Bill > HB1951

This bill, known as the "Grace Anne Sparks Coercive Suicide Prevention Law of 2026," creates a new criminal offense called coercive suicide. Under this law, a person commits coercive suicide if they intentionally advise or encourage another person to commit or attempt suicide, knowing that the other person has expressed an intent to do so, with the goal of persuading or aiding them to do so imminently. This act amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39, which deals with criminal offenses, and a violation of this new offense is classified as a Class D felony, a serious crime. The law is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, and will apply to any acts of coercive suicide committed on or after that date.