AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39; Title 63 and Title 68, relative to abortion.
SB1189 would replace Tennessee’s existing abortion statute with a broad declaration of reproductive rights. The bill defines key terms such as abortion, pregnancy, reproductive health care, and viability, and states that every person has a fundamental right to make decisions about reproductive health care, including the use or refusal of contraception. It also states that a pregnant woman has a fundamental right to continue a pregnancy and give birth or to obtain an abortion before fetal viability, or later when necessary to protect the life or health of the woman.
The bill further provides that a fertilized egg, embryo, or fetus does not have independent or derivative rights under Tennessee law. It prohibits the state and its agencies, political subdivisions, and other governmental entities from denying, restricting, interfering with, or discriminating against these rights in the regulation or provision of benefits, facilities, services, or information. The act would take effect immediately upon becoming law.
If enacted, SB1189 would substantially change Tennessee law by repealing and replacing Tennessee Code Annotated Section 39-15-213 and by creating explicit statutory protections for reproductive decision-making. It would affect state and local government regulation of abortion, contraception, and related reproductive health services, and would likely alter how agencies administer benefits, facilities, services, and information connected to reproductive care. The bill’s definitions also would influence interpretation of viability, pregnancy, and reproductive health care across Titles 39, 63, and 68.
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee discussion or votes in the provided materials, the bill appears to be a pro-choice measure intended to expand and codify reproductive rights. The language is affirmative and rights-focused, suggesting support from sponsors and advocates for abortion access and contraception rights. No contrary sentiment is documented in the provided record, but the subject matter is inherently politically contentious in Tennessee.
The main points of contention are likely to be the bill’s recognition of a fundamental right to abortion before viability, its protection of contraception and broader reproductive health care, and its statement that a fetus has no independent or derivative rights under state law. Opponents would likely object to the bill’s preemption of state and local restrictions and its potential to invalidate existing abortion-related regulations, while supporters would emphasize bodily autonomy, access to care, and clarity in state law. Because no committee transcript or vote history is provided, specific named objections or supporters are not available.