Criminal Offenses

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide details on enforcement mechanisms.

Expanding Laws on Food and Drug Adulteration

This bill changes Tennessee's laws to make it a felony crime to tamper with food, drinks, or medicines in ways that could cause involuntary intoxication.

What This Bill Does

• Adds new rules to the law about adding things to food, drinks, or medicine to make someone involuntarily intoxicated (drunk without their knowledge).
• Makes tampering with products to cause involuntary intoxication a Class D felony.

Who It Names or Affects

• People who make, sell, or distribute food, drinks, or medicines in Tennessee.
• Anyone who could be charged with tampering with these products to cause harm.

Terms To Know

Involuntary intoxication

When someone becomes drunk or high without knowing it because another person put something in their food, drink, or medicine.

Felony

A serious crime that can lead to a prison sentence of more than one year.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify how the new rules will be enforced.
• It is unclear what specific substances or methods are prohibited under this law.

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

HOUSE BILL 1854
By Freeman

SENATE BILL 2115
By Campbell
SB2115
009644
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39
and Title 40, relative to criminal offenses.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-17-107, is amended by deleting
the section and substituting:
(a) It is an offense for a person to adulterate any food product or liquid that is
manufactured, marketed, grown, or produced for human consumption or any
pharmaceutical product that is designed, marketed, or prescribed for the diagnosis or
treatment of a disease or medical condition by placing in, mixing with, or adding to the
product or liquid, any object, liquid, powder, or other substance with the intent to cause
the following to a user of the product or liquid:
(1) Involuntary intoxication;
(2) Bodily injury;
(3) Serious bodily injury; or
(4) Death.
(b)
(1) A violation of this section where the person intends to cause
involuntary intoxication is a Class D felony.
(2) A violation of this section where the person intends to cause bodily
injury is a Class C felony.
(3) A violation of this section where the person intends to cause serious
bodily injury or death is a Class B felony.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.