HB 2082 / SB 1989

This bill amends several sections of Tennessee law to make clear that when parents or legal guardians raise, guide, or instruct their children in ways consistent with the children’s biological sex, those parental choices cannot be treated as child abuse, neglect, or endangerment. Under the new language, referring to a child by pronouns or titles matching their biological sex, consenting to medical or mental-health care that aligns with biological sex, or declining any gender-transition services cannot be the basis for removing a child from the home, finding the child dependent, or terminating parental rights. The same protection applies in custody determinations—courts may not treat “raising a child consistent with biological sex” as a negative factor when deciding what is in the child’s best interest.

A related provision prevents a child’s disagreement with those parental decisions from triggering unruly-child proceedings or juvenile dispositions, unless the parent requests such an action. Finally, the bill adds a new subsection to the criminal code clarifying that faithfully guiding a child according to biological sex does not constitute a criminal offense under Tennessee’s statutes on abuse or endangerment. At the same time, the measure expressly preserves all other grounds for intervention if genuine abuse or neglect is occurring.

By codifying that parental authority over a child’s gender-related upbringing is off-limits to state interference, the bill reinforces the fundamental right of parents to direct their children’s care. It narrows the circumstances under which Tennessee’s child-welfare system and courts may intervene. Proponents argue this protects children and families from overzealous social-service investigations and ideological agendas that might label traditional parenting as harmful.