Tennessee

Tennessee is a breastfeeding-positive state thanks to state laws that provide workplace lactation protections. In addition to the federal FLSA’s PUMP Act that provides workplace lactation accommodation protections for all breastfeeding employees, Tennessee’s laws provide an additional level of support.

We’ve awarded Tennessee two drops on our scale.

TN Breastfeeding Laws: In Public

Mothers in Tennessee have the right to breastfeed in public. Read the law: Tenn. Code Ann. § 68-58-101 et seq. (2006, 2011)

TN Breastfeeding Laws: At Work

All breastfeeding employees are protected by the federal FLSA’s PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act and entitled to reasonable break time and a private space (other than a bathroom) to pump at work for one year. But Tennessee also has a workplace lactation accommodation law that requires employers with one employee or more to provide breastfeeding employees break time and a private space (other than a bathroom) to pump at work. Read the law: Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-1-305

Mothers and mother-to-be have additional protections under the Tennessee Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. Employers with at least 15 employees are required to make reasonable workplace accommodations for pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, including lactation. Read the law: House Bill 2708/Senate Bill 2520

TN Breastfeeding Information + Resources

Breastfeeding mothers in Tennessee are exempt from indecent exposure laws.

While there is not a state-wide breastfeeding coalition per se, the Shelby County Breastfeeding Coalition supports breastfeeding in Memphis and the Nashville Breastfeeding Coalition supports breastfeeding parents in Nashville and the surrounding area. Visit here and here.

Visit U.S. Breastfeeding Committee for a full list of state breastfeeding coalitions.

Disclaimer: Please consult a professional for legal advice. Our information on breastfeeding laws is not a substitute for legal counsel.

Breastfeeding Law Rating Key

One drop: There is no state-level workplace lactation legislation beyond the PUMP Act.

Two drops: State law exceeds the PUMP Act in one of the following ways: 1) Lower threshold for employer exemption; 2) Workplace protections beyond one year; 3) Requirements for lactation spaces (e.g. electrical outlets); 4) Protections for specific populations other than employees (e.g. students).

Three drops: State law exceeds the PUMP Act in at least two of the following ways: 1) Lower threshold for employer exemption; 2) workplace protections beyond one year; 3) requirements for lactation spaces (e.g. electrical outlets); 4) protections for specific populations other than employees (e.g. students).