Image Credit: TN General Assembly & Canva
The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –
Republican Senator Richard Briggs (Dist.7-Knoxville) has partnered with Democrat Representative Caleb Hemmer (Dist. 59-Nashville) to introduce the “Freedom to Grow Our Tennessee Families Act”, but the bill may be more misleading than the name implies.
There is no summary of SB0463 on the capitol’s tracking website other than, “enacts the ‘Freedom to Grow Our Tennessee Families Act,’” which raises red flags and leaves much to be desired about the actual subject matter of the legislation.
One must read the bill’s full text alongside all the cited laws to fully understand the numerous changes to language in Tennessee Code about insurance provisions, definitions, and medical jargon.
In brief, it seems the Act seeks to encourage fertility treatments and mandate insurance coverage for such treatments, diagnostics, medications, etc., which will inevitably raise insurance rates for all.
The bill reads, “A health insurer that issues, delivers, amends, or renews a health benefit plan that is to be in effect in this state on or after January 1, 2026, shall provide coverage for all of the following: (1) Fertility diagnostic care; (2) Fertility treatment; and (3) Fertility preservation services.”
The text then goes onto specify more conditions for certain procedures that must be provided and other requirements for insurance companies.
It also relies heavily on definitions, standards, and guidelines set by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, [ASRM]. On the ASRM website, DEI is featured on the Mission, Vision, and Values page, “including a commitment to promote diversity within the ASRM membership and leadership and to promote access to quality reproductive care for all patients.”
Two of Hemmer’s issues of import from his website are “reproductive health” and the right “of all Tennesseans to marry the person you love” so it raises suspicious that a Republican would partner with such a liberal representative on a bill that is purported to “grow families”.
It could be that Hemmer’s interest in this matter stems from a desire to make surrogacy and in vitro fertilization more accessible to homosexual couples based on the language which provides for couples who would biologically be unable to conceive children.
The text’s definition of “fertility patient” includes “(A) An individual or couple with infertility; (B) An individual unable to conceive as an individual or with a partner because the individual or couple does not have the necessary gametes for conception.”
Neither provision explicitly excludes homosexual couples, one of whom in the partnership would by default lack one of the “necessary gametes” (i.e. eggs or sperm).
The bill would appear to additionally place more strain on the taxpayer by requiring fertility treatments to be wrapped into the Medicaid program.
It would create a new subsection listing, “Fertility care for a fertility patient, as described in SECTION 2 [of SB0463],” under the treatments required for medical assistance, “including demonstration projects and programs designed to enhance the efficient and economic operation of the medicaid program.”
Finally, SB0463 would amend a portion of Tennessee Code relative to eligibility of familial caretakers to receive “temporary assistance” by making any relative who becomes ineligible for this assistance for any reason still able to receive, “transitional childcare assistance for a period of not less than six (6) months. The department shall pay childcare assistance on a sliding fee scale based upon a family’s income for so long as federal funding or any related waiver is in effect.”
According to the legislative tracking website, the bill, which was filed in the Senate on 1/29 and 1/30 in the House, has passed the House on first consideration, meaning the bill’s title and sponsor have been properly read and introduced with no objection. Should the bill pass the House after a second reading, it will then be referred by the Speaker to any appropriate committees.
The question remains if Republican lawmakers will properly read the bill’s full text or remain ignorant of, and therefore complicit in, its seemingly manipulative policies.
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.
