The Tennessee House of Representatives recently approved a bill that would criminalize adults aiding minors in receiving gender-affirming care outside the state, without parental consent. The legislation, introduced as HB 2310 by Representative Bryan Richey, stipulates that violations result in a Class C felony, imposing a sentencing range of three to six years for first-time offenders. Serial violations could lead to a punishment as severe as 10 to 15 years imprisonment.
Both the Senate and House have added their own amendments to the legislation. The Senate’s amendment enables plaintiffs to recover compensatory damages, punitive damages, and legal costs in the event of a violation. In contrast, the House’s amendment specifically excluded common carriers transporting passengers for business purposes from the bill’s jurisdiction.
The Tennessee Conservative has quoted Richey referring to the bill as a “parents’ rights bill,” while advocates for Planned Parenthood view it as an unconstitutional invasion of personal autonomy. The latter point out that the singling out of “a parent” over “legal guardian” could potentially disadvantage youth without accessible parents, exacerbating social and health disparities among marginalized identities.
The contentious bill, now approved by separate conference committees in the Senate and House, awaits Governor Bill Lee’s approval to become law in the state. You can read more about this developing story here.