***Update 3.9.26 – HB0570 is scheduled to be heard in the Population Health Subcommittee on March 10. See below for member contact information.
Image Credit: TN General Assembly & Canva
The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –
Two Tennessee conservative lawmakers have introduced a first-of-its-kind bill which would provide children in the womb the same full legal protections all other people are granted.
Sponsored by Rep. Jody Barrett (R-Dickson-District 69) and Sen. Mark Pody (R-Lebanon-District 17), HB0570/SB0738’s amended language will pivot its focus to aligning existing state statutes regarding protection of life to unequivocally include preborn children, making it the strongest anti-abortion legislation ever in the state should it pass.
HB0570 recognizes that “innocent human life, created in the image of God, should be equally protected under the laws from fertilization to natural death.” It further asserts “all preborn children should be protected with the same criminal and civil laws protecting the lives of born persons” and that “to protect pregnant mothers from being pressured to abort their children, provisions should be repealed that may allow a person to solicit, direct, aid, or attempt to aid a mother to abort her child.”
In essence, the legislation would apply the same standards of justice and enforcement for the unborn through “the same presumptions, defenses, justifications, laws of parties, immunities, and clemencies as would apply to the homicide [or assault] of a person who had been born alive.”
The bill’s text specifically states enforcement would not apply to cases of the unintentional death of an unborn child resulting from “the undertaking of life-saving procedures to save the life of a mother when accompanied by reasonable steps, if available, to save the life of the unborn child, or a spontaneous miscarriage.”
It is also a prospective bill, meaning only offenses committed against fetuses on or after the day the legislation is enacted would fall under the new equal protection provisions.
Some outlets, like The Tennessean, have espoused that this legislation would allow the death penalty for women who have abortions, though numerous organizations, including the Foundation to Abolish Abortion (FAA), have rebutted this narrative, saying the bill “would simply make murdering anyone illegal for everyone,” and emphasizing that full judicial due process would still apply.
“As with all other criminal cases, the prosecutors, juries, judges, and other components of the Tennessee justice system would be responsible for charges, penalties, and sentencing on a case-by-case basis. This legislation merely protects preborn people with the exact same laws that already protect born people. Christians must never allow left-wing media to emotionally manipulate us away from defending our preborn neighbors,” the FAA wrote.
Abortion numbers continue to climb in the state with more women resorting to surgical abortions at out-of-state clinics or telehealth and black-market purchase of abortifacients, with many of these providers protected from any form of accountability or prosecution thanks to blue state “shield laws”.
The FAA notes, “While new regulations have effectively banned surgical abortions, there were over 5,000 telehealth abortions on Tennessee soil as of 2024, a figure which includes neither out-of-state travel for abortions nor self-managed abortions occurring outside of the medical system.
Pro-Life regulations in Tennessee provide complete legal immunity to any pregnant woman who has an abortion, a loophole that allows mothers to willfully murder their preborn babies through telehealth abortions and other means. This loophole must be closed in order to truly abolish abortion in Tennessee.”
While the bill has quickly drawn the ire of abortion proponents, it has seen significant backing from church organizations and big-name advocates.
Clint Pressley, President of the Southern Baptist Convention, released a statement in support of the proposal, writing, “By protecting the lives of preborn children with the same laws that protect people who are born, we are simply loving our neighbors in the womb as ourselves. Tennessee now has the opportunity to set an example of how states can protect the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death. I am urging the Tennessee legislature to move these bills forward this legislative session. It’s both pro-life and consistent!”
CEO and Founder of the White Rose Resistance Seth Gruber also praised the bill and encouraged those invested in ending abortion to contact the members of the legislative committees who will consider the legislation.
And the Danbury Institute, a coalition of churches, Christians, and organizations dedicated to affirming and preserving the God-given rights of life and liberty, similarly posted a call to action urging citizens to “vocalize strong support” and providing a template message to make contacting legislators simpler.
Both HB0570 and SB0738 have picked up additional co-sponsors since the equal protection amendment was announced including Republican Reps. Bud Hulsey, Monty Fritts, and Ed Butler, and Senators Joey Hensley and Adam Lowe.
HB0570 is awaiting a date before the House Population Health Subcommittee while SB0738 will go before the Senate State and Local Government Committee.
If you would like to contact the members of either committee about this legislation, use the information below:
Rep.michele.carringer@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.shaundelle.brooks@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.john.ray.clemmons@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.john.gillespie@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.esther.helton@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.iris.rudder@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.paul.sherrell@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.bryan.terry@capitol.tn.gov
Population Health Subcommittee – HB0570 set to be heard March 10
HB0570 aligns with existing state statutes regarding protection of life to unequivocally include preborn children.
Rep.michele.carringer@capitol.tn.gov; rep.shaundelle.brooks@capitol.tn.gov; rep.john.ray.clemmons@capitol.tn.gov; rep.john.gillespie@capitol.tn.gov; rep.esther.helton@capitol.tn.gov; rep.sabi.kumar@capitol.tn.gov; rep.iris.rudder@capitol.tn.gov; rep.paul.sherrell@capitol.tn.gov; rep.bryan.terry@capitol.tn.gov; rep.ron.travis@capitol.tn.gov
Sen.richard.briggs@capitol.tn.gov
Sen.page.walley@capitol.tn.gov
Sen.tom.hatcher@capitol.tn.gov
Sen.todd.gardenhire@capitol.tn.gov
Sen.kerry.roberts@capitol.tn.gov
Sen.jeff.yarbro@capitol.tn.gov
Senate State & Local Government Committee – SB0738 hearing date to be determined
SB0738 aligns with existing state statutes regarding protection of life to unequivocally include preborn children.
Sen.richard.briggs@capitol.tn.gov; sen.page.walley@capitol.tn.gov; sen.tom.hatcher@capitol.tn.gov; sen.todd.gardenhire@capitol.tn.gov; sen.ed.jackson@capitol.tn.gov; sen.sara.kyle@capitol.tn.gov; sen.adam.lowe@capitol.tn.gov; sen.kerry.roberts@capitol.tn.gov; sen.jeff.yarbro@capitol.tn.gov
About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
