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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
