Conservative Tennessee Lawmakers Could Challenge Controversial “Reproductive Rights” Bill In 2026

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The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –

A nonprofit advocacy group in Tennessee has expressed concerns that conservative lawmakers could be revving up to challenge a controversial bill that was pushed through the General Assembly last session which codified the right to indiscriminate creation and discarding of human embryos through assisted reproductive technologies.

HB0533, the “Fertility and Contraceptive Protection Act” was initially presented by Rep. Iris Rudder (R-Winchester-District 39) and Sen. Becky Massey (R-Knoxville-District 6) as a benign act to secure a “right” to seek all fertility treatments in the state, including in vitro fertilization (IVF) and other forms of assisted reproduction, along with the ability to use any desired form of birth control.

It was deemed a dangerous bill by conservatives and pro-life advocacy groups for its disregard of both the state and scientific definitions of “unborn child” which state an unborn child is a child from the moment of conception until birth.

Rep. Gino Bulso attempted to expose the legislation’s pitfalls and amend the bill on the House floor to add safeguards consistent with Tennessee’s espoused pro-life protections, to no avail.

“It creates a statutory right to create and destroy human embryos without qualification, limitation or restriction,” said Rep. Bulso on the floor. “It does not treat a human embryo as a person.”

It was also revealed during the bill’s House floor session that it was being supported by the ACLU and Planned Parenthood, and all 24 Democrat Representatives voted in favor of the measure.

After the votes in both chambers of the legislature, 11 lawmakers sent a letter asking Gov. Bill Lee to veto the bill and send it back to the General Assembly for revision. But the governor signed the bill in April, enacting it into law and ignoring both the legislators’ plea and significant public outcry.

Now, Advocates for Women’s and Kid’s Equality (AWAKE) Tennessee, is expressing concerns that conservative lawmakers could be rallying to push back on the law during the upcoming legislative session.

AWAKE’s mission is to “advocate for the advancement of women and young people in Tennessee” by seeking to “disrupt systems that reinforce gender inequality”. They saw HB0533 as a worthwhile cause, claiming studies supposedly show that after state abortion bans take effect, residents get confused about what reproductive care is still available.

“That instability erodes trust in the healthcare system itself and underscores why protective legislation like [HB0533] is so necessary,” said AWAKE’s Executive Director Kelli Nowers.

She also said during a recent Guttmacher Institute briefing that the organization is preparing for “significant backlash” from critics of the legislation once the General Assembly reconvenes next month but that AWAKE will continue defending the new law.

“They made it clear that they see this law as something that needs to be reversed and/or weakened,” Nowers stated.

Besides concerns about the “right” to create and discard human lives at will, critics of the Act also protested the broad definitions of “contraception”, with some claiming it created a right to certain birth control pills which they say are, in essence, types of abortion drugs.

“We are creating, if we pass this bill, a right to use of the morning after pill,” said Rep. Jody Barrett at the time. 

Several also argued the legislation was written to make it extremely limiting and difficult for the legislative body to go back and address any specific parts of the bill they may wish to change or revoke down the line. But that is the whole point, according to Nowers.

“I am a proud IVF mom, and for families like mine, this legislation isn’t abstract,” she said. “It safeguards the very medical tools that allowed me and thousands of other Tennesseans to build our families. And it protects the contraceptive methods that people rely on to make informed decisions about their futures and lead dignified lives.”

The General Assembly will reconvene on January 13, 2026, where it remains to be seen if conservatives will rally against this law which undermines protections for Tennessee’s unborn children.

About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.