HB 1807 Tennessee House · 114th Regular Session (2025-2026)

Vital Records - As enacted, enacts "April's Law of 2026," which authorizes a surviving parent, in addition to another next of kin, to formally disagree with the county medical examiner's determination that the manner of death for the parent's child was suicide and request reconsideration from the state chief medical examiner; allows the other parent of a child of the decedent to request a copy of the decedent's death certificate if the child is under 18. - Amends TCA Title 38 and Title 68.

HB 1807 amends Tennessee law to expand rights for parents regarding death certificates. It allows a surviving parent (in addition to other "next of kin") to formally challenge a medical examiner's suicide determination for their child and request review by the state chief medical examiner. The bill also permits the other parent of a minor child (under 18) to request a copy of the child's death certificate. These changes update Tennessee Code Sections 68-3-502 and 68-3-205 to clarify parental rights in these specific circumstances.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 22, 2026 Last action Apr 27, 2026
Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
17
Key actions
7
Committee
9
Mar 18, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 3/19/2026
lower
Mar 17, 2026
Lower · Passed
Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee
lower
Mar 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Health Committee
lower
Mar 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Health Committee for 3/17/2026
lower
Mar 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Action Def. in s/c Health Subcommittee to 3/11/2026
lower
Mar 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Health Subcommittee for 3/11/2026
lower
Feb 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Health Subcommittee for 3/4/2026
lower
Feb 2, 2026
Committee
P2C, ref. to Health Committee
lower
Feb 2, 2026
Committee
Assigned to s/c Health Subcommittee
lower
Jan 22, 2026
Introduced
Intro., P1C.
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Antonio Parkinson
Antonio Parkinson
DDemocratic
TN
98