Official Summary Text
This bill creates (i) an offense for a person to knowingly manufacture, acquire, possess, or make accessible to another mRNA injections and products, and (ii) an offense for the governor, attorney general, district attorneys general, county sheriffs, or
state and local law enforcement officers to fail or refuse to use all lawful means necessary to investigate or enforce a violation of the first offense after being provided with reasonable evidence of a violation.
"mRNA INJECTIONS AND PRODUCTS" DEFINED
As used in this bill, "mRNA injections and products" means all of the following:
With regard to COVID-19 injections, mRNA or modified messenger RNA as related to gene altering agents, with a structure altered by substituting two N-methyl-pseudouridine amino acids for the usual uridine components so as to elude immune destruction of the mRNA, allowing the mRNA that produces the pathogenic spike protein to exist within cells for a longer period of time.
All other injections or products containing mRNA or modified messenger RNA.
Any human gene therapy product for any infectious disease indication, regardless of whether the administration is described as an immunization, vaccine, or otherwise.
Nanotechnology or nanoparticles that alter genes and create a biosynthetic cell replication.
However, this bill clarifies that such term does not mean naturally occurring messenger ribonucleic acid that is a single-stranded molecule of RNA that corresponds to the genetic sequence of a gene.
ENFORCEMENT
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PENALTIES
This bill provides that a violation of the new offenses created by this bill is punishable as a violation of present law relative to weapons of mass destruction. Such present law provides that it is a Class B felony for any person, without lawful author
ity, to possess, develop, manufacture, produce, transfer, acquire, weaponize, or retain any weaponized agent, biological warfare agent, weaponized biological or biologic warfare agent, chemical warfare agent, nuclear or radiological agent, or any other we
ap
on of mass destruction.
This bill authorizes a resident of this state to seek injunctive relief, declaratory relief, and economic, non-economic, and punitive damages from the state or a state and local government official for lack of enforcement of this bill.
APPLICABILITY
This bill applies to conduct occurring on or after July 1, 2026.
Current Bill Text
Read the full stored bill text
<BillNo> <Sponsor>
SENATE BILL 1949
By Bowling
SB1949
010821
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AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 8;
Title 14; Title 39; Title 40; Title 53; Title 63 and
Title 68, relative to mRNA products.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. This act is known and may be cited as the "mRNA Bioweapons Prohibition
Act."
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39, Chapter 13, Part 8, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
(a) It is the intent of the general assembly to designate mRNA injections and
products as weapons of mass destruction and to prohibit possession or distribution of
mRNA injections and products in this state.
(b) As used in this section:
(1) "mRNA injections and products":
(A) Means:
(i) With regard to COVID-19 injections, mRNA or modified
messenger RNA as related to gene altering agents, with a
structure altered by substituting two N-methyl-pseudouridine
amino acids for the usual uridine components so as to elude
immune destruction of the mRNA, allowing the mRNA that
produces the pathogenic spike protein to exist within cells for a
longer period of time;
(ii) All other injections or products containing mRNA or
modified messenger RNA;
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(iii) Any human gene therapy product for any infectious
disease indication, regardless of whether the administration is
described as an immunization, vaccine, or otherwise; and
(iv) Nanotechnology or nanoparticles that alter genes and
create a biosynthetic cell replication; and
(B) Does not mean naturally occurring messenger ribonucleic
acid that is a single-stranded molecule of RNA that corresponds to the
genetic sequence of a gene; and
(2) "State or local government official" means the governor, attorney
general and reporter, district attorneys general, county sheriffs, and state and
local law enforcement officers.
(c)
(1) It is an offense for a person to knowingly manufacture, acquire,
possess, or make accessible to another mRNA injections and products.
(2) It is an offense for a state or local government official to fail or refuse
to use all lawful means necessary to investigate or enforce a violation of
subdivision (c)(1) after being provided with reasonable evidence of a violation.
(d) A violation of subdivision (c)(1) or (c)(2) is punishable as a violation of § 39-
13-806.
(e) A resident of this state may seek injunctive relief, declaratory relief, and
economic, non-economic, and punitive damages from the state or a state and local
government official for lack of enforcement of this section.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it, and
applies to conduct occurring on or after that date.