All Roll Calls
Yes: 121 • No: 7
TennesseeSB 0282114th General Assembly (2025-2026)SenateWALLET
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 53 and Title 63, relative to medical treatment.
Sponsored By: Sponsor information unavailable
Signed by Governor
Health Care
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Severely ill patients gain personalized treatment access
Beginning July 1, 2025, patients with life-threatening or severely debilitating illnesses can request experimental drugs, biological products, or devices made only for them using their genetic profile. A doctor must confirm the illness, review all FDA-approved options with the patient, recommend treatment, and document eligibility. Treatment must come through a facility operating under Federalwide Assurance rules for protecting human research subjects. Written consent must identify the treatment, explain approved options, state that conventional treatments are unlikely to prolong life, and describe possible outcomes, worst-case risks, and likely side effects; the patient—or a guardian or attorney-in-fact for a minor—must sign, with the doctor and a witness attesting. Tennessee officials cannot block or attempt to block access, but licensed providers can give advice that follows medical standards.
Patients face no guaranteed treatment coverage
Beginning July 1, 2025, insurers, health plans, plan administrators, and government agencies can cover personalized experimental treatment and related services, but this law does not require payment. Facilities and manufacturers can offer treatment free or charge treatment and manufacturing costs. Manufacturers do not have to supply treatment, and providers do not have to supply services unless they approve the request. Required consent warns that coverage is not guaranteed without a legal or contract duty, and patients bear expenses unless another agreement says otherwise. It also warns that seeking treatment aimed at a cure may affect hospice eligibility.
Heirs protected from unpaid treatment debt
Beginning July 1, 2025, heirs are not liable for unpaid personalized experimental treatment debt when the patient dies during treatment. Heirs also are not liable for lack of insurance caused by that treatment. This protection applies to those treatment-related debts and insurance consequences, not all debts the patient leaves behind.
Providers protected for recommending personalized treatment
Beginning July 1, 2025, licensing boards cannot punish providers solely for recommending personalized experimental treatment to an eligible patient. This includes suspending, revoking, or refusing to renew a license. Entities responsible for Medicare certification also cannot act against certification solely for that recommendation. The protection does not cover action based on other grounds.
Patients face treatment liability release requirements
Beginning July 1, 2025, required consent includes a treatment-related liability release for the treating provider, hospital, and manufacturers. The law creates no new private right to sue for treatment harm when a manufacturer or other care participant follows the law in good faith and uses reasonable care. This does not itself eliminate other existing rights to sue. Required health coverage for clinical trial participation remains unchanged.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
There is no primary sponsor on record.
Cosponsors
Janice Bowling
Republican • Senate
Rusty Crowe
Republican • Senate
Joey Hensley
Republican • Senate
Becky D. Massey
Republican • Senate
Reeves
Affiliation unavailable
Paul Rose
Republican • Senate
Stevens
Affiliation unavailable
Page Walley
Republican • Senate
Ken Yager
Republican • Senate
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 3/6/2025
FLOOR VOTE: as Amended Third Consideration 3/6/2025
Yes: 28 • No: 1
House vote • 3/6/2025
FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 3/6/2025
Yes: 85 • No: 5
Senate vote • 2/26/2025
SENATE HEALTH AND WELFARE COMMITTEE
Yes: 8 • No: 1
Actions Timeline
Effective date(s) 07/01/2025
3/28/2025Pub. Ch. 45
3/28/2025Signed by Governor.
3/20/2025SenateTransmitted to Governor for action.
3/12/2025SenateSigned by H. Speaker
3/11/2025HouseSigned by Senate Speaker
3/10/2025SenateEnrolled and ready for signatures
3/7/2025SenateSponsor(s) Added.
3/6/2025SenatePassed H., Ayes 85, Nays 5, PNV 3
3/6/2025HouseSubst. for comp. HB.
3/6/2025HouseEngrossed; ready for transmission to House
3/6/2025SenatePassed Senate as amended, Ayes 28, Nays 1, PNV 1
3/6/2025SenateSenate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0021)
3/6/2025SenatePlaced on Senate Regular Calendar for 3/6/2025
3/4/2025SenateSponsor(s) Added.
3/3/2025SenateSponsor(s) Added.
2/26/2025SenateRecommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 8, Nays 1 PNV 0
2/26/2025SenatePlaced on Senate Health and Welfare Committee calendar for 2/26/2025
2/19/2025SenateSponsor(s) Added.
2/10/2025SenatePassed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Health and Welfare Committee
2/10/2025SenateIntroduced, Passed on First Consideration
1/27/2025SenateFiled for introduction
1/24/2025Senate
Bill Text
Enrolled / Public Chapter
Fiscal Note
Introduced
SA0021
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