MARCH 22, 2023
Tennessee Right to Life applauds the full House and the Senate Judiciary Committee for passing TRL approved language on HB883 and SB745 that will keep the Human Life Protection Act strong and working as intended. House Bill 883 passed overwhelmingly by the House on Monday, and the Senate Judiciary passed Senate Bill 745 on Tuesday.
SB745 was then referred to the Senate Calendar Committee to be scheduled for a floor vote but was recalled and referred to the Senate Health and Welfare Committee where it will be debated again. The recall is unusual and unexpected. We will keep you updated.
The language of HB883/SB745 has undergone major revisions since it was first revealed on February 13. As originally filed, the language was unacceptable to the pro-life position but was supported by medical associations and hospital lobbyists. That version passed out of the House Population Health Subcommittee on February 14.
Before being presented to the full House Health Committee, Tennessee Right to Life and pro-life legislators worked to find an acceptable amendment that would clarify but not weaken current Tennessee law that is protecting the right to life of all unborn children.
Amendment #5705 was used to rewrite the entire bill and was passed by the House Health Committee last week and by the full House on Monday. The amendment was not immediately accepted by the Senate sponsor.
The amendment explicitly clarifies that treatments of ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage are in no way considered criminal abortions under the Human Life Protection Act, and it changes the affirmative defense to an exception for those times when the mother’s life is in danger. These changes will not broaden the scope of Tennessee law or allow for more abortions in our state.
Tuesday’s Senate Judiciary Committee vote coincided with Tennessee Right to Life’s annual Pro-Life Women’s Day on the Hill where hundreds of women met with legislators and asked them to support the addition of Amendment #5705 to SB745 as was done in the House. When the Committee met a few hours later, the amendment was added to the bill without discussion. Senate bill 745 was then debated and passed with only one dissenting vote.
Additionally, in the House, House Bill 90 was passed in the Local Government Committee. This bill would prevent tax dollars from being used to transport unborn children across state lines to be aborted. The measure now moves to Calendar and Rules to be scheduled for a House floor vote. The bill has already passed in the Senate.
Tennessee Right to Life and pro-life Tennesseans are grateful to the legislators who are working to make Tennessee a safe place for unborn children and their mothers. As they work to keep abortion illegal, we will continue to work to make abortion unthinkable.
MARCH 20, 2023
Tennessee Right to Life continues to strongly oppose SB745 by Senator Briggs as amended with Amendment #6282 that was filed by the sponsor and is set to be heard in Senate Judiciary Tuesday, March 21, at 1:00 CT. The proposal would weaken the Human Life Protection Act and goes far beyond the simple clarifications that legislators have requested.
Tennessee Right to Life had hoped that SB745 would get a new sponsor and be amended with Amendment #5705, which is the same language that passed the House tonight and that TRL approves. Unfortunately, that has not happened yet.
The amendment that Senator Briggs has offered (#6282) would significantly broaden the scope of the HLPA and allow for more children to be aborted in our state and would remove protections from those unborn children who receive a diagnosis of a congenital or chromosomal abnormality.
Tennessee Right to Life cannot support a bill that would allow unborn children to be legally euthanized.
Dr. Robin Pierucci, a neonatologist who was invited to speak before the Senate Judiciary Committee several weeks ago had compelling testimony prepared and had this to say:
With regards specifically to “lethal anomalies” there is no reason obstetricians need a legal carve-out to abort these babies. It is reasonable to refuse this gruesome request for multiple reasons:
- Doctors get the diagnosis wrong. Genetic screening tests are often misapplied or misinterpreted, with a significant chance that a positive test result is NOT a true positive; again, the diagnosis is wrong, and the judgement is lethal.
- Abortion does not cure anything. No other group of human beings with discovered chromosomal abnormalities, handicaps, or special needs are open season for killing. In fact, we have laws to protect them.
- The inability to cure is never an excuse for abandonment or lack of care.Abortion is, sadly, guilty of both.
- Parents survive better individually and as a couple when they are not accomplices to their own child’s death.”
Senator Briggs has been on a campaign to weaken Tennessee’s law since it went into effect in August of 2022. Tennessee Right to Life Political Action Committee revoked his endorsement last year because of his ongoing attacks and criticisms of the Human Life Protection Act after committing to the PAC and his constituents that he would defend the law against attempts to weaken it.
The House companion bill HB883 was amended last week with Amendment #5705 which totally rewrote the bill and made it acceptable to the pro-life position and was thus supported by Tennessee Right to Life. That bill passed the full house vote overwhelmingly Monday night.
Contact members of the Senate Judiciary Committee ASAP and ask them to only support the bill that is amended with the same language that was passed by the House on HB883.
MARCH 17, 2023
The House Health Committee heard HB883 on March 15th. As amended, HB883 is an entirely new bill, which clarifies but does not weaken Tennessee's pro-life law. It explicitly clarifies that treatments of ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage are in no way considered criminal abortions under the Human Life Protection Act, and it would change the affirmative defense to an exception for those times when the mother’s life is in danger. These changes will not broaden the scope of Tennessee law or allow for more abortions in our state.
Tennessee Right to Life supports HB883 with Amendment #5705. We are grateful that this language has been adopted by the House sponsor and will be the amendment that now makes the bill on both HB883 and HB778. If you missed the statement sent yesterday, please click here.
HB883 is scheduled to be heard on the full House Floor on Monday, March 20, 2023 at 5:00 pm CST. Please click on the link below and ask your Representative to support HB883 as amended with no additional changes.
MARCH 15, 2023
The House Health Committee will hear HB883 today. Two weeks ago, Tennessee Right to Life asked pro-life citizens to contact Committee members and ask them to oppose this bill. As originally written, HB883 would have gutted the Human Life Protection Act which protects the right to life of all unborn children and made it unenforceable.
Since then, much effort has gone into drafting language that would keep Tennessee’s law strong while adding certain clarifications. Amendment #5705 does that. It would explicitly clarify that treatments of ectopic pregnancy and miscarriages are in no way considered criminal abortions under the Human Life Protection Act, and it would change the affirmative defense to an exception for those times when the mother’s life is in danger. We are confident that these changes will not broaden the scope of Tennessee law or allow for more abortions in our state.
This pro-life amendment will be added to HB883 in the committee today and will delete the original language of the bill. The same language is expected to be added to HB778 when it is presented in subcommittee next week.
Tennessee Right to Life supports House Amendment #5705. This amendment mirrors the one offered in the Senate (originally to SB983) that would clarify but not weaken the Human Life Protection Act. We are grateful that this language has been adopted by the House sponsor and will be the amendment that now makes the bill on both HB883 and HB778.
It is the preference of Tennessee Right to Life that HB778 would be the bill used to advance the pro-life language in order to avoid confusion caused by earlier drafts of HB883. However, that decision is up to House leadership and the sponsor of the bills. Our main concern is that the amendment language is allowed to go on the bill, and that it is passed without changes.
Tennessee Right to Life also supports amendment 5763 which is expected to be presented in today's meeting. It would require quarterly reporting of abortions in the state to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House and others.
Tennessee Right to Life, pro-life legislators, and pro-life Tennesseans are grateful for the efforts that have gone into Amendment #5705. It is a testament to the strength of pro-life citizens across the state who let their voices be heard so that this language could be used to transform these two bills (HB883 and HB778) into legislation that is acceptable to the pro-life position. As lives continue to be saved in our state, it will have been well worth the effort.
Tennessee Right to Life is grateful to all those who worked on Amendment #5705 that will clarify but not weaken current Tennessee law and all who joined us in the pursuit to keep the Human Life Protection Act the strongest pro-life law in the country.
MARCH 13, 2023
MARCH 2, 2023
Thank you for taking a stand for LIFE. Legislators have been overwhelmed by the number of emails and calls to their offices in defense of Tennessee’s strong pro-life laws.
You are making a difference!
This is such a critical time to remain engaged with the task at hand – keeping the Human Life Protection Act strong and saving unborn children in our state. Thank you for being part of this life-saving effort.
Please continue to be alert and ready to take action as things are changing almost hourly on Capitol Hill. Please see the chart below for what happened this week and watch for action alerts as these bills move through the legislative process. Remember that each bill must pass through committees and then a full vote in both the House and the Senate before going to the Governor for his signature.
There is still a lot of work to do. Stay tuned.
FEBRUARY 25, 2023
Senate Bill 745 (SB745) is the Senate companion bill to HB883. It will be heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee at 3:00 p.m. CST. on Tuesday, February 28th. In the words of Constitutional expert Paul Linton, this legislation, “entirely rewrites state law (Human Life Protection Act) and in doing so, creates an abortion law that would be, in practice, if not in principle, unenforceable.”
You are making a difference. Don't stop now.
House Health Committee members were overwhelmed with the number of emails and phone calls they received in opposition to this dangerous legislation and at least four legislators removed their names from sponsorship of the bill. Action was delayed in the Health Committee until next Wednesday.
In the meantime, the Senate Judiciary Committee will take up ALL abortion related bills, including SB745 at their meeting on Tuesday.
It is important that Committee members hear from YOU!
On Tuesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hear the following proposals:
- SB745/HB883 – (Briggs/Helton) – Would significantly change the Human Life Protection Act and start to chip away at Tennessee’s strong protections for ALL unborn children in our state. TRL is asking Committee Members to vote NO. This is a priority!
- SB857 – (Haile/Rudder) Would remove protections from some of our most vulnerable citizens under the premise of “exceptions”. Right now, Tennessee law protects the right to life of ALL unborn children – let’s keep it that way. TRL is asking Committee Members to vote NO.
- SB762 – (Lamar) Allows abortion on demand. TRL is asking Committee Members to vote NO.
- SB983 – (Yager) Weakens affirmative defense to a subjective standard. TRL is asking Committee Members to vote NO.
- SB600 – sponsored by Senator Joey Hensley, (R-Hohenwald) and Representative Debra Moody, (R-Covington) would prevent local governments from allocating taxpayer dollars to be used to take unborn children out of state to be aborted. TRL is asking Committee Members to vote YES.
CLICK ON EACH BUTTON BELOW TO EMAIL COMMITTEE MEMBERS!
FEBRUARY 22, 2023
HB883 was delayed in the House Health Committee today and rescheduled for Wednesday, March 1st.
The Senate version (SB745) is scheduled to be heard, along with other legislation we are watching, in Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, February 28th.
Please watch for upcoming alerts.
You are making a difference! We can't stop now!
See below for the statement issued 2/22/23 concerning proposed amendments to HB883.
FEBRUARY 17, 2023
On Tuesday, HB883 passed in the Population Health Subcommittee. In the words of Constitutional expert Paul Linton, this legislation, “entirely rewrites state law (Human Life Protection Act) and in doing so, creates an abortion law that would be, in practice, if not in principle, unenforceable.”
Referred to as the "Life of the Mother, Post Dobbs Cleanup Act,” the bill is being presented as a clarification that Tennessee law has an exception for the life of the mother, including treatment for ectopic pregnancy, and miscarriage. While well-intentioned, in reality this bill, if enacted, would offer cover for those who abort children in our state and would delete large sections of pro-life measures in Tennessee code.
If HB883 simply clarified the law, Tennessee Right to Life would NOT oppose it.
HB883 takes a 2-page law (HLPA) and turns it into a 9-page exception. It seeks to take Tennessee from a state that no longer allows unborn children to be aborted (with a provision for the life of the mother) to a state where our protections for unborn children are “unenforceable.”
This new legislation that is being billed as a simple “cleanup” would, among other things, allow:
- Large portions of pro-life laws currently on the books to be removed.
- Physicians to abort unborn children if they believe there is a “lethal fetal anomaly” or if they think a baby has a condition that is “incompatible with life”. The definitions of these circumstances are broad and left up to the discretion of the physician alone.
- Physicians who are accused of an illegal abortion to go before a state medical board to pre-determine whether or not the law has been violated.
- Physicians to end the life of a baby if they claim it is to PREVENT or treat a medical emergency. So a baby could be aborted to prevent a condition that may never happen. In Linton’s opinion, “that wording alone would effectively nullify the prohibition of abortion in Tennessee.”
Tragically, some pro-life legislators are currently supporting this bill, because they have been told that it will only clarify for those times when the life of the mother is in jeopardy. However, the truth is that if passed, this language would create large loopholes for those who abort children in our state.
Although some claim that this legislation is pro-life, it has the support of long-time Democratic Representative John Ray Clemmons who has never voted for a pro-life bill. Those in the subcommittee hearing in support on Tuesday held up signs that said "Abortion is Healthcare" and cheered when the bill passed.
Tennessee Right to Life has worked for nearly 50 years to pass protections for unborn children and their mothers. Despite this strong track record, previously avowed pro-life lawmakers are dismissing TRL concerns and supporting this bill.
Tennessee’s current law under the Human Life Protection Act is saving an estimated 900 children each month in our state. The law is working as intended. If legislators want to clarify language of the bill, TRL will not oppose that, but this legislation goes far beyond clarifications.
Pro-life Representative Bryan Terry was the only member to speak out against the bill and attempt to address the problems. He was the only no vote.
Those recorded as voting in favor of HB883:
Representative Esther Helton-Haynes (R-East Ridge)
Representative Iris Rudder (R-Winchester)
Representative Andrew Farmer (R-Sevierville)
Representative Ron Travis (R-Dayton)
Representative Sabi Kumar (R-Springfield)
Representative Michele Carringer (R-Knoxville) Chair of the committee
Representative John Ray Clemmons (D-Nashville)
Representative Caleb Hemmer (D-Nashville)
Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville)
The bill moves to the full Health Committee on Wednesday, February 22 at 3:30 p.m. (CST) Please contact the members of the committee and ask that they protect Tennessee's unborn children and pro-life laws and vote NO on HB883.
Pro-abortion activists were in full attendance at the subcommittee meeting. Pro-life advocates are encouraged to attend the full committee meeting on Wednesday.
FEBRUARY 11, 2023
Thank you to everyone who has emailed the sponsors and co-sponsors of legislation seeking to weaken the Human Life Protection Act, which is saving an estimated 900 children from being aborted in our state each month. The Human Life Protection Act is one of the strongest laws in the nation to protect unborn children and is working as legislators intended when they passed it in 2019.
The Human Life Protection Act is now under attack!
Senator Ferrell Haile and Representative Iris Rudder have filed a bill to weaken Tennessee law that is protecting the right to life of ALL unborn children.
The bill (HB1440/SB857), co-sponsored by Representatives Patsy Hazelwood, Esther Helton-Haynes, Mark White, Sam Whitson and Senators Richard Briggs, Becky Massey, Bill Powers and Ken Yager, would remove protections for some of Tennessee’s most vulnerable citizens by allowing some children to be aborted through certain exceptions.
Three more co-sponsors were added this week that need to hear from pro-life Tennesseans. Representatives Sabi Kumar, Pat Marsh and Jerome Moon added their names to this legislation that seeks to exclude some of the most vulnerable Tennesseans from this life saving legislation.
These sponsors and co-sponsors have been supportive of pro-life legislation in the past, but if their proposal becomes law, it will be the beginning of the efforts to chip away at Tennessee’s strong law. Nothing would please the abortion industry more than weakening the strongest pro-life law in the nation.
We cannot let this happen. Children’s lives depend on us.
FEBRUARY 04, 2023
The Human Life Protection Act is saving an estimated 900 children from being aborted in our state each month. It is one of the strongest laws in the nation to protect unborn children and is working as legislators intended when they passed it in 2019.
The Human Life Protection Act is now under attack!
Senator Ferrell Haile and Representative Iris Rudder have filed a bill to weaken Tennessee law that is protecting the right to life of ALL unborn children.
The bill (HB1440/SB857), co-sponsored by Representatives Patsy Hazelwood, Esther Helton-Haynes, Mark White, Sam Whitson and Senators Richard Briggs, Becky Massey, Bill Powers and Ken Yager, would remove protections for some of Tennessee’s most vulnerable citizens by allowing some children to be aborted through certain exceptions.
These sponsors and co-sponsors have been supportive of pro-life legislation in the past, but if their proposal becomes law, it will be the beginning of the efforts to chip away at Tennessee’s strong law. Nothing would please the abortion industry more than weakening the strongest pro-life law in the nation.
We cannot let this happen. Children’s lives depend on us.
Please contact the sponsors and co-sponsors today using the link below and ask them to withdrawal their support of this bill!
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