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HB 2055 advances after sponsor says taxpayer-funded plans should not cover gender-transition procedures
Summary
Representative Reeves said HB 2055 aligns state and local government insurance plans with recent policy, saying taxpayer-funded plans should not cover certain gender-transition procedures while preserving coverage for specific medical needs; the committee advanced the bill 4–1.
Representative Reeves told the committee that House Bill 2055 would bring state and local government insurance plans into alignment with policy already adopted this session on TennCare by defining procedures and drawing a bright line that taxpayer-funded plans should not cover treatments intended to alter an individual's sex to treat gender dysphoria. "It defines those procedures exactly the same way and draws a bright line and says that taxpayer funded plans should not cover treatments intended to alter an individual *** to treat gender dysphoria," the sponsor said, adding the bill preserves coverage for legitimate medical needs such as congenital defects, precocious puberty or physical injury.
Representative Salinas questioned the sponsor's medical qualifications; the sponsor said he has a law degree and that the bill is intended to be consistent with other legislation adopted this session. The clerk announced a 4–1 vote and the committee moved the bill to the full committee.
