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Committee approves bill adding guardrails for stem cell therapy, legal counsel to clarify placenta language
Summary
HB 2246, as amended, establishes guardrails for stem cell therapy in Tennessee, banning embryos from abortions, requiring cell‑viability reporting, and aligning practices with FDA/CLIA standards; committee asked legal counsel to clarify whether placenta‑derived cells are excluded and advanced the bill 10–0.
Representative Hurt presented HB 2246 to create regulatory guardrails around stem cell therapy, citing collaboration with stem cell practices, the Tennessee Medical Association and Vanderbilt. "This bill creates guardrails for both ethical and medical reasons to protect patients and ensure that stem cell therapy practiced in Tennessee is held to the highest standards," Hurt told the committee.
Members sought clarification about whether placenta‑derived cells would be excluded. Legal counsel Doug Garrett said the amendment language did not explicitly define placenta tissue in that context and that he would follow up. Representative Fritz asked to have legal confirm the text; the committee took the request and then voted 10–0 to advance the bill to Counter & Rules.
What happens next: Legal counsel and sponsors will clarify statutory language about biological material definitions before further floor consideration.
