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.