Skip to main content
Wednesday, November 11, 2026Nov 11
Subscribe
All Sections
Search
More

Gov. Lee says he’ll introduce a ‘fetal heartbeat’ abortion restriction bill

In this Jan. 7, 2020, file photo, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee speaks to the media during a tour of Cleveland High School in Cleveland, Tenn. Lee's administration has invoked executive privilege multiple times to withhold documents from public records requests, even though such privilege is not defined in the state's law, nor mentioned in its constitution. (Robin Rudd/Chattanooga Times Free Press via AP, File)
In this Jan. 7, 2020, file photo, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee speaks to the media during a tour of Cleveland High School in Cleveland, Tenn. Lee's administration has invoked executive privilege multiple times to withhold documents from public records requests, even though such privilege is not defined in the state's law, nor mentioned in its constitution. (Robin Rudd/Chattanooga Times Free Press via AP, File) In this Jan. 7, 2020, file photo, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee speaks to the media during a tour of Cleveland High School in Cleveland, Tenn. Lee's administration has invoked executive privilege multiple times to withhold documents from public records requests, even though such privilege is not defined in the state's law, nor mentioned in its constitution. (Robin Rudd/Chattanooga Times Free Press via AP, File)

By Andy Sher 5 min read

NASHVILLE – Calling it a “monumental step forward,” Tennessee Republican Gov. Bill Lee on Thursday announced plans to push a comprehensive abortion-restriction proposal he believes “puts Tennessee at the forefront of protecting life.”

The legislation, Lee said, will include a “fetal heartbeat” provision that requires women seeking abortions to undergo ultrasound examinations. It then would ban an abortion upon detection of the fetus’ heartbeat, which can occur as early as six weeks into pregnancy.

A similar fetal heartbeat bill failed last year amid sharp divisions in the GOP’s House and Senate supermajorities.

Lee said another provision would ban abortions in cases where the physician is “aware the action is motivated by sex, race or a health or disability diagnosis of the child.”

“I believe that we have a special responsibility to protect the most vulnerable members of our community,” Lee said at a news conference surrounded by nearly three dozen GOP lawmakers. “And no one is more vulnerable than the unborn.”