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SB0417 • 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
Lowe, Doggett
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 provide details on specific criminal activities (like manufacturing, selling, or planning) that are affected by this change.

Changing Drug Crime Laws

This bill changes Tennessee's laws to make certain drug crimes involving fentanyl and similar substances more serious when people have less than 50 grams.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the amount of fentanyl and related drugs that can lead to a very serious crime (Class A felony) from 150 grams to 50 grams.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who are caught with fentanyl and similar drugs in Tennessee
  • Law enforcement agencies that deal with drug crimes

Terms To Know

Class A felony
The most serious type of crime, often punishable by a long prison sentence.
Fentanyl
A powerful painkiller that can be very dangerous if not used correctly.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify how the change will affect people who have less than 50 grams but do not intend to sell or make more drugs.
  • The bill's full impact on drug crime rates and prison costs is unclear.

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. 2025-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  6. 2025-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed behind the budget

  7. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  8. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  9. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  10. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  11. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  12. 2025-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  13. 2025-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  14. 2025-03-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  15. 2025-03-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  16. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  17. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  18. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  19. 2025-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  20. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  21. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  22. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  23. 2025-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  24. 2025-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee

  25. 2025-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Ref. to Judiciary Committee

  26. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee

  27. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  28. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  29. 2025-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  30. 2025-01-29 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  31. 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 
HOUSE BILL 573
By Doggett

SENATE BILL 417
By Lowe

SB0417
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.