Tennessee Legislature Passes Bill To Criminalize Abortion Trafficking Of Minors

Image Credit: capitol.tn.gov

The Tennessee Conservative Staff –

Following the Tennessee Senate’s passage of a bill that would make it a criminal offense to assist minors in obtaining an abortion by transporting them across state lines, the House passed the bill in a 74-24 vote.

House Bill 1895 (HB1895), sponsored by Representative Jason Zachary (R-Knoxville-District 14), and Senate Bill 1971 (SB1971), sponsored by Senator Paul Rose (R-Lauderdale, Shelby, and Tipton Counties-District 32) has been called a “parental protection plan” by the bill sponsors who state that the bill makes parental permission a requirement for a minor to be transported for the purpose of having an abortion.

The Senate passed an amended version of the bill on April 10th in a vote of 26 in favor, 3 against and 1 person present but not voting.

All Republicans voted in favor of the bill with the exception of Senator Art Swann (R-Maryville-District 2) who was counted as “Present But Not Voting.”

In the Senate, there were three total amendments proposed but only one, by Senator Todd Gardenhire (R-Chattanooga-District ), was adopted and received passage tied to the bill.  

Gardenhire’s amendment can be reviewed HERE.

House Bill 1895 was previously placed behind Governor Lee’s budget on March 6th, but was revived and passed in that chamber on April 23rd with the addition of an amendment – one of eleven amendments that were proposed.

Representative Patsy Hazlewood (R-Signal Mountain-District 27) proposed House Amendment HA1085 which was adopted by the chamber prior to the final vote.

Hazlewood’s amendment can be reviewed HERE.

The major difference between the original version of the bill and the amended versions that were passed is the addition of the text that the criminal penalty does not apply to a person who “has obtained the written, notarized consent of the unemancipated minor’s parent or guardian,” to transport a minor out-of-state to receive an abortion.

On the Floor vote in the House, the bill received passage with only one Republican voting against – Representative Sam Whitson (R-Franklin-District 65).

Since the House passed a version of the bill that differed slightly in amendment language from the Senate version that had already passed, the bill was sent back to the Senate for them to concur with the House amendment.

The Senate concurred with the HA1085 in a vote of 25 to 4 in favor.  

Following the legislative process, the bill will move forward to receive the signatures of the Senate and House Speakers before being transmitted to Governor Lee to be signed into law.