Tennessee Right to Life believes that we need to strengthen our current statute governing sex-education in public schools. The Abortion Influence Education Bill, HB 2557 sponsored by Representative Debra Moody (R-Covington) and SB 2158 by Senator Joey Hensley (R-Hohenwald) prohibits schools from allowing any entity who promotes, induces or performs abortions from teaching sex-ed in our schools. Continue reading

The FDA recently announced that they are now openly encouraging tele-med and mail order abortion prescriptions. The Tele-Med Abortion Pill Ban, HB 2416, sponsored by Representative Debra Moody (R-Covington) and SB 2281 by Senator Mike Bell, (R-Riceville) makes it a criminal offense in Tennessee to prescribe RU-486 without being in the physical presence of the patient. Continue reading

Tennessee Right to Life Introduces the Prenatal Life and Liberty Act Tennessee Right to Life believes it should be public policy that abortion is never preferable to life, regardless of any medical conditions a child may have. Currently, in Tennessee, a person can be charged with fetal homicide for killing a woman and her unborn child regardless of the child’s gestational age. This should be the same in all areas of Tennessee law, including and especially the wrongful death statute. House Bill 1252  sponsored by Rep. Jeremy Faison (R-Cosby) and Senate Bill 1370 sponsored by Senator Mike Bell (R-Riceville) would allow wrongful death claims to be litigated against someone who kills a mother and her unborn child. Currently, Tennessee law only allows for wrongful death claims for unborn children past the point of viability. The legislation would also prohibit lawsuits against doctors who failed to discover or disclose a child’s medical condition prior to the child’s birth. These “wrongful birth” and “wrongful life” lawsuits occur when the parents argue that abortion would have been preferable to birth and life and petition the court for civil money damages claiming the doctor’s breach of duty and omission. Continue reading

This legislation will ban abortion when the unborn child has a fetal heartbeat.  It will also ban abortion at different stages of the pregnancy including at the following gestational ages of the unborn child:  Six (6) weeks;  Eight (8) weeks;  Ten (10) weeks;  Twelve (12) weeks;  Fifteen (15) weeks;  Eighteen (18) weeks;  Twenty (20) weeks;  Twenty-one (21) weeks;  Twenty-two (22) weeks;  Twenty-three (23) weeks; and  Twenty-four (24) weeks. Continue reading

From the moment a woman takes the abortion pill, she has about 72 hours to change her mind and save her baby, because of the proven Abortion Pill Reversal protocol. Tennessee Right to Life seeks to ensure that women who are prescribed the abortion pill are given information about the abortion pill reversal protocol. More than one-third of abortions in the U.S. occur through the "abortion pill." As these numbers continue to rise, we know that no woman should ever feel forced to finish an abortion she regrets. House Bill 2568 sponsored by Rep. Jeremy Faison (R-Cosby) and Senate Bill 2465 sponsored by Sen. Dolores Gresham (R-Somerville) would require abortion facilities to display signage informing women that a chemical abortion may be reversed following the first dose of a two-pill protocol and require a physician to provide the same information during informed consent, 48 hours prior to the abortion. “There are many pro-life bills that are each year but this one has proven that it will save actual lives as it has already saved over 900 across the country.” said Will Brewer, Legislative Liaison for Tennessee Right to Life. “It is our hope that pro-life legislators will support this opportunity to give a woman all the information available about all her options especially when she may want to change her mind about an abortion decision. This information is important for the women of our state and their children.” Currently, there are over 800 medical professionals, including several in Tennessee, trained to administer the Abortion Pill Reversal protocol. Visit Abortion Pill Rescue for more information about the process. The American Association of Pro-life Obstetricians and Gynecologists, a 2,500 member OB-GYN medical group, supports providing the Abortion Pill Reversal (APR) protocol to women who regret initiating the abortion pill process, along with appropriate informed consent. Because of the proven Abortion Pill Reversal protocol, developed by Drs. George Delgado and Matt Harrison, abortion-minded women now have the possibility of reversing the effects of the abortion pill Mifepristone by receiving multiple doses of a natural hormone, progesterone. The abortion pill regimen first uses RU-486 (Mifepristone) to block the effects of the progesterone which is necessary for the baby to survive.  Then, 24 to 48 hours later, a different pill, Misoprostol (Cytotec), is given to induce contractions and expel the baby. The abortion pill reversal protocol uses the hormone progesterone to reverse the effects of RU-486, which is a progesterone blocker. Progesterone is a common treatment used to prevent miscarriage. Some women change their minds during the 24-48 hour period after taking the first drug, Mifepristone. And some profoundly regret the taking of this first abortion pill. Too often, women are unaware of the medical protocol which can provide them an opportunity to reverse their decision and save their child. If a woman has taken the first drug, Mifepristone, but has not yet taken the second drug, Misoprostol, and has questions regarding the health of her child or is questioning her decision to terminate her pregnancy, she should consult a physician immediately for information about the potential of reversing the effects of the abortion pill, or call the Abortion Pill Reversal Hotline: 877-558-0333. Women have undergone the progesterone reversal process, carried their babies to term and delivered healthy babies. To date over 900 babies have been saved by the Abortion Pill Reversal protocol. Currently, there are over 800 medical professionals including several in Tennessee, trained to administer the protocol. Real Lives Saved: Rebekah Hagan, speaker at this year's Women's Day on the Hill, had many concerns when she decided to undergo a chemical abortion.  However, she quickly regretted that choice and found the hotline for Abortion Pill Rescue. Now she's thrilled to have two young sons, and regularly speaks to get the word out so that other women can have the opportunity she did to save their children. Read her full story here. Dr. William Lile, a pro-life ob-gyn and champion of the Abortion Pill Reversal Process, faced an investigation into his use of the protocol to save twins in 2018. His use of Progesterone to save these twins' lives was deemed reasonable by the Institutional Review Board. Read the full story here. Background information: Abortion pill reversal information Unethical study countering abortion pill reversal   Continue reading

SB 1257 / HB 1029 With the possibility that there might soon exist a majority on the U.S. Supreme Court willing to give states greater latitude for the protection of human life, Tennessee Right to Life seeks to ensure that our state continues to help lead the way to the fullest possible protection for human life.  Tennessee's Human Life Protection Act (SB 1257 / HB 1029) is the legislative priority of Tennessee Right to Life and is sponsored by Senator Dolores Gresham (R-Somerville) and Representative Susan Lynn (R-Mt Juliet.)  This legislation would take effect upon the reversal of Roe v Wade by the U.S. Supreme Court and would enact the full restoration of Tennessee's protective pre-Roe laws.  Passage would also restore the right of Tennesseans to decide these public policies on abortion for ourselves. "It has always been the priority of Tennessee's pro-life movement to restore the fullest possible protection to the largest number of unborn children and women in our state," said Brian Harris, president of Tennessee Right to Life.  "While states like New York are moving to strip any limits to abortion--even at the moments before birth---Tennessee wants to be known for protecting our children." Continue reading

After years of focused efforts by pro-life lawmakers and principled leadership by Governor Haslam, Tennessee successfully implemented policy in 2011 which has resulted in millions of tax dollars being re-directed away from Planned Parenthood facilities in our state. Under Haslam's direction, an administrative process was established which prioritizes public health departments to receive the public funds appropriated for family planning programs rather than private non-profit organizations such as Planned Parenthood. Prior to 2011, Planned Parenthood affiliates in Tennessee received more than $1.1 million dollars annually. HB 2262 by Rep. Bill Dunn / SB 2494 by Sen. Jack Johnson will make this administrative policy permanent by codifying it in state law. Continue reading

Strengthens current law enacted in 1973 regarding post-viability abortion Requires viability assessment after beginning of 20th week of pregnancy (LMP) to measure gestational age, weight, or other factors to determine viability Defines viability in state law Establishes presumption in TN law that an unborn child of at least 24 weeks gestation (LMP) is viable Constitutional under current U.S. Supreme Court doctrine Mirrors 2011 Ohio statute which is in effect and has never been challenged   Continue reading

Pro-life Tennesseans made history in 2014 when voters passed pro-life Amendment 1. Unfortunately, Amendment 1 was challenged by Planned Parenthood supporters, lost the first round in federal court and is on appeal to the 6th circuit. In addition, protective laws passed in 2015 are also challenged separately in federal court and are also at risk of being struck down. This being the case, Tennessee Right to Life has concerns with abortion bans proposed this year at the state Legislature. Bills such as HB 108 cannot currently be enforced as constitutional and may unintentionally provide a hostile court with the opportunity to re-affirm the wrong holdings of Roe v. Wade. Such laws may also serve to influence the outcome of pro-abortion lawsuits against the Amendment and existing pro-life laws. Please work with Tennessee Right to Life in support of meaningful pro-life proposals which strengthen our state's abortion laws----not threaten them.

This legislation will strengthen reporting requirements by abortion facility operators, increase inspections of these facilities and ensure that the remains of unborn children cannot be bought or sold following an abortion in Tennessee.  The bill will also require informed consent by a woman prior to an abortion specific to the disposition / disposal of her unborn child's body. (House Bill 2577, Dunn / Senate Bill 2568, Roberts) Tennessee General Assembly summary of bill: As introduced, establishes requirements regarding the disposition of fetal remains resulting from surgical abortions, including reporting requirements and requirements for interim inspections of and certain reporting by facilities where surgical abortions are performed. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 15, Part 2 and Title 68. Continue reading