Apr 23, 2025 - Politics

Tennessee lawmakers pass bill to protect fertility treatments and contraception

Nate Rau

Illustration of the Tennessee State Capitol building with lines radiating from it. — Illustration: Allie Carl/Axios

Tennessee's legislature last week passed a bill protecting fertility treatments, like IVF, and contraception.

Why it matters: Advocates pushed for IVF protections in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court's Dobbs decision on abortion.

Flashback: The organizing effort, led by the advocacy group the Tennessee Freedom Circle, ramped up after the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos are considered children, which briefly led IVF treatment providers to pause services.

Alabama's legislature subsequently passed a law protecting IVF treatments.
A bill to protect IVF treatments stalled during last year's session.

State of play: This year's bill says "an individual has a right to engage in activities associated with fertility treatment and contraception." The bill also clarifies that existing state laws "do not prohibit" an activity associated with fertility treatment or contraception.

The intrigue: The bill awaits Gov. Bill Lee's signature before becoming law. According to the Tennessee Journal, a group of 11 Republican House members are calling on Lee to veto the legislation.

President Trump signed an executive order in February seeking to expand access to IVF treatments.

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Tennessee lawmakers pass bill to protect fertility treatments and contraception

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