Tennessee bill holding abortion pill distributors accountable heads to governor

Lawmakers in the Tennessee House and Senate have passed a bill that would make abortion pill distributors liable in wrongful death lawsuits. The bill next heads to the desk of Governor Bill Lee.

Key Takeaways:

• A bill that would allow family members of a child killed via abortion pill to sue the abortionist has passed the Tennessee House and Senate.

• HB 5 allows family members to file a wrongful death lawsuit, with damages at a minimum of $1 million.

• The legislation aims to help curtail the illegal flow of abortion pills into the state. It next heads to the desk of Governor Bill Lee for his signature.

The Details:

House Bill 5 allows certain family members to sue if a preborn child is killed by abortion drugs sent into Tennessee from out-of-state distributors. Currently, state law protects nearly all preborn children from abortion, and it is a felony for anyone to distribute the abortion pill via mail or telehealth.

The new bill does not impose a new felony but allows family members, including the mother of the child, to file a wrongful death lawsuit, with damages at a minimum of $1 million.

The bill's sponsor, Rep. Gino Bulso, issued a statement following its passage:

The overturning of Roe v. Wade marked an important step in the fight to eliminate abortion in the United States, but our work is far from finished.

Tennessee already has strong pro-life laws on the books, but tragically, mail-order abortions continue to kill thousands of innocent unborn children every year. It's time we end the slaughter once and for all and recognize that each of us is made in the image of God.

This legislation's passage is a critical step in our efforts to promote life, protect women and ensure morality defines our laws.

Why It Matters:

Though distribution of the abortion pill is already illegal in Tennessee, the bill aims to further deter out-of-state distributors from sending abortion pills into the state.

Data has shown that, despite abortion pill restrictions, preborn children in the state are still being killed via mail-order abortions. Often, the abortionists responsible for mailing these abortion pills are able to hide behind their pro-abortion states' "shield laws" meant to protect those who break abortion laws in other states.

The Bottom Line:

Tennessee joins several other states, like Texas, in implementing a civil lawsuit mechanism as an additional way to protect preborn children.