Bill > HB1812

This bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated (TCA) Title 39, which deals with criminal offenses, specifically concerning the crime of assisted suicide. The key change is that it now explicitly includes advising or encouraging another person to commit suicide under certain circumstances as an offense, in addition to the existing provisions that criminalize providing the means or participating in a physical act that leads to a person's death, provided the perpetrator knew of the person's intent to die and intended for them to do so. The bill clarifies that this new provision applies when someone, through any form of communication, intentionally advises or encourages another person to commit suicide with the intent to incite, persuade, or aid them in committing or attempting suicide in an imminent timeframe, and the perpetrator knows the other person has expressed an intent to commit suicide. The bill also maintains the existing penalty structure, classifying assisted suicide as a Class D felony, but elevates it to a Class C felony if the victim is a minor. These changes are set to take effect on July 1, 2026, and will apply to acts committed on or after that date.