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SB0015 • 2026

State Inmates

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 38, Chapter 7; Title 41, Chapter 21 and Title 68, Chapter 4, relative to deceased inmates.

Healthcare
Active

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

Sponsor
Walley, Shaw
Last action
2026-04-14
Official status
Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/21/2026
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not mention any involvement of local governments other than noting a financial impact. The bill summary and text do not provide details on how this will affect local government budgets beyond the initial cost.

Tennessee Inmate Autopsy Law

This bill requires Tennessee to pay for autopsies and transportation costs related to deceased inmates.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the state of Tennessee to cover the cost of autopsies for inmates who have died in custody.
  • Includes payment for any necessary transportation costs associated with performing these autopsies.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The state government of Tennessee
  • Inmates who die while incarcerated

Terms To Know

Autopsy
A medical examination of a body after death to determine the cause and circumstances of death.
Transportation costs
Money spent on moving people or things from one place to another, like using cars or buses.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how much money will be needed for these autopsies and transportation in the future beyond the initial $156,000 cost.
  • It is unclear if this change will affect local government budgets beyond the initial $156,000 cost.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/21/2026

  2. 2025-04-17 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  3. 2025-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  4. 2025-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  5. 2025-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  6. 2025-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed behind the budget

  7. 2025-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  8. 2025-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  9. 2025-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  10. 2025-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  11. 2025-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 4/9/2025

  12. 2025-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in State & Local Government Committee to 4/9/2025

  13. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 4/2/2025

  14. 2025-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to State & Local Government Committee

  15. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Departments & Agencies Subcommittee for 3/25/2025

  16. 2025-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Departments & Agencies Subcommittee to 3/25/2025

  17. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Departments & Agencies Subcommittee for 3/18/2025

  18. 2025-02-18 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  19. 2025-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 2/18/2025

  20. 2025-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Reset on Final cal. #2 of Departments & Agencies Subcommittee

  21. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Departments & Agencies Subcommittee for 2/11/2025

  22. 2025-01-28 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Departments & Agencies Subcommittee

  23. 2025-01-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Ref. to State & Local Government Committee

  24. 2025-01-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate State and Local Government Committee

  25. 2025-01-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C held on desk, pending appointment of Standing Committees

  26. 2025-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  27. 2025-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  28. 2025-01-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  29. 2024-12-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 94
By Shaw

SENATE BILL 15
By Walley

SB0015
000155
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 38,
Chapter 7; Title 41, Chapter 21 and Title 68,
Chapter 4, relative to deceased inmates.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 41-21-221, is amended by adding
the following as a new subsection (c):
(c) This state shall pay for the examination required under subsection (a) and, if
necessary, any transportation costs associated with the examination.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.