TN lawmaker proposes bill to allow pregnant women to park in accessible spaces

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - State Rep. Gino Bulso, R-Brentwood, filed a new bill Monday that would allow expecting mothers to use accessible parking spaces.

House Bill 1457 adds women in their second or third trimesters, as well as those with high-risk pregnancies, to the list of individuals who qualify for a temporary disabled parking permit.

“Expectant mothers often experience mobility issues and other side effects that can make daily tasks physically demanding,” Bulso said. “This legislation recognizes the importance of welcoming new life into the world by helping alleviate some of the hardships associated with pregnancy.”

So far, only Florida and Illinois have laws like this.

“Temporary and permanent disabled parking placards are currently available to Tennesseans with a variety of disabling conditions, including wheelchair use, difficulty walking, or 20/200 vision or worse with corrective lenses," a press release on the bill said. “They can also be issued to people using braces or crutches, those with pulmonary or cardiac conditions, and parents of permanently disabled children.”

The bill will be up for discussion in the new legislative session starting January 13.