Alcoholic Beverages - As enacted, expands the immunity from prosecution when seeking medical assistance for a person experiencing, or believed to be experiencing, an overdose to include alcohol-related offenses; clarifies that overdose includes both drugs and alcohol. - Amends TCA Title 63.
SB 940 expands Tennessee's "Good Samaritan" law to include alcohol-related overdoses, allowing people to seek medical help for alcohol poisoning without facing prosecution for alcohol violations. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 63 by updating definitions to replace "drug overdose" with "overdose" and "drug violation" with "drug or alcohol violation" throughout the law. This change directly affects individuals experiencing or witnessing alcohol overdoses, as well as those providing emergency assistance. The policy removes legal barriers to calling for help during alcohol-related medical emergencies, treating alcohol and drug overdoses equally under the immunity provision. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
Apr 2025
Introduced Feb 10, 2025
Signed Apr 21, 2025
Floor votes · Senate Mar 27, 2025 · House Apr 7, 2025
How they voted
35–0
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 36
Mar 27, 2025
D
Democratic6
100% Yea
R
Republican30
96% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
23
Key actions
9
Committee
4
Amendments
1
Apr 21, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by Governor.
lower
Apr 10, 2025
Lower · Passed
Signed by H. Speaker
lower
Apr 9, 2025
Upper · Passed
Signed by Senate Speaker
upper
Apr 7, 2025
Amended
Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA0275)
lower
Apr 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed H., Ayes 96, Nays 0, PNV 0
lower
Mar 27, 2025
Lower · Passed
Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0142)
lower
Mar 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 30, Nays 0, PNV 1
upper
Mar 18, 2025
Upper · Passed
Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 9, Nays 0 PNV 0
upper
Mar 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/18/2025
lower
Mar 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/18/2025
lower
Feb 12, 2025
Committee
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee
upper
Feb 10, 2025
Introduced
Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Richard Briggs
RRepublican
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