Education

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Tucker's Law: Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month

This law designates October as 'Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month' in Tennessee schools and requires education on fentanyl abuse prevention for students in grades 6-12.

What This Bill Does

• Designates the month of October as 'Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month' in all public schools to educate about the dangers posed by fentanyl and risks of fentanyl poisoning, including overdose.
• Requires local education agencies (LEAs) and public charter schools to provide age-appropriate, research-based instruction on fentanyl abuse prevention and drug poisoning awareness for students in grades 6-12 during Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month.
• Includes suicide prevention as part of the required instruction.
• Instructs schools to teach about accessing local school and community resources related to drug poisoning awareness.
• Requires health education that covers substance use and abuse, including youth issues.

Who It Names or Affects

• Students in grades 6-12
• Local Education Agencies (LEAs) and public charter schools

Terms To Know

Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month

A designated month for educating students about the dangers of fentanyl.

LEA

Local Education Agency, which is responsible for providing education in a specific area.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify how schools will be funded to implement these requirements.
• It is unclear what resources or support will be provided to help schools comply with the new law.

Official Summary Text

This bill enacts
"Tucker's Law
,
"
which provides that t
he month of October is designated as "Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month" in all p
ublic schools to educate students about the dangers posed by the drug fentanyl and the risks of fentanyl poisoning, including overdose.

During Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month, each LEA and public charter school
must
provide age-appropriate, research-ba
sed instruction related to fentanyl abuse prevention and drug poisoning awareness to students in grades 6-12.

This bill requires such instruction to include (i) s
uicide prevention;

(
ii
)
p
revention of the abuse of and addiction to fentanyl;

(
iii
)
a
warenes
s of local school and community resources and any processes involved in accessing those resources; and

(
iv
)
h
ealth education that includes information about substance use and abuse, including youth substance use and abuse.
Such instruction may be
provided
by an entity or an employee or agent of an entity that is
a
public or private institution of higher education
, a
library
, a
community service organization
, a
religious organization
, a
local public health agency
,
or
a
n organization employing mental health
professionals.

Current Bill Text

SENATE BILL 611
By Massey

HOUSE BILL 617
By Wright

HB0617
002387
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 15
and Title 49, relative to drug poisoning awareness.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. This act is known and may be cited as "Tucker's Law."
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 6, Part 10, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
(a) The month of October is designated as "Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness
Month" in all public schools to educate students about the dangers posed by the drug
fentanyl and the risks of fentanyl poisoning, including overdose.
(b) During Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month, each LEA and public charter
school shall provide age-appropriate, research-based instruction related to fentanyl
abuse prevention and drug poisoning awareness to students in grades six through
twelve (6-12).
(c) The instruction required pursuant to subsection (b) must include:
(1) Suicide prevention;
(2) Prevention of the abuse of and addiction to fentanyl;
(3) Awareness of local school and community resources and any
processes involved in accessing those resources; and
(4) Health education that includes information about substance use and
abuse, including youth substance use and abuse.
(d) The instruction required pursuant to subsection (b) may be provided by an
entity or an employee or agent of an entity that is:

- 2 - 002387

(1) A public or private institution of higher education;
(2) A library;
(3) A community service organization;
(4) A religious organization;
(5) A local public health agency; or
(6) An organization employing mental health professionals.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it.