Status: Highly Restrictive (first state to pass 2023 healthcare ban)
| Category | Status | Law/Bill |
|---|---|---|
| Healthcare Ban | 🔴 ENACTED | SB 1 / Public Chapter 1 (2023) |
| Sports Ban | 🔴 ENACTED | SB 228 (2021) |
| Drag Restrictions | 🟢 BLOCKED | SB 3 (2023) — enacted but ruled unconstitutional |
| Bathroom Restrictions | 🔴 ENACTED | Multiple bills |
| Shield Law | 🔴 None |
Trans Youth Affected: ~4,000 (estimated)
Summary: Prohibits healthcare providers from performing or administering any medical procedure on a minor for the purpose of enabling a minor to identify with, or live as, an identity inconsistent with their sex.
Historical Note: This was assigned Public Chapter 1 — the first law of the 113th General Assembly, signaling Tennessee's priority to target trans youth.
Senate:
House:
| Date | Chamber | Action | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 9, 2022 | Both | Filed for introduction | Bill History |
| Jan 10, 2023 | Both | Introduced, Passed on First Consideration | |
| Feb 1, 2023 | Senate | Health & Welfare Committee: 8-1 | |
| Feb 7, 2023 | Senate | Judiciary Committee: 7-2 | |
| Feb 13, 2023 | Senate | Passed 26-6 | |
| Feb 8, 2023 | House | Health Committee: Passed (voice vote) | |
| Feb 15, 2023 | House | Civil Justice Committee: Passed (voice vote) | |
| Feb 23, 2023 | House | Passed 77-16 (substituted for SB 1) | |
| Feb 27, 2023 | Senate | Signed by Senate Speaker | |
| Feb 28, 2023 | House | Signed by House Speaker | |
| Mar 2, 2023 | Governor | Signed by Governor Lee | |
| Mar 22, 2023 | — | Assigned Public Chapter 1 |
Senate Floor Vote (February 13, 2023)
Bailey, Bowling, Briggs, Crowe, Gardenhire, Haile, Hensley, Jackson, Johnson, Lowe, Lundberg, Massey, Niceley, Pody, Powers, Reeves, Roberts, Rose, Southerland, Stevens, Swann, Taylor, Walley, Watson, White, Yager
House Floor Vote (February 23, 2023)
Alexander, Barrett, Baum, Boyd, Bricken, Bulso, Burkhart, Butler, Campbell S, Capley, Carringer, Cepicky, Cochran, Crawford, Darby, Davis, Doggett, Eldridge, Faison, Farmer, Fritts, Gant, Garrett, Gillespie, Grills, Hakeem, Hale, Haston, Hawk, Hazlewood, Helton-Haynes, Hicks G, Hicks T, Holsclaw, Howell, Hulsey, Hurt, Johnson C, Keisling, Kumar, Lafferty, Lamberth, Leatherwood, Littleton, Lynn, Marsh, Martin B, Martin G, McCalmon, Moody, Moon, Parkinson, Powers, Ragan, Raper, Reedy, Richey, Rudd, Rudder, Russell, Sherrell, Slater, Sparks, Stevens, Terry, Todd, Towns, Travis, Vaughan, Vital, Warner, White, Whitson, Williams, Wright, Zachary, Speaker Sexton
Chism, Clemmons, Dixie, Freeman, Glynn, Hardaway, Harris, Hemmer, Jernigan, Johnson G, Jones, McKenzie, Miller, Mitchell, Shaw, Thompson
Senate Health & Welfare Committee (Feb 1, 2023): 8-1
Senate Judiciary Committee (Feb 7, 2023): 7-2
L.W. v. Skrmetti
Summary: Banned "adult cabaret performances" (targeting drag shows) on public property or where minors could view them.
Court Status: U.S. District Judge Thomas Parker (Trump appointee) ruled the law unconstitutional in June 2023, finding it violated the First Amendment.
Summary: Requires student athletes at public K-12 schools and higher education institutions to participate in sports based on sex assigned at birth.
| Name | Party | Chamber | Role | Key Bills |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bill Lee | R | Governor | Signed all bills | SB 1, SB 3 |
| Jack Johnson | R | Senate | Primary Sponsor | SB 1 |
| William Lamberth | R | House | Primary Sponsor | HB 1 |
| Date | Event | Source |
|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | SB 228 (sports ban) enacted | Legislature |
| Mar 2, 2023 | SB 1 (healthcare ban) signed | Legislature |
| Mar 2023 | SB 3 (drag ban) enacted | Legislature |
| Jun 2023 | Drag ban ruled unconstitutional | Federal court |
| Dec 4, 2024 | US v. Skrmetti argued at SCOTUS |
Last updated: March 31, 2026