HB 1157 / SB 1031

This bill ensures that the Tennessee Department of Health and other state agencies do not promote or endorse pharmaceuticals in a manner that conflicts with FDA-approved labeling standards. This bill brings Tennessee’s public health messaging in line with the same regulations that govern the FDA and other federal agencies, ensuring that state-funded health communications are accurate, unbiased, and free from promotional influence.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, government health agencies were found to have misrepresented or selectively promoted pharmaceutical products, often making claims that went beyond official FDA guidance. The bill corrects this problem by prohibiting the Tennessee Department of Health and local health departments from promoting, endorsing, or distributing information about FDA-regulated products in a way that conflicts with or misrepresents FDA-approved labels.

The bill also establishes a compliance review process to ensure state health communications remain factual and transparent. It includes penalties for violations, such as disciplinary action for state employees and financial penalties for grant recipients who misuse state funds to promote pharmaceuticals outside of approved guidelines.

Tennessee can restore public trust in health messaging, prevent government overreach in pharmaceutical promotion, and ensure that medical decisions remain in the hands of individuals and their healthcare providers—not state bureaucracies.