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SB2621 • 2026

Damages

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 29-39-102, relative to civil damage awards.

Healthcare
Active

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

Sponsor
Lamar, Chism
Last action
2026-04-06
Official status
Re-refer to S. Cal Comm
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide information on whether the bill affects other parts of Tennessee's civil damage laws beyond noneconomic damages in obstetric negligence cases.

Limit on Damages for Obstetric Negligence

This bill sets a limit of $1 million on noneconomic damages in health care liability cases involving obstetric or maternity negligence that results in death or permanent injury to pregnant or postpartum women.

What This Bill Does

  • Sets a maximum amount of $1,000,000 for noneconomic damages in health care liability actions arising from obstetric or maternity negligence resulting in the death or permanent injury of a pregnant or postpartum woman.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who sue for damages due to obstetric or maternity negligence that causes serious harm to pregnant or postpartum women.
  • Health care providers and facilities involved in such cases.

Terms To Know

Noneconomic Damages
Money awarded to a person for pain, suffering, emotional distress, loss of companionship, and other non-monetary losses.
Obstetric Negligence
Medical mistakes or errors during pregnancy care that harm the patient.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not change how economic damages are calculated.
  • It only applies to cases involving obstetric or maternity negligence, not other types of medical malpractice.

Amendments

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

Amendment 1-0 to HB2585

Plain English: The amendment sets a cap of $1 million on noneconomic damages for health care liability actions involving obstetric care provided to pregnant or postpartum women.

  • Adds a new subsection (o) to Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 29-39-102 that limits noneconomic damages in health care liability cases related to obstetric care to $1 million.
  • Defines 'obstetric care' as medical or clinical services directly linked to pregnancy management and delivery but excludes unrelated gynecologic procedures and other specialty care unless integral to an obstetric procedure.
  • Specifies that the cap applies only if negligence is directly connected to obstetric care provided within 42 days after a pregnancy termination.
  • The amendment's text does not specify how it interacts with existing laws or regulations outside of chapter 26 and section 29-39-102, which may limit its scope.
  • Some technical legal terms used in the amendment might require further explanation for clarity.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/16/2026

  2. 2026-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/14/2026

  3. 2026-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee

  4. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 4/14/2026

  5. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  6. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Judiciary Committee to 4/15/2026

  7. 2026-04-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Re-refer to S. Cal Comm

  8. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/6/2026

  9. 2026-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate Reset on calendar for 4/6/2026

  10. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 4/7/2026

  11. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Judiciary Committee to 4/8/2026

  12. 2026-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/2/2026

  13. 2026-03-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate Reset on calendar for 4/2/2026

  14. 2026-03-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 3/30/2026

  15. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 4/1/2026

  16. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Judiciary Committee to 4/1/2026

  17. 2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate Reset on calendar for 3/30/2026

  18. 2026-03-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 3/23/2026

  19. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/23/2026

  20. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Judiciary Committee to 3/25/2026

  21. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/18/2026

  22. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Judiciary Committee to 3/18/2026

  23. 2026-03-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee

  24. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/9/2026

  25. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/11/2026

  26. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  27. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Civil Justice Subcommittee for 3/4/2026

  28. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee

  29. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Civil Justice Subcommittee

  30. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Judiciary Committee

  31. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  32. 2026-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  33. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  34. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 2585
By Chism

SENATE BILL 2621
By Lamar
SB2621
012265
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Section
29-39-102, relative to civil damage awards.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 29-39-102, is amended by adding
the following as a new subsection:
(o) Notwithstanding this section to the contrary, the amount of damages
awarded as noneconomic damages shall not exceed one million dollars ($1,000,000) in
a health care liability action under title 29, chapter 26, arising from obstetric or maternity
negligence resulting in the death or permanent injury of a pregnant or postpartum
woman.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.