The state Legislature on Monday approved the "Human Life Protection Act" that would trigger an abortion ban in the state should the Constitution be amended to allow states to have say-so over abortion or should the Roe v. Wade decision be overturned.
The bill now goes to Governor Bill Lee for his signature.
Should the bill go into effect, by one of the triggering mechanisms, it would be a felony for a doctor to perform an abortion in Tennessee.
Meanwhile, the Tennessee Senate on Monday night declined to allow a roll call vote on the "TN Heartbeat Bill,. which would have put the abortion ban into place without any triggers.
Senator Mark Pody (R-Lebanon) invoked Senate Rule 63, attempting to force an up-or-down vote on the anti-abortion bill.The bill had been killed two weeks ago in the Senate Judiciary Committee headed by Riceville's Mike Bell.
Lt. Governor Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge) said, "As a pro-life legislator for over 40 years, I was proud to vote to protect the Senate's committee system and preserve the Judiciary Committee's plan to study Senator Pody's legislation. Our committee system is the lifeblood and the backbone of our legislative process. To bypass it puts that entire process at risk.
"We are in the first year of a two-year General Assembly. Senator Pody's bill is still very much alive. Two days of hearings have been scheduled over the summer to provide for study and analysis to make the legislation a stronger, more constitutional bill capable of withstanding a court challenge. Since before Tennessee was officially a member of the union, this body has relied on the wisdom of the committee system.
"We will continue to as long as I am Speaker of the Senate."NOTE: On April 9, Senate Bill 1236 was sent to summer study by a vote of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The legislature is in the first year of the 111th General Assembly. Senate Bill 1236 remains an active piece of legislation.
"The Judiciary Chairman, Senator Mike Bell (R-Riceville), has committed to no less than two days of hearings over the summer to hear testimony on the bill."