Two Tennessee Republican lawmakers have introduced legislation that would charge abortion patients with fetal homicide, potentially exposing them to life imprisonment or even the death penalty. House Bill 570 and Senate Bill 738, proposed by Rep. Jody Barrett and Sen. Mark Pody, would revise the state's criminal code to prioritize fetal protections over those of pregnant individuals.

Unlike most abortion ban states that target healthcare providers, this bill uniquely focuses on prosecuting patients themselves. The legislation removes existing protections for pregnant people and would take effect July 1 if passed, though it wouldn't apply retroactively. The bill has drawn support from anti-abortion groups including the Foundation to Abolish Abortion and the Southern Baptist Convention.

Tennessee already has one of the nation's strictest abortion bans with no exceptions for rape or incest. This proposed legislation represents an escalation in the national debate over abortion rights, with three states attempting similar measures in 2026 and ten states failing to advance comparable bills in 2025. The bill's supporters argue that 'murder is murder,' while opponents warn it could criminalize pregnancy outcomes and deter essential medical care.