NASHVILLE, April 24, 2025 - Tennessee Right to Life expresses extreme disappointment that Governor Lee signed into law HB0533/SB0449. The Governor received significant opposition to the bill but, in the end, decided to turn a blind eye to the many legitimate concerns about the legislation. 

The bill, which narrowly passed in the House, establishes a “right” to contraception and IVF. Although the bill may have seemed well-intended, it opens a Pandora’s box and could have many unintended consequences.

Tennessee Right to Life and other pro-life groups and individuals are concerned that the law gives no consideration for human embryos that are destroyed if unused in the IVF process and expressed these concerns to the Governor. Unlimited numbers of embryos can be destroyed or discarded under this “right.”

However, this is not the only problem with the law, it also: 

• Offers no consideration for the oversight for minors either in the contraception or IVF section.   
• Could negate the rights of parents to oversee their children’s wellbeing around contraception and even IVF (including egg harvesting).
• Could give Planned Parenthood an unlimited “right” to spread their deadly agenda to children without their parents’ knowledge.
• Could establish a right to paid surrogacy.

Pro-Life Tennesseans are frustrated by the Governor signing this bill, especially after contacting his office to voice their concerns and letting him know that anti-life organizations supported it, including Planned Parenthood and the ACLU.  

“The governor’s signature indicating his full endorsement of this bill casts doubt on his pro-life convictions. He could have allowed the bill to go into law without his signature. Instead, he turned his back on those who trusted him to do the right thing.”  

“We will give him the benefit of the doubt that he didn’t realize the ramifications of this legislation, but we fully expect him and his administration to address these many concerns in the 2026 session,” said Stacy Dunn, President, TN Right to Life.  

Source: Release from Tennessee Right to Life