Lt. Governor Randy McNally statement on Dobbs v. Jackson
June 25, 2022

“This decision is a huge win for the cause of Life. For too long, abortion policy in this nation has been controlled by the federal judiciary. Now, once again, the voters of the individual states will have the ability to make policy through democratic means. In Tennessee, the voters have already made their views known through the passage of a constitutional amendment that makes clear that no right to abortion is contained in our constitution. With passage of our trigger law and a comprehensive heartbeat bill, Tennessee’s General Assembly has been well prepared for this day. Very soon the pro-life voters of Tennessee will finally see their policy preferences enshrined in law. A great day for the cause of Life and the state of Tennessee.”

Overview of Tennessee’s “Trigger Law” now that Roe v. Wade is overturned

• On June 24, 2022, the United States Supreme Court in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (the case dealing with Mississippi’s ban on abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy) issued a ruling overturning Roe v. Wade and its progeny and allowing each state to regulate or prohibit abortion.

• This ruling triggers the 2019 Human Life Protection Act also known as the “Trigger Law” to ban all abortions in Tennessee except when the life of the mother is at risk.¹

• This strong pro-life law goes into effect 30 days from Roe v. Wade being overturned

• It creates a Class C felony for a person who performs or attempts to perform an abortion at any time during a woman’s pregnancy, unless it was performed to prevent the death of the pregnant woman or serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman.

- A Class C felony is punishable by 3-15 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000

• Under this law, the mother is not punished.

• There is no exception for rape or incest.

• Medical treatment that results in accidental death or unintentional injury to the unborn child will not be a violation of this law.

• The Human Life Protection Act requires the Attorney General and Reporter to notify the Tennessee Code Commission when Roe v. Wade is overturned, which would trigger TCA Section 39-15-213 (included below) to go into effect 30 days after the ruling.

• Attorney General Slatery is seeking an emergency motion with the 6th Circuit asking it to stay a preliminary injunction, which would make Tennessee’s 2020 Heartbeat Bill go into effect immediately.

• If granted, the Heartbeat Bill would be in effect during the 30 days prior to the Trigger Bill becoming effective, so that the lives of children are immediately protected.

• The Heartbeat Bill prohibits abortion after 6 weeks gestation.

• Below is the Human Life Protection Act which will go into effect 30 days from June 24, 2022:

¹Gresham, Hensley, White, Southerland, Bowling, Pody, Yager, Jackson, Swann, Lundberg, Haile, Massey, Stevens, Rose, Bailey, Bell, Briggs, Crowe, Kelsey, Niceley, Roberts

39-15-213. Criminal abortion Affirmative defense. [Contingent effective date]

(a) As used in this section:

(1) Abortion means the use of any instrument, medicine, drug, or any other substance or device with intent to terminate the pregnancy of a woman known to be pregnant with intent other than to increase the probability of a live birth, to preserve the life or health of the child after live birth, or to remove a dead fetus;

(2) Fertilization means that point in time when a male human sperm penetrates the zona pellucida of a female human ovum;

(3) Pregnant means the human female reproductive condition of having a living unborn child within her body throughout the entire embryonic and fetal stages of the unborn child from fertilization until birth; and

(4) Unborn child means an individual living member of the species, homo sapiens, throughout the entire embryonic and fetal stages of the unborn child from fertilization until birth.

(b) A person who performs or attempts to perform an abortion commits the offense of criminal abortion. Criminal abortion is a Class C felony.

(c) It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under subsection (b), which must be proven by a preponderance of the evidence, that:

(1) The abortion was performed or attempted by a licensed physician;

(2) The physician determined, in the physician's good faith medical judgment, based upon the facts known to the physician at the time, that the abortion was necessary to prevent the death of the pregnant woman or to prevent serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman. No abortion shall be deemed authorized under this subdivision (c)(2) if performed on the basis of a claim or a diagnosis that the woman will engage in conduct that would result in her death or substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function or for any reason relating to her mental health; and

(3) The physician performs or attempts to perform the abortion in the manner which, in the physician's good faith medical judgment, based upon the facts known to the physician at the time, provides the best opportunity for the unborn child to survive, unless in the physician's good faith medical judgment, termination of the pregnancy in that manner would pose a greater risk of the death of the pregnant woman or substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function. No such greater risk shall be deemed to exist if it is based on a claim or diagnosis that the woman will engage in conduct that would result in her death or substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function or for any reason relating to her mental health.

(d) Medical treatment provided to the pregnant woman by a licensed physician which results in the accidental death of or unintentional injury to or death of the unborn child shall not be a violation of this section.

(e) This section does not subject the pregnant woman upon whom an abortion is performed or attempted to criminal conviction or penalty.

Acts 2019, ch. 351, 2.

Compiler's Notes. Acts 2019, ch. 351, 1 provided that the act, which added this section, shall be known and may be cited as Human Life Protection Act.

Effective Dates. Acts 2019, ch. 351, 3 provided: (a) This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day following the occurrence of either of the following circumstances, the public welfare requiring it:(1) The issuance of the judgment in any decision of the United States Supreme Court overruling, in whole or in part, Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973), as modified by Planned Parenthood of Southeastem Pennsylvania v. Casey , 505 U.S. 833 (1992), thereby restoring to the states their authority to prohibit abortion; or(2) Adoption of an amendment to the United States Constitution that, in whole or in part, restores to the states their authority to prohibit abortion.(b) The attorney general and reporter shall notify in writing the Tennessee code commission of the occurrence of either of the circumstances in (a)(1) or (a)(2) and what date is the thirtieth day following such occurrence.