TLRC position
Support
2026 · Family · Government · Social
Defines biological sex and protects women and children.
HB 0571 / SB 0468
Bill description
Define sex as biological and require sex-segregated restrooms, shelters, schools, and detention facilities with civil enforcement.
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 37; Title 41; Title 49 and Title 68, relative to public safety.
Bill sponsors
House co-sponsors · 27
Dennis Powers R, Kelly Keisling R, Todd Warner R, Michele Reneau R, Bud Hulsey R, Monty Fritts R, Kip Capley R, Jake McCalmon R, Timothy Hill R, Ed Butler R, Mike Sparks R, Mark Cochran R, Jody Barrett R, Paul Sherrell R, Aron Maberry R, Jay Reedy R, Chris Todd R, John Crawford R, Jeremy Faison R, Elaine Davis R, Debra Moody R, Rush Bricken R, Greg Vital R, Scott Cepicky R, Bryan Terry R, Rusty Grills R, Dan Howell R
Senate co-sponsors · 9
Paul Bailey R, Rusty Crowe R, Todd Gardenhire R, Joey Hensley R, Mark Pody R, Steve Southerland R, Adam Lowe R, Dawn White R, John Stevens R
TLRC statement
The Women’s Safety and Protection Act reinforces Tennessee’s commitment to safeguarding women and children by clearly defining sex in state law and ensuring that biological females have protected spaces in public facilities. The bill mandates that correctional facilities, juvenile detention centers, domestic violence shelters, dormitories, and restrooms uphold distinctions based on biological sex to protect the privacy and safety of women and girls. It aligns with the recent executive order issued under President Trump, which affirms that there are only two sexes—male and female—rejecting the imposition of gender ideology over biological reality.
This legislation is a necessary response to growing concerns over the erosion of sex-based protections. Across the country, policies allowing biological males to access female-only spaces have led to increased risks of assault, harassment, and privacy violations. This bill ensures that Tennessee does not follow this trend but instead prioritizes the safety and dignity of women. The bill codifies clear definitions of male and female based on biological sex and requires that public accommodations respect these distinctions, allowing for separate facilities where appropriate.
The Women’s Safety and Protection Act also establishes legal remedies for individuals harmed by violations of this law, ensuring that women have recourse if their rights to privacy and safety are infringed. This provision echoes the America First approach to governance—prioritizing the protection of citizens over political ideology. Just as President Trump’s policies emphasize putting American interests first, Tennessee is leading the way in ensuring that women and children are not forced to compromise their safety in the name of radical social experiments.
By passing HB 571 / SB 468, Tennessee is standing firm in defense of biological reality, women’s rights, and child protection, ensuring that gender ideology does not override common sense protections.