Pro-Life Bill in TN Passes Key Hurdles; Heads to Senate Floor

UPDATE: The Senate is now scheduled to vote on SB 1180 on Monday, May 1 during the 3:00 PM session

UPDATE: The House is scheduled to vote on HB 1189 on Wednesday, May 3.

Legislation to protect viable unborn children from abortion in Tennessee was moved forward yesterday (Wednesday, April 19) 7-2 following a lengthy debate in the Senate Judiciary Committee. Testimony may be viewed here (please either click on SB1180 below the video screen or move the video forward to 20:04.)

Tennessee Right to Life expresses gratitude to committee members voting in support of SB 1180 by Sen. Joey Hensley, M.D. including Chairman Brian Kelsey, and Senators Mike Bell, Janice Bowling, Jon Lundberg, Doug Overbey, Kerry Roberts, and John Stevens. Pro-abortion Senators Lee Harris and Sara Kyle voted in opposition.

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In the House, companion bill HB 1189 by Rep. Matthew Hill was moved out of Finance Sub-committee to the full committee by a voice vote. Tennessee Right to Life is grateful for the pro-life leadership of sub-committee Chairman Gerald McCormick.

It is anticipated that the TN Infants Protection Act will move next week to the Senate floor and the full committee of the House Finance Ways and Means will vote on the bill on Tuesday, April 25 at 3:00 pm (CDT).

Your voice is needed to counter the energized pro-abortion activists who are flooding legislators with opposition to this common sense protection for children who would otherwise be able to live outside the womb.

Contact your State Senator Today!

Contact the House Finance Committee Members Today!

About the bill:

The Tennessee Infants Protection Act (HB 1189 / SB 1180) would prohibit abortions beginning at 24 weeks when viability is presumed. The bill would also require viability assessments for unborn children beginning at 20 weeks gestation before an abortion can be performed. If the child is determined to be viable (able to live outside the womb with or without medical assistance), the abortion would be prohibited.

Tennessee's Attorney General called the Act "constitutionally suspect," in part due to lack of broad "health" exceptions which would allow late term abortions for women who suffer "mental and emotional harm" from carrying the pregnancy to term.

Your support is needed right now to see this common-sense protection passed into law.

Show your support for this legislation and join us by taking the following three steps:

Send an email in support of SB 1180 to your state Senator today!
Send an email in support of HB 1189 to the House Finance Committee members today!
Plan to attend either the House Finance committee meeting on Tuesday, April 25 at 3:00 pm(CDT) at Legislative Plaza or the Senate consideration of the bill next week.

Prime sponsors of the Tennessee Infants Protection Act are state Rep. Matthew Hill and state Senator Joey Hensley.

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