A bill moving through the Tennessee General Assembly would require the state’s Department of Health to collect and publish data on gender transition procedures performed in Tennessee.
The legislation, sponsored by State Sen. Brent Taylor (R-Memphis), would compile the information into a publicly available report. Taylor says the data would be HIPAA-compliant, meaning no identifying information would be included, but details such as a patient’s age and county of residence would be part of the record.
Beyond data collection, the bill would also require any health care or insurance provider that offers gender transition procedures to equally offer detransition procedures.
The bill drew pointed questions during a Senate hearing Tuesday. State Sen. London Lamar (D-Memphis) compared gender transition procedures to other elective cosmetic surgeries, asking whether the state also tracks procedures like liposuction or breast augmentation. Taylor pushed back, saying it was disappointing to compare gender dysphoria and transitioning to elective cosmetic work.
State Sen. Jeff Yarbro (D-Nashville) raised broader concerns about the data collection itself, warning that history has not been kind to increased record-keeping on politically marginalized or unpopular groups.
The data the state would collect includes the name and contact information of the treating health care professional, the drugs or surgical interventions provided, and any neurological, behavioral, or mental health diagnoses the patient has received.
Taylor defended the bill, saying it serves two main purposes: ensuring insurers who cover transition procedures also cover detransition care, and creating clear reporting requirements for gender clinics and licensed health care providers in the state.
Health care professionals who fail to comply with the reporting requirements could face a six-month license suspension and a civil fine of up to $150,000.
The bill is scheduled to go before lawmakers again on Thursday.