Bill > SB1233

This bill makes several changes to Tennessee criminal justice laws across multiple areas. First, it establishes a mandatory 30-day minimum sentence for violations involving specific synthetic opioids like fentanyl and its derivatives, with offenders required to serve 100% of this minimum sentence, though they can still participate in drug treatment programs after serving the mandatory time. The bill also modifies provisions related to victim petitions, allowing victims to file petitions with the criminal court before a defendant's conviction, with the court holding the petition until the trial's conclusion and proceeding with a hearing only if the defendant is convicted. Additionally, the bill updates laws concerning death investigations, specifying that it is unlawful to disturb a body at a potential crime scene without notifying law enforcement or the district attorney's office, while explicitly allowing individuals to administer naloxone (an overdose reversal drug) to someone experiencing a drug-related overdose without legal penalty. These changes aim to strengthen criminal penalties for dangerous synthetic opioids, provide more procedural options for crime victims, and clarify protocols for death scene investigations and overdose response. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Budget and Finance, Justice

https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/default.aspx?BillNumber=SB1233&ga=114