House Subcommittee To Consider Bill To Criminalize Abortion Trafficking Of Tennessee Minors

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The Tennessee Conservative Staff –

The House Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee will consider a bill that would criminalize abortion trafficking of minors in the state of Tennessee. 

House Bill 1895 (HB1895) was introduced by Representative Jason Zachary (R-Knoxville-District 14), who says it is a “parental rights bill.”

The legislation would make it a criminal offense for an adult who is not the parent or legal guardian of a minor child to assist the minor with concealing or obtaining an abortion. It would be classified as a Class C felony.

Rep. Zachary told the House Health Committee that the intent of this bill is to “protect every child. Period. End of story.”

Known as the “Underage Abortion Trafficking Act, ” the bill already passed in the House Health Committee with a vote of 16-7 but it has been placed on the House Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee calendar for March 6, 2024 because there is a fiscal note attached to it. 

According to Tennessee Right to Life, in order to avoid the large fiscal note that would make passage of this bill more difficult, the bill sponsor will present an amendment in the subcommittee to change the punishment for violation of the Underage Abortion Trafficking Act from a felony with possible jail time, to a misdemeanor with mandatory jail time of 11 months and 29 days. 

Anyone who would like to express support for this legislation is encouraged to contact subcommittee members using the contact information below prior to that meeting date.

House Finance, Ways, and Mean Subcommittee

Gary Hicks (Chair) (R) – rep.gary.hicks@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-7480

Charlie Baum (R) – rep.charlie.baum@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-6849

Karen Camper (D) – rep.karen.camper@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-1898

Mark Cochran (R) – rep.mark.cochran@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-1725

Jeremy Faison (R) – rep.jeremy.faison@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-6871

Johnny Garrett (R) – rep.johnny.garrett@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-3893

David B. Hawk (R) – rep.david.hawk@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-7482

Patsy Hazlewood (R) – rep.patsy.hazlewood@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-2746

Tim Hicks (R) – rep.tim.hicks@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-1717

Harold Love, Jr. (D) – rep.harold.love@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-3831

Jerome Moon (R) – rep.jerome.moon@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-5481

Johnny Shaw (D) – rep.johnny.shaw@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-4538

Sam Whitson (R) – rep.sam.whitson@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-1864

Ryan Williams (R) – rep.ryan.williams@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-1875

rep.gary.hicks@capitol.tn.gov, rep.charlie.baum@capitol.tn.gov, rep.karen.campter@capitol.tn.gov, rep.mark.cochran@capitol.tn.gov, rep.jeremy.faison@capitol.tn.gov, rep.johnny.garrett@capitol.tn.gov, rep.david.hawk@capitol.tn.gov, rep.patsy.hazlewood@capitol.tn.gov, rep.tim.hicks@capitol.tn.gov, rep.harold.love@capitol.tn.gov, rep.jerome.moon@capitol.tn.gov, rep.johnny.shaw@capitol.tn.gov, rep.sam.whitson@capitol.tn.gov, rep.ryan.williams@capitol.tn.gov