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The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –
A bill that would ban abortions in the state of Tennessee has passed the House Health Subcommittee and is now on the calendar for the full Health Committee.
House Bill 2779, sponsored by Representative Rebecca Alexander (R-Jonesborough-District 7), was first introduced as a caption bill and was later amended to state that it would ban all abortions except those that would prevent death or “substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function” of the mother.
Alexander says that the bill was modeled after similar legislation that was passed in Texas. The passing of that legislation resulted in around a 60% decrease in the number of abortions performed in the state.
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The bill would also allow any individual to sue those who help women to obtain abortions. This not only includes physicians who perform abortions, but also includes anyone who “aids and abets” abortions by paying for or reimbursing someone else for paying for an abortion. If it is passed, individuals could be sued for up to $10,000.
“It leaves enforcement up to private citizens through civil lawsuits instead of criminal prosecutors,” Alexander said.
The bill does not allow for exceptions to the ban in cases of rape or incest, but it does prohibit “a person who impregnated a woman seeking an abortion through an act of rape, sexual assault, or incest” from bringing a civil suit against the abortion provider.
The House Health Committee is scheduled to consider the bill on their March 23rd calendar.
The companion Senate Bill 2582, sponsored by Senator Mark Pody (R-Lebanon-District 17), was on the Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for March 16, but action has been deferred to March 29.
If you support this bill, contact legislators in advance of their meeting. The contact information for the Republican members (who hold the super-majority vote) can be found below.
House Health Committee
Chairman Bryan Terry – rep.bryan.terry@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-2180
Vice-Chair Tom Leatherwood – rep.tom.leatherwood@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-7084
Rebecca Alexander – rep.rebecca.alexander@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-2251
Clark Boyd – rep.clark.boyd@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-7086
David Byrd – rep.david.byrd@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-2190
Ron Gant – rep.ron.gant@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-6890
Mark Hall – rep.mark.hall@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-1350
Esther Helton – rep.esther.helton@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-1934
Tim Hicks – rep.tim.hicks@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-1717
Sabi Kumar – rep.sabi.kumar@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-2860
Pat Marsh – rep.pat.marsh@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-6824
Bob Ramsey – rep.bob.ramsey@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-3560
Paul Sherrell – rep.paul.sherrell@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-1963
Kevin Vaughan – rep.kevin.vaughan@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-1866
Sam Whitson – rep.sam.whitson@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-1864
Ryan Williams – rep.ryan.williams@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-1875
Senate Judiciary Committee
Mike Bell (Chair) – sen.mike.bell@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-1946
Dawn White (1st Vice-Chair) – sen.dawn.white@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-6853
Paul Rose (2nd Vice-Chair) – sen.paul.rose@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-1967
Todd Gardenhire – sen.todd.gardenhire@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-6682
Jon Lundberg – sen.jon.lundberg@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-5761
Kerry Roberts – sen.kerry.roberts@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-4499
John Stevens – sen.john.stevens@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-4576
About the Author: Jason Vaughn, Media Coordinator for The Tennessee Conservative ~ Jason previously worked for a legacy publishing company based in Crossville, TN in a variety of roles through his career. Most recently, he served as Deputy Director for their flagship publication. Prior, he was a freelance journalist writing articles that appeared in the Herald Citizen, the Crossville Chronicle and The Oracle among others. He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor’s in English-Journalism, with minors in Broadcast Journalism and History. Contact Jason at news@TennesseeConservativeNews.com
