rose, Cochran
Last action
2025-03-05
Official status
Withdrawn.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill was withdrawn on 2025-03-05, which affects its current status and future impact.

Health Care Provider Rights

This bill urges the Tennessee 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 Tennessee Human Rights Commission 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.
  • Requires the commission to include its findings and recommendations from any such study in an annual report.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Healthcare providers who refuse to offer certain medical services based on personal beliefs.
  • The Tennessee Human Rights Commission, which must conduct the study and include it in their yearly report.

Terms To Know

Human Rights Commission
A state agency that investigates discrimination claims and promotes equal rights for all people.
Conscience Clause
A legal provision allowing individuals to refuse to participate in certain medical procedures based on personal beliefs.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not create new laws or regulations but only urges a study and report.
  • It is unclear what specific actions the commission will take after completing their study.

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    Withdrawn.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 
HOUSE BILL 551
By Cochran

SENATE BILL 372
By Rose

SB0372
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.