TN bill on handling fetal remains from abortions passes Senate

The Tennessee Senate has given approval to legislation that seeks to require medical providers to cremate or bury remains of fetuses from abortions.

The Senate substituted Sen. Janice Bowling’s version of the measure for Rep. Tim Rudd’s bill and passed it Wednesday on a 27-6 vote. The measure proposes requiring medical providers to cover costs of disposal from fetal remains of an abortion in addition to cremating or burying those remains. The bill further says the pregnant woman would be given a right to determine the final disposal of the remains but would not have to make that decision.

The legislation now heads to Gov. Lee’s desk for him to consider signing it into law.