Signs outside a polling place support different opinions on an amendment to the Tennessee Constitution on Nov. 4, 2014, in Nashville.NASHVILLE – State Rep. Rick Womick has filed the first bill to take advantage of the General Assembly’s newly expanded power to regulate abortion.
The passage of Amendment 1 earlier this month changes the Tennessee Constitution to specify that it does not protect the right to an abortion. Previously, court rulings had limited the restrictions lawmakers could place on abortions.
On Thursday, the Rockvale Republican filed a bill that would require women seeking abortions to undergo an ultrasound between one and three days before the procedure.
The technician would be required to show the image to the woman or to describe the image if she refuses to look. The technician also would be required to make the heartbeat audible, if possible, and describe it.
The bill makes an exception for medical emergencies.