HB 2472 Tennessee House · 114th Regular Session (2025-2026)

Criminal Offenses - As introduced, defines "criminally negligent conduct,” as used in the offense of criminally negligent homicide, to include failing or refusing to render aid to another person who is unconscious or in need of medical care and the person failing to act knows or reasonably should know that the unconsciousness or need for medical care occurred after the consumption of any controlled substance. - Amends TCA Title 39.

HB 2472 amends Tennessee's criminal code to redefine "criminally negligent conduct" for negligent homicide charges. It specifically includes failing to assist someone who is unconscious or needs medical care *if* the person knows or should know the condition resulted from controlled substance use. This directly affects individuals who witness drug-related medical emergencies but do not provide aid. The bill expands the legal definition of negligent homicide to cover these situations, effective July 1, 2026, without changing existing penalties. The amendment applies only to cases where drug use caused the medical emergency.
Bill status died 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Feb 4, 2026 Last action Mar 25, 2026
Floor votes

How they voted

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
11
Key actions
4
Committee
6
Mar 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
Taken off notice for cal in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee of Judiciary Committee
lower
Mar 18, 2026
Lower · Passed
Action Def. in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee to 3/25/2026
lower
Mar 18, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/25/2026
lower
Mar 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/18/2026
lower
Feb 5, 2026
Committee
P2C, ref. to Judiciary Committee
lower
Feb 5, 2026
Committee
Assigned to s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee
lower
Feb 4, 2026
Introduced
Intro., P1C.
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Rusty Grills
Rusty Grills
RRepublican
TN
77