Tennessee Republican lawmakers on Wednesday advanced a bill that would make it illegal for adults to assist minors in obtaining abortions without parental consent, but would allow young victims to obtain parental approval to have an abortion. This drew opposition from the Democratic Party, who argued that it could become necessary. terminate the pregnancy.
The Republican-controlled Senate approved the proposal 26-3. The bill is still moving forward in the House of Representatives.
“There are people in situations and circumstances that we don’t understand,” said Democratic state Sen. Ramesh Akbari. “If a teenage victim of rape or incest wants to seek these services, the abuser can decide whether or not that person can receive them. That’s too far.”
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Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to abortion in 2022, abortion opponents have called on states to find ways to prevent pregnant women from crossing state lines to obtain abortions. .
So far, Idaho is the only state to enact a so-called “abortion trafficking” law, but a federal judge has temporarily suspended the law after reproductive rights groups filed a lawsuit challenging the law. It was suspended.
Tennessee State Capitol photographed in Nashville. (David Underwood/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
The first-of-its-kind measure makes it illegal for minors to obtain abortion drugs or help minors leave the state for abortions without their parents’ knowledge or consent. Later this year, bills were introduced in Oklahoma, Mississippi and Tennessee.
Tennessee’s version makes it illegal for adults who “recruit, harbor, or transport” a pregnant minor in the state to obtain an abortion without the consent of the minor’s parent or guardian. Supporters tout the bill as a much-needed parental rights safeguard and point out that abortion rights groups are increasingly distributing information about how to obtain an abortion in states with strict bans. did.
“We have decided that abortion can only be used to save the mother’s life,” said Republican state Sen. Paul Rose. He said, “You cannot take a minor across state lines to have an abortion unless you have parental permission.”
But critics counter that the bill does not include an exemption for minors who may have been raped by a parent or guardian. Instead, the law provides that the biological father of a pregnant minor cannot bring a civil suit if the pregnancy was caused by rape.
Under the Senate version filed Wednesday, anyone convicted of violating the law would be charged with a Class A misdemeanor, which carries a sentence of nearly a year in prison. This is different from the proposal being considered in the Republican-controlled House. In the House, advocates are pushing for the penalty to be a Class C felony, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
Tennessee prohibits abortion at all stages of pregnancy, but there are exceptions to eliminate a molar pregnancy, ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, or to save the mother’s life. In particular, physicians must use their “reasonable medical” judgment when determining whether providing this procedure could save a pregnant patient’s life or prevent serious injury. (some say the terminology is too ambiguous and may be challenged by fellow health care professionals).
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Women’s groups are currently suing to clarify the state’s abortion ban. A court ruling is expected soon on whether the lawsuit can continue or whether the law can be put on hold while the legal battle continues.
