AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 29; Title 36; Title 63 and Title 68, relative to assisted reproductive technology.
Summary
HB0945 is a narrow reporting bill related to assisted reproductive technology (ART) in Tennessee. It directs the Commissioner of Health to prepare and submit a report by July 1, 2025, to the chairs of the Senate health and welfare committee and the House committee with jurisdiction over health matters. The report must address the standards and policies governing assisted reproductive technology in the state.
The bill does not itself create new licensing rules, patient rights, or regulatory requirements for clinics or providers. Instead, it requires the Department of Health to compile information on existing ART standards and policies, which could serve as a basis for future legislative or regulatory action. Because the bill references multiple titles of the Tennessee Code, it signals possible relevance to health regulation, family law, and related legal frameworks, but its immediate legal effect is limited to the reporting mandate.
Impact
The bill would amend Tennessee law only to the extent of requiring a one-time report from the Commissioner of Health on assisted reproductive technology standards and policies. It does not directly change substantive law governing fertility treatment, embryo handling, parentage, or health-care licensing, but it may inform future changes in those areas by giving legislative committees a state-level overview of current ART policy. The bill’s practical impact is therefore administrative and informational rather than regulatory.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests limited support in committee, as the bill failed in the Population Health Subcommittee by a 4-6 vote. With no committee transcript available, there is little evidence of detailed public debate in the record provided. Overall, the sentiment appears cautious or unfavorable in committee, likely reflecting either disagreement about the need for the report or broader concerns about the subject matter of assisted reproductive technology.
Contention
The main point of contention appears to be whether the state should require a formal report on assisted reproductive technology standards and policies at all. Because the bill is only a reporting measure, opposition may have centered on the perceived necessity, scope, or policy implications of studying ART. The subject itself can also be contentious because assisted reproductive technology intersects with reproductive rights, fertility treatment, parentage, embryo disposition, and health regulation, any of which could have influenced the committee vote even though no transcript is available.
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 20; Title 29; Title 37; Title 39; Title 49; Title 53; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71, relative to reproductive health care.
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 20; Title 29; Title 37; Title 39; Title 49; Title 53; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71, relative to reproductive health care.