Sentencing - As introduced, increases the penalty for leaving the scene of an accident resulting in injury from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony; increases the penalty for leaving the scene of an accident that the person knew or should reasonably have known resulted in death from a Class E felony to a Class D felony. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 13 and Title 55, Chapter 10.

SB 1736 (the "James Bardsley Life Protection Act") raises penalties for drivers who flee accident scenes. It upgrades the penalty for leaving an accident causing injury from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony. For accidents where death was known or should have been known, it increases the penalty from a Class E felony to a Class D felony. The bill directly affects drivers who fail to stop after collisions, amending Tennessee law in Titles 39 and 55, and takes effect July 1, 2026.