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UPDATE: 4/11/2024 - SB 2359 was enacted, it was signed by the Governor and became effective on 4/11/2024. Public Chapter 699.
UPDATE: 4/1/2024 - SB 2359 was transmitted to the Governor for action on 4/1/2024. Contact Governor Bill Lee (615) 741-2001, ask to SIGN SB 2359.
UPDATE: 3/25/2024 - SB 2359 was substituted for its House companion, HB 1726, and passed the full House by a vote of 70 Ayes, 24 Nays, on 3/25/2024.
UPDATE: 3/14/2024 - HB 1726 is eligible for a full House vote as of 3/14/2024.
UPDATE: 3/6/2024 - HB 1726 was recommended for passage in the House Civil Justice Committee by a voice vote on 3/6/2024.
UPDATE: 2/29/2024 - SB 2359 passed the full Senate by a vote of 24 Ayes, 2 Noes, 1 Present and not voting, on 2/29/2024.
UPDATE: 2/28/2024 - HB 1726 is scheduled for a hearing in the House Civil Justice Committee on Wednesday, 3/6/2024 at 12:00PM in House Hearing Room 1. View the Hearing Agenda HERE.
UPDATE: 2/27/2024 - HB 1726 was recommended for passage by House Children & Family Affairs Subcommittee by a voice vote on 2/27/2024.
UPDATE: 2/21/2024 - HB 1726 is scheduled for a hearing in the House Children & Family Affairs Subcommittee of the House Civil Justice Committee on Tuesday, 2/27/2024 at 12:00PM in House Hearing Room IV. View the Hearing Agenda HERE.
UPDATE: 2/20/2024 - SB 2359 was recommended for passage by the Senate Judiciary Committee by a vote of 8 Ayes, 1 Noes on 2/20/2024.
UPDATE: 2/1/2024 - SB 2359 was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee on 2/1/2024.
UPDATE: 1/11/2024 - HB 1726 was referred to the House Civil Justice Committee and assigned to the House Children & Family Affairs Subcommittee of the House Civil Justice Committee on 1/11/2024.
HB 1726 was introduced to the House on 1/10/2024. This bill is sponsored by Representative Ron Gant.
SB 2359 was introduced in the Senate on 1/31/2024. This bill is sponsored by Senator Bo Watson.
HB 1726 and SB 2359 prohibit the department of children's services from requiring any member of a foster care family or adoptive family to be vaccinated if they have religious or moral objections.
HB 1726 and SB 2359 amend Tennessee Code Annotated Section 36-1-148 regarding the exceptions for immunization conditions related to adoption and Section 37-2-419 regarding exceptions for immunization conditions related to overseeing a child in foster care.
These bills create an exception for an individual or member of the individual's household to object to receiving an immunization as a condition of adopting of overseeing a child in foster care and create an alternative to the current laws that require an individual or member of an individual's household to be vaccinated if the child is under 18 months of age or has significant documented medical needs.
HB 1726 and SB 2359, if passed, will be effective as soon as they become law.
NVIC SUPPORTS HB 1726 and SB 2359 because they expand the number of persons eligible to adopt or foster children without forcing them to choose between providing a loving home and violating their religious or moral beliefs regarding their decisions to forgo a vaccination for themselves or their family members by providing vaccine exemptions. NVIC is opposed to all vaccination mandates. Vaccines are pharmaceutical products that carry a risk of injury and death and should not be a condition for adoption or overseeing a child in foster care. An improvement on these bills would be to prohibit all vaccine mandates instead of creating an exemption to a mandate. Individuals should have the ability to make their own fully informed decisions on vaccinations including how the vaccine was tested and approved without it affecting their right to adopt or provide foster care. It is difficult enough to find caring and qualified families to provide this level of care to children in need. Families should not be disqualified from adopting or overseeing a child in foster care simply because an individual or member of an individual's family does not have a particular vaccine.
https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/default.aspx?BillNumber=HB1726&GA=113 - text, status, and history of HB 1726
https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/default.aspx?BillNumber=SB2359&GA=113 - text, status, and history of SB 2359
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