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HB0573 • 2026

Criminal Offenses

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39, Chapter 17, relative to criminal offenses.

Crime
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Doggett, Lowe
Last action
2025-04-09
Official status
Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2025
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official summary does not specify that the bill applies only to certain substances like carfentanil, remifentanil, alfentanil, thiafentanil, or any fentanyl derivative or analogue. It is assumed to apply broadly to all such drugs.

Changing Drug Laws for Fentanyl

This bill changes Tennessee's laws to punish people who make, sell, or plan to sell more than 50 grams of certain dangerous drugs as a very serious crime.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the amount of fentanyl and similar drugs that can be punished as a Class A felony from 150 grams to 50 grams.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who make, sell, or plan to sell more than 50 grams of certain dangerous drugs will be punished under this new rule.

Terms To Know

Class A felony
The most serious type of crime in Tennessee that can lead to a long prison sentence.
Fentanyl derivative or analogue
A drug similar to fentanyl, which is very strong and dangerous.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how the change will affect current cases.
  • It's unclear if there are any exceptions for medical use of these substances.

Bill History

  1. 2025-04-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/21/2025

  2. 2025-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/15/2025

  3. 2025-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rule #83(8) Suspended, to be heard in Senate Finance, Ways & Means Committee on 4/15/2025

  4. 2025-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2025

  5. 2025-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed behind the budget

  6. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/2/2025

  7. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee

  8. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass; ref to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

  9. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/26/2025

  10. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Judiciary Committee to 3/26/2025

  11. 2025-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

  12. 2025-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/18/2025

  13. 2025-03-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  14. 2025-03-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  15. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/19/2025

  16. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Judiciary Committee to 3/19/2025

  17. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/18/2025

  18. 2025-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 3/18/2025

  19. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/12/2025

  20. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Judiciary Committee

  21. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/11/2025

  22. 2025-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/5/2025

  23. 2025-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee

  24. 2025-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Ref. to Judiciary Committee

  25. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee

  26. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  27. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, caption bill, held on desk - pending amdt.

  28. 2025-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  29. 2025-01-29 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  30. 2025-01-28 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 417
By Lowe

HOUSE BILL 573
By Doggett

HB0573
000399
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39,
Chapter 17, relative to criminal offenses.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-17-417(j)(12), is amended by
deleting "One hundred fifty (150) grams" and substituting "Fifty (50) grams".
SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it.