NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee House of Representatives today passed legislation by State Rep. Gino Bulso, R-Brentwood, to crack down on abortion pill suppliers sending harmful, life-ending drugs to women in the Volunteer State.
House Bill 5 creates a civil cause of action against out-of-state abortion pill suppliers who unlawfully send abortion drugs into Tennessee, resulting in the death of an unborn child. A parent or family member who can prove by a preponderance of the evidence that a drug caused death would be entitled to $1 million in statutory damages from the supplier.
“The overturning of Roe v. Wade marked an important step in the fight to eliminate abortion in the United States, but our work is far from finished,” said Bulso. “Tennessee already has strong pro-life laws on the books, but tragically, mail-order abortions continue to kill thousands of innocent unborn children every year. It’s time we end the slaughter once and for all and recognize that each of us is made in the image of God. This legislation’s passage is a critical step in our efforts to promote life, protect women and ensure morality defines our laws.”
A person who intentionally mails an abortion-inducing drug to a person in Tennessee commits a Class E felony. Bulso’s proposal strengthens existing law by holding out-of-state abortionists financially responsible for the harm they cause. The act does not apply to delivery carriers or to Tennessee-licensed pharmacists and physicians.
Tennessee ranks among the most pro-life states in the nation, and Republicans continue to encourage strong families and protect the most vulnerable in our society. Still, an increasing number of women in the Volunteer State and across the nation are opting for abortion drugs like mifepristone and misoprostol.
In 2025, 7,570 women in Tennessee terminated their pregnancy with abortion drugs, a more than 300% increase since 2023, according to a study by the Guttmacher Institute. Sixty-five percent of abortions in the U.S. were medication abortions in 2023.
House Bill 5 now heads back to the Senate for further consideration. If approved and signed into law by Gov. Bill Lee, it would take effect July 1.
State Rep. Gino Bulso represents District 61 in the Tennessee House of Representatives, which includes part of Williamson County.