Tanning Beds Could Soon Be Off-Limits To Some Tennessee Teens

A bill that would raise the age to use a tanning bed is moving forward in the Tennessee House. But some in the Republican majority are expressing concerns about over-regulating health.

Initially, Rep. Patsy Hazlewood, R-Signal Mountain, wanted to ban anyone under 18 from the harmful UV rays of a tanning bed. Sixteen states already have this rule, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. 

Under current Tennessee law, even children under 14 can use a tanning bed if they’re accompanied by a parent who signs a warning statement.

But Hazelwood has since compromised with the sun tan industry, which argued that the age restriction could even increase sunburns for teens who use tanning beds before going to the beach. Hazelwood has amended her proposal to allow 16-year-olds to tan, as long as a parent gives permission in person.

“I liken this to what we’ve done with alcohol and tobacco,” she said before the bill’s first committee vote. “We know those are dangerous, and so we don’t allow young people to purchase or use those legally.”

Hazlewood uses her own run-in with skin cancer as reason to act and points out that melanoma is one of the deadliest forms of cancer for young women.

But Rep. Jeremy Faison, R-Cosby, doesn’t like the justification. Drowning is one of the most common killers of pre-schoolers, but he said he doesn’t see a need for more swimming pool rules. He also doesn’t want Tennessee restricting sodas, even though it might help the state’s diabetes problem.

“We could go in and start talking about all these different things that people are dying from in America and start regulating everything single thing,” Faison said. “But there comes a point that too much government is too much government, guys. There comes a point that you’ve got to be smart enough to step away from the Mountain Dew.”

Others on the House Health Subcommittee acknowledged and echoed Faison’s argument. Still, they all voted to advance the tanning bed rules. Even though Faison said it violated his belief that “the government is not your daddy,” he’s trying to build support for his own pet issue — legalizing medical cannabis.