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SB 372

Health Care - As introduced, urges the human rights commission to study problems of discrimination against healthcare providers in this state because of their decision to decline to participate in a healthcare service on the basis of religious, moral, or ethical beliefs. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 20; Title 29; Title 39; Title 49; Title 50; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Paul Rose

Bill orders Tennessee to study alleged discrimination against healthcare providers who refuse services based on religious or moral beliefs, amending multiple healthcare and labor codes.

Placed on Senate Commerce and Labor Committee calendar for 3/11/2025
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Bill Summary · SB 372

Legislative bill overview

SB 372 directs Tennessee's human rights commission to study and document cases where healthcare providers claim discrimination due to declining services based on religious, moral, or ethical beliefs. The bill amends multiple Tennessee code sections related to healthcare, labor, and civil rights to address these concerns.

Why is this important

This bill addresses a contested intersection between religious/conscience protections and anti-discrimination law in healthcare. The outcomes of the commissioned study could influence future legislation on provider refusal rights, affecting both healthcare access for patients and liability protections for providers who decline services.

Potential points of contention

  • Healthcare access vs. provider conscience: Balancing patients' right to medical services against providers' claimed right to refuse based on moral/religious beliefs, particularly for time-sensitive or specialized treatments
  • Scope and definition issues: Uncertainty about which healthcare services qualify for refusal protection and whether "ethical beliefs" is too vague a standard
  • Study methodology and bias: Questions about whether a human rights commission study will produce objective findings or reflect predetermined policy preferences, and who determines what constitutes actionable discrimination

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

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