SisterReach and our partners at Healthy & Free Tennessee are making sure that the TN Legislature hears from us!

Tennessee Families Need Our Help. This week, legislators are voting on crucial policy which will disproportionately impact low income women and women of color. THEY MUST HEAR FROM US! Healthy & Free TN has put together information below for you to join our efforts in fighting these policies.

Thanks in advance for your help! - SisterReach Team

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House Bill 1660 – Ensure Treatment Instead of Punishment: This bill would permanently expand the harmful law that has resulted in jailing mothers instead of ensuring that women who have struggled with drug use have access to treatment.  This policy is not supporting the health of mothers or their children.  House Bill 1660 is scheduled to be heard on Tuesday, March 15th in the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee.  

• What can you do? Take a moment to post on social media to show your support for the sunset of the dangerous Tennessee fetal assault law. If you are in Nashville, join advocates on Tuesday for the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee at 1:30 - click HERE for more info. 
  

House Bill 1758 (and others) - Creating an undue burden on abortion access: There are six different bills regarding either the provision of abortion or imposing new requirements on clinics that provide abortion that will be heard this Tuesday, March 15th in the House Health Subcommittee.  SIX! This is on top of the myriad of restrictions and slew of medically unnecessary requirements that already exist in Tennessee law and the two new ones that were enacted last year.  Let’s be clear there is a calculated attack on abortion that has nothing to do with health and safety or quality of care  and everything to do with making services harder to provide and harder to get. 

• What can you do? Is your representative a member of the House Health Sub-committee? (Aren't sure, click here!) If so, please take a moment to send a message to your representative.  Let them know that these politically motivated attacks are creating a burden on women in Tennessee who need abortion care.  Click HERE to send a quick message.   
  

House Bill 1823 – Increasing Access to Contraception: This bill would give pharmacists the ability to dispense contraception.  This is a positive step to ensure access to contraception and remove barriers to the ability of people to plan their pregnancies and become parents when they are ready.  Over-the-counter access to oral contraceptives would help to reduce disparities in reproductive health care access and outcomes, and increase opportunities for women to access a safe, effective method of contraception, free of medically unnecessary barriers, as part of a healthy sexual and reproductive life.  The bill will be heard in the House Health subcommittee on March 15th. 

• What can you do? Is your representative a member of the House Health Sub-committee? (Aren't sure, click here!) If so, please take a moment to call your representative and let them know that over-the-counter access to oral contraceptives is a good thing and can help reduce disparities in reproductive health care access and outcomes.