SB2549 • 2026

Opioids

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 53 and Title 63, relative to buprenorphine products.

Crime Healthcare

Active

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

Sponsor: Reeves, Helton-Haynes
Last action: 2026-04-13
Official status: Effective date(s) 04/07/2026
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on the criteria that healthcare providers must meet to prescribe buprenorphine.

Opioid Treatment Expansion

This bill changes Tennessee's laws so that subcontracted healthcare providers for correctional facilities and jails can prescribe buprenorphine to treat opioid use disorder if they meet certain conditions.

What This Bill Does

Clarifies that healthcare providers who are subcontracted through the contracted healthcare vendor for a state correctional facility or county/municipal jail can prescribe buprenorphine if they meet specific criteria.

Who It Names or Affects

Healthcare providers who work through a subcontracted arrangement with correctional facilities or jails
People with opioid use disorder in these facilities

Terms To Know

Buprenorphine: A medicine used to treat addiction to opioids.
Subcontracted: When a main contractor hires another company or person to do part of the work they are responsible for.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how many healthcare providers will be affected.
It is unclear if this change will result in more people receiving treatment for opioid addiction in correctional facilities and jails.

Bill History

2026-04-13 Tennessee General Assembly
Effective date(s) 04/07/2026
2026-04-13 Tennessee General Assembly
Pub. Ch. 677
2026-04-13 Tennessee General Assembly
Comp. became Pub. Ch. 677
2026-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly
Signed by Governor.
2026-03-27 Tennessee General Assembly
Transmitted to Governor for action.
2026-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly
Signed by H. Speaker
2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly
Signed by Senate Speaker
2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly
Enrolled and ready for signatures
2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly
Passed H., Ayes 82, Nays 0, PNV 2
2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly
Subst. for comp. HB.
2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly
Comp. SB subst.
2026-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly
Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.
2026-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly
H. Placed on Consent Calendar for 3/23/2026
2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 3/19/2026
2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly
Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee
2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly
Sponsor(s) Added.
2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly
Engrossed; ready for transmission to House
2026-03-16 Tennessee General Assembly
Passed Senate, Ayes 30, Nays 1
2026-03-13 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 3/16/2026
2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. Health Committee for 3/17/2026
2026-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly
No Action Taken
2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly
Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee
2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. Health Committee for 3/10/2026
2026-03-03 Tennessee General Assembly
Action def. in Health Committee to 3/10/2026
2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Health and Welfare Committee calendar for 3/4/2026
2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly
Action deferred in Senate Health and Welfare Committee to 3/4/2026
2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. Health Committee for 3/3/2026
2026-02-18 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Health and Welfare Committee calendar for 2/25/2026
2026-02-18 Tennessee General Assembly
Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Health Committee
2026-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Health Subcommittee for 2/18/2026
2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Health and Welfare Committee
2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly
Assigned to s/c Health Subcommittee
2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly
P2C, ref. to Health Committee
2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly
Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction
2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly
Intro., P1C.
2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Present law generally prohibits healthcare providers who are permitted to prescribe Schedule II or III drugs from prescribing a buprenorphine product for the treatment of opioid use disorder unless the provider meets certain conditions. One such conditi
on is that the healthcare provider be employed by or contracted with a state correctional facility or county or municipal jail to provide healthcare services. This bill clarifies that this condition is also met by healthcare providers who are subcontract
ed
through the contracted healthcare vendor for the department of correction or a county or municipal jail.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HOUSE BILL 1954
By Helton-Haynes

SENATE BILL 2549
By Reeves
SB2549
011944
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 53
and Title 63, relative to buprenorphine products.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 53-11-311(j)(2)(B), is amended by
deleting the subdivision and substituting:
(B) Is employed by, contracts with, or subcontracts through the contracted
healthcare vendor with the department of correction or a county or municipal jail to
provide healthcare services;
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.