Thank you for taking action! You all are amazing! Our letter was sent to lawmakers with the signatures of 402 Tennesseans! On Wednesday, the Senate version of the bill passed. It was amended to remove exceptions for physicians specializing in oncology and organ transplant, and to add language about religious exemption. As passed in the Senate, a healthcare provider participating in TennCare or CoverKids would be prohibited from refusing to provide medical services to an enrollee based upon refusing vaccination if the patient (or patient's parent) has a religious or moral objection to the vaccine or immunization.

The legislation will now be on the House floor. Rep. Carringer's version of the bill is a bit different. It also includes the amendment making it related to religious or moral objection, but instead of removing the exceptions for oncology and organ transplant, it adds an exception for specialists who treat immunocompromised patients. We MUCH prefer the House version of the bill. The House will now decide whether to conform to the Senate version or hold strong to theirs. If the House does not conform to the Senate, it will be sent to what is called a "Conference Committee." In that committee, anything can happen to the language of the bill, and then both the House and Senate will vote on whether to accept the Conference Committee Report outlining the final agreed upon version of the bill.

What can you do now?

* Thank Senators Akbari, Briggs, Campbell, Kyle, Lamar, Oliver, and Yarbro for voting against SB1389.

* Thank Senator Akbari Akbari for speaking up on the Senate floor to oppose the bill.

* Thank Rep. Carringer for her amendments to HB638 and encourage her to remain firm in her conviction not to conform to the Senate version of the bill.

This bill will undermine public trust in the Tennessee Department of Health by limiting the expert guidance Tennesseans rely on. Our health professionals interpret data from agencies like the FDA or CDC to provide clear, evidence-based information that helps keep our families and communities safe. At a time when trust in federal health organizations is already wavering, we should support, not restrict, our state health department's ability to provide reliable information. Ask committee members to support our health experts and protect their ability to serve Tennesseans by voting NO on HB1157/SB1031, the Restore Trust in Public Health Messaging Act.

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Thank you for taking action! TNFV advocates sent 2,054 emails to legislators opposing this resolution for a constitutional amendment.

Because the resolution was not brought from behind the budget to be funded this year, it was taken off notice. That means it is dead for the year. There is still a possibility of it being brought back next year. This is definitely a win!

House Sponsor: Rep. Bulso

A resolution to propose an amendment to Article I of the Constitution of Tennessee, adding "A person must not be compelled to undergo a medical treatment, even in the case of a declared state of emergency. For the purposes of this section, "medical treatment" includes any medical procedure, drug administration, vaccination, or other intervention intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or mitigate any physical or mental condition." Among other very negative public health consequences, this amendment could lead to school vaccine requirements being ruled unconstitutional.

House Status: Taken Off Notice/Not Funded

Thank you for taking action! TNFV advocates sent 519 emails to legislators in support of this bill.

The "Individualized Investigational Treatment Act" to provides a legal framework for patients with life-threatening or severely debilitating illnesses to access highly personalized medical treatments that are unique to their genetic profile, such as individualized gene therapy or neoantigen vaccines.

Status: Passed House and Senate. Sent to Governor for signing.