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SB 895

Children - As enacted, makes various changes and additions to the Families' Rights and Responsibilities Act, and to present law concerning parental consent for the treatment of minors. - Amends TCA Title 33; Title 36; Title 37; Title 49; Title 63 and Title 68.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Ferrell Haile

Tennessee law now requires expanded parental consent/notification for minor medical treatment across multiple healthcare contexts, effective immediately.

Comp. became Pub. Ch. 347
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Bill Summary · SB 895

Legislative bill overview

SB 895 modifies Tennessee law regarding parental consent and notification requirements for medical treatment of minors across multiple state codes. The bill became effective as Public Chapter 347 in May 2025 after passing through committee with amendments and receiving bipartisan support.

Why is this important

Parental consent laws directly affect healthcare access for minors and shape the balance between parental authority and minor autonomy in medical decisions. Changes to these statutes impact treatment protocols for sensitive health issues and can influence family relationships and healthcare provider obligations across the state.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope of parental notification: The bill's specific amendments to consent requirements across six Tennessee title codes likely involve disagreement over which treatments require parental knowledge/approval versus minor confidentiality protections
  • Healthcare access vs. parental authority: Tensions between protecting minors' privacy for sensitive health matters (mental health, reproductive health, substance abuse treatment) and parental rights to make medical decisions
  • Implementation burden: Healthcare providers must navigate updated consent procedures across multiple jurisdictions and treatment types, creating potential compliance complexity

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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