Bill
HJR 142
HJR 142’s title suggests a constitutional right to medical decisions (including gender-affirming care), but the enrolled text is ceremonial with no policy language.
Status snapshot
- Bill number: HJR 142 (House Joint Resolution 142)
- Filed/Prefiled: Filed Feb 19, 2025; listed as Prefiled (H) as of 2025-12-16.
- Current legislative actions show the resolution was adopted in the House (Ayes 89–0), concurred in the Senate (Ayes 31–0), enrolled and transmitted to the Governor.
- Classification: Joint resolution — subject listed as "constitutional amendments, Health Care."
Important note about the bill text
- There is a significant discrepancy between the bill title/summary metadata and the actual text available in the official version.
- Title/metadata: "Proposes a constitutional amendment establishing the right to make medical decisions, including decisions on gender-affirming care."
- Current Version Text: a ceremonial/honorary resolution congratulating Tiffany Heep as the 2024–2025 Chapman's Retreat Elementary School Teacher of the Year. That text contains no constitutional amendment language or substantive changes to law.
What the title indicates (if a substantive HJR were filed)
- Purpose (as described by the title): To place a proposed amendment to the Tennessee Constitution that would explicitly establish an individual's right to make medical decisions for themselves — specifically including decisions about gender-affirming care.
- Key implications if such an amendment were enacted (general legal effects, since no amendment text is provided):
- Constitutional protection for personal medical decision‑making could limit state and local laws that ban, restrict, or criminalize certain medical treatments (including gender‑affirming care) for adults and potentially minors, depending on the amendment’s wording.
- It could alter the balance among patients, parents/guardians, health care providers, and state regulatory authority (licensure, malpractice, public health exceptions).
- Courts would interpret any clause’s scope (who qualifies, age limits, parental consent requirements, emergency exceptions), which would determine whether existing statutes are preempted.
- Impact on insurers, hospitals, and professional standards could be substantial if constitutional protection is broad.
What the actual current text does
- The available enrolled text is purely honorary: it recognizes and congratulates Tiffany Heep as a Teacher of the Year and directs preparation of an appropriate copy of the resolution. It contains no policy provisions, no amendment language, and would have no substantive legal effect beyond ceremonial recognition.
Procedural notes for a Tennessee constitutional amendment
- If a true joint resolution proposing a constitutional amendment were adopted, Tennessee requires approval in two consecutive sessions of the General Assembly (two successive legislatures) before the proposed amendment is submitted to voters in a statewide referendum for ratification. A joint resolution that is only honorary would not trigger that process.
Recommendation / takeaway
- Because of the mismatch between the title/subject and the actual text, readers should consult the official bill text in the legislative database or contact the bill sponsor to confirm whether a substantive constitutional amendment version has been or will be introduced. If your interest is in the policy of establishing a constitutional right to medical decisions (including gender‑affirming care), request the precise amendment language to assess scope, exceptions, age/consent rules, and interaction with existing statutes.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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