Criminal Offenses

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details about enforcement mechanisms or definitions of 'imminent period of time'.

Amending Tennessee's Law on Assisted Suicide

This bill amends Tennessee law by adding advising or encouraging someone to commit suicide within an imminent period of time as a form of assisted suicide, with stricter penalties if the victim is a minor.

What This Bill Does

• Adds that advising or encouraging another person to commit suicide through any form of communication can be considered assisted suicide under certain conditions.
• Requires the advisor or encourager to know that the other person has communicated their intent to commit suicide for it to count as assisted suicide.
• Increases the penalty if the victim is a minor, making it a Class C felony instead of a Class D felony.

Who It Names or Affects

• People who advise or encourage others to commit suicide under certain conditions can now be charged with assisted suicide.
• Victims who are minors will face stricter penalties for those aiding their suicides.

Terms To Know

Class D felony

A serious crime that carries a sentence of two to twelve years in prison and up to $5,000 fine.

Class C felony

An even more severe crime than a Class D felony, carrying a sentence of three to fifteen years in prison and up to $10,000 fine.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify how the new law will be enforced or what constitutes 'imminent period of time'.
• It is unclear if there are any exceptions for mental health professionals providing care.
• The exact costs and impacts on incarceration rates due to this change are not detailed.

Official Summary Text

Present law provides that a
person commits the offense of assisted suicide who
p
rovides the means or participates in the physical act with
(i) a
ctual knowledge that the other person intends to bring about
their
own death and
(ii) t
he clear intent that the other person bring about such person's own death.
In addition to the above, a
person
who
commits the offense of assisted suicide
must also do either of the following:



Intentionally provide another person with the means by which such person directly and intentionally brings about such person's own death
.



Intentionally participate in a physical act by which another person directly and intentionally brings about such person's own death
.

This bill adds that a person also
commits the offense of assisted suicide who
(i) t
hrough any form of communication, intentionally advises or encourages another person to commit suicide for the purpose of inciting, persuading, or aiding the other person to commit or attempt to commit suicide within an imminent period of time and
(ii) k
nows that the other person has communicated an intent to commit suicide.

PENALTY

Present law provides that assisted suicide is a Class D felony, which has an
authorized term of imprisonment
of two to 12 years
and a fine
up to $
5,000
. However, this bill provides that i
f the victim of the offense is a minor, then assisted suicide is a Class C felony
. A Class C felony has an authorized term of imprisonment of three to 15 years and a fine up to $10,000.

Current Bill Text

SENATE BILL 1573
By Lowe

HOUSE BILL 1812
By Russell
HB1812
010559
- 1 -

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

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-13-216(a), is amended by
deleting the subsection and substituting:
(a)
(1) A person commits the offense of assisted suicide who:
(A) Intentionally provides another person with the means by
which such person directly and intentionally brings about such person's
own death; or
(B) Intentionally participates in a physical act by which another
person directly and intentionally brings about such person's own death;
and
(C) Provides the means or participates in the physical act with:
(i) Actual knowledge that the other person intends to bring
about such person's own death; and
(ii) The clear intent that the other person bring about such
person's own death.
(2) A person commits the offense of assisted suicide who:
(A) Through any form of communication, intentionally advises or
encourages another person to commit suicide for the purpose of inciting,
persuading, or aiding the other person to commit or attempt to commit
suicide within an imminent period of time; and

- 2 - 010559

(B) Knows that the other person has communicated an intent to
commit suicide.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-13-216(g), is amended by
deleting the subsection and substituting:
(g)
(1) Except as provided in subdivision (g)(2), assisted suicide is a Class D
felony.
(2) If the victim of the offense is a minor, then assisted suicide is a Class
C felony.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it, and
applies to acts committed on or after that date.