Senator Watson breaks down new “Right to Try 2.0” law
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Tennessee State Senator Bo Watson (R–District 11) is drawing attention to a new state law he authored, the Right to Try for Individualized Treatments Act (SB 282), also known as Right to Try 2.0.
The legislation expands access to individualized treatments for Tennesseans facing terminal or debilitating illnesses once all FDA-approved options have been exhausted.
Under the law, patients and their physicians may pursue therapies designed specifically for their DNA—an option advocates say is crucial for families confronting rare and ultra-rare diseases.
“With artificial intelligence, drugs are now going to become very specific to your physiology,” Watson said. “There will be treatments centered around genetics and biologics—how your system reacts to a drug. AI allows us to experiment more quickly, and in order to give patients the best options, we need laws that allow them to make informed consent about those options.”
Supporters say the measure positions Tennessee at the forefront of healthcare innovation by bridging new advances in medical research with patient choice.
By opening the door to therapies once out of reach, the law provides families with an additional layer of hope when standard treatments have failed.
Watson, who also serves as chair of the Senate Finance, Ways & Means Committee, said the law underscores Tennessee’s commitment to advancing medical innovation while keeping patients and their physicians at the center of decision-making.
