All Roll Calls
Yes: 201 • No: 56
TennesseeSB 0955114th General Assembly (2025-2026)Senate
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 63, relative to rights of conscience and free speech.
Sponsored By: Sponsor information unavailable
Signed by Governor
Health Care
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Court remedies enforce healthcare rights
People and organizations harmed by violations of this law can sue in state court. Courts can order violations stopped, declare rights, and award damages, court costs, and reasonable lawyer fees. Damages add to other available remedies. Extra burdens or costs for another provider do not excuse a violation. Individuals cannot be sued for declining a specific provider's services because that provider exercised protected conscience rights.
Healthcare providers gain free speech protections
Tennessee healthcare regulators cannot reprimand or sanction providers for speech, expression, or association protected by the First Amendment. They also cannot deny, revoke, or threaten licenses, certifications, or registrations for those activities. An exception requires clear and convincing evidence that the conduct directly caused physical harm. The harmed person must have had a practitioner-patient relationship with the provider during the three years immediately before the harm. Government entities also cannot deny certification for protected expression when the applicant was not advising or treating a specific patient.
Healthcare whistleblowers gain protection against retaliation
Healthcare providers are protected from discrimination for reporting conduct they reasonably believe violates this law or joining related proceedings. Protection also covers disclosures they reasonably believe show legal or ethical violations, gross mismanagement or waste, or abuse of authority. Reports of risky treatment or a substantial, specific danger to public health or safety are also covered. Disclosure protection does not apply when another law specifically forbids sharing the information.
Healthcare providers can refuse some care
Effective upon becoming law, Tennessee protects healthcare professionals, institutions, and payers that refuse specific services against their sincerely held beliefs. Participation includes referrals, counseling, prescribing, and other steps in care, so patients may face fewer options for those services. Providers cannot face lawsuits, criminal prosecution, or discrimination for protected refusals. Duties for other care remain, and payers must still make payments required by their contracts. The refusal protection does not override federal law, including emergency-care duties, or cover care for someone in imminent danger of harming themselves or others. Religious providers that publicly identify as religious and maintain policies carrying out their religious purpose have a separate exception. They can make employment, staffing, contracting, administrative, and admitting-privilege decisions consistent with their religious beliefs.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
There is no primary sponsor on record.
Cosponsors
Tom Hatcher
Republican • Senate
Joey Hensley
Republican • Senate
Ed Jackson
Republican • Senate
Johnson
Affiliation unavailable
Reeves
Affiliation unavailable
Paul Rose
Republican • Senate
Stevens
Affiliation unavailable
Page Walley
Republican • Senate
White
Affiliation unavailable
Ken Yager
Republican • Senate
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 4/14/2025
FLOOR VOTE: Motion to Concur House Amendment # 1 4/14/2025
Yes: 25 • No: 6
House vote • 4/7/2025
FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/7/2025
Yes: 71 • No: 24
House vote • 4/7/2025
FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR PREVIOUS QUESTION AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/7/2025
Yes: 71 • No: 22
Senate vote • 3/6/2025
FLOOR VOTE: as Amended Third Consideration 3/6/2025
Yes: 27 • No: 3
Senate vote • 2/26/2025
SENATE HEALTH AND WELFARE COMMITTEE
Yes: 7 • No: 1
Actions Timeline
Effective date(s) 04/24/2025
4/29/2025Pub. Ch. 266
4/29/2025Signed by Governor.
4/24/2025SenateTransmitted to Governor for action.
4/21/2025SenateSigned by H. Speaker
4/21/2025HouseSigned by Senate Speaker
4/17/2025SenateEnrolled and ready for signatures
4/16/2025SenateSponsor(s) Added.
4/14/2025SenateConcurred, Ayes 25, Nays 6 (Amendment 1 - HA0177)
4/14/2025SenatePlaced on Senate Message Calendar for 4/14/2025
4/11/2025SenatePassed H., as am., Ayes 71, Nays 24, PNV 0
4/7/2025HouseH. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA0177)
4/7/2025HouseSubst. for comp. HB.
4/7/2025HouseRcvd. from S., held on H. desk.
3/10/2025HouseEngrossed; ready for transmission to House
3/6/2025SenateSponsor(s) Added.
3/6/2025SenatePassed Senate as amended, Ayes 27, Nays 3
3/6/2025SenateSenate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0020)
3/6/2025SenatePlaced on Senate Regular Calendar for 3/6/2025
3/4/2025SenateRecommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 7, Nays 1 PNV 0
2/26/2025SenateSponsor(s) Added.
2/26/2025SenatePlaced on Senate Health and Welfare Committee calendar for 2/26/2025
2/19/2025SenatePassed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Health and Welfare Committee
2/12/2025SenateIntroduced, Passed on First Consideration
2/10/2025SenateFiled for introduction
2/5/2025Senate
Bill Text
HA0177 (Substitute)
4/7/2025
Enrolled / Public Chapter
Fiscal Note
Introduced
SA0020
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