TN House And Senate To Consider “Youth Health Protection Act” (Update 3.24.22)

***Update 3/24/22 – HB2835 was taken off notice in the Health Subcommittee with no additional info given. The Tennessee Conservative has reached out to the bill sponsor for clarification.

***Update 3/16/22 – The House Subcommittee and Senate Committee deferred action again. HB2835 is on the calendar for the House Health Subcommittee for 3/22/22. SB2696 has now been assigned to the General Subcommittee of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee. The article has been updated to reflect this change.***

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The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –

A set of companion bills in the Tennessee General Assembly, collectively known as the “Youth Health Protection Act,” will be heard in the House Health Subcommittee next week.

House Bill 2835 (HB2835), sponsored by Representative John Ragan (R-Oak Ridge-District 33) and Senate Bill 2696 (SB2696), sponsored by Senator Janice Bowling (R-Tullahoma-District 16), if passed, will prevent healthcare providers from treating minors without parental consent, with exceptions for minors seeking treatment in certain situations.

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Points of Interest about the bill:

• Prohibits practices to be performed to facilitate the minor’s desire to present or appear in a manner that is inconsistent with the minor’s sex without the good faith medical decision of a parent or guardian of a minor born with a medically verifiable genetic disorder of sexual development.

• Prohibits penalties or adverse action against an individual who gives or receives counsel, advice, guidance, or other speech or communication, whether described as therapy or provided for a fee, consistent with conscience or religious belief.

• Prohibits infringement upon parent’s fundamental right to care for a child including the right to withhold consent for a treatment, activity, or mental healthcare service that is designed and intended to form the child’s conceptions of sex and gender or to treat gender dysphoria or gender nonconformity.

• Offers whistleblower protection for those report violations of the proposed law.

• Offers Civil Remedies – A civil action for compensatory or special damages, injunctive relief, or other relief available under law may be brought by a person for a violation of a provision of this part against a medical professional, healthcare entity, government agent, or other individual or entity responsible for the violation.

• Limitation on use of State Funds – Funds of this state or a political subdivision of this state must not be used, directly or indirectly, for the performance of or in furtherance of gender transition procedures or to support the administration of a governmental health plan or government-offered insurance policy offering gender transition procedures.

If you support the passage of this bill, contact the Republican subcommittee members (who hold the supermajority vote) prior to their meeting on Tuesday of next week.

HB2835 has been placed on the calendar for the House Health Subcommittee for Tuesday, March 22nd, 2022.

Republican Representatives serving on the Health Subcommittee are listed below:

Chairman Bob Ramsey – rep.bob.ramsey@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-3560

Clark Boyd – rep.clark.boyd@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-7086

David Byrd – rep.david.byrd@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-2190

Mark Hall – rep.mark.hall@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-1350

Sabi Kumar – rep.sabi.kumar@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-2860

Pat Marsh – rep.pat.marsh@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-6824

Paul Sherrell – rep.paul.sherrell@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-1963

Robin Smith – rep.robin.smith@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-2548

Bryan Terry – rep.bryan.terry@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-2180

SB2696 has assigned to the General Subcommittee of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee but has not yet appeared on their calendar.

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