Gov. Bill Lee (R) on Tuesday signed a bill into law that will penalize adults who take minors across state lines to obtain abortions or sex change surgeries.
HB 1895 “creates the criminal offense of abortion trafficking of a minor; provides for a civil action against a person committing the offense of abortion trafficking of a minor for the wrongful death of an unborn child that was aborted.”
The bill, which classifies the offense of abortion trafficking of a minor as a Class C felony, was sponsored by State Rep. Jason Zachary (R-Knoxville).
“Tennessee has the strongest pro-life law in the country. We have saved over 10,000 babies since this law has been enacted. There are those who are trying to find ways [to] circumvent the law in an effort to facilitate abortions for minors,” Zachary told The Tennessee Star at the time of the bill’s proposal in January. “This legislation has been drafted to address challenges to similar proposals in other states but most importantly, it will protect vulnerable unemancipated minors from those who wish to facilitate the abortion of the minor’s baby without the guardian or parent’s knowledge.”
Wednesday, he said the law’s enactment was a win for children and parental rights.
“We have made it a priority in Tennessee to protect children and strengthen parental rights,” Zachary told The Star on Wednesday. “This legislation achieves both goals by protecting minors during such a vulnerable times in their lives.”
The Tennessee Senate’s version of the bill made national news upon its introduction.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) said the bill was “cruelty.”
Tennessee’s abortion ban has no exceptions if you have been raped. No exceptions if you’re the victim of incest,” he said on X. “Now, Republicans in Tennessee are trying to punish young women that travel to receive care. The Tennessee GOP aren’t alone in their cruelty. We have to fight back.”
Newsom did not respond to Zachary’s challenge to a debate over the bill.
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Pete D’Abrosca is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on X / Twitter.
Photo “Gov. Bill Lee” by Gov. Bill Lee.
