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SB 1415

Criminal Offenses - As enacted, creates the offense of knowingly engaging in conduct that places a child in imminent danger of death, bodily injury, or physical or mental impairment by exposing the child to fentanyl, carfentanil, remifentanil, alfentanil, thiafentanil, or a fentanyl derivative or analogue; punishes the offense as a Class E felony if the child is over 8 and as a Class B felony if the child is 8 or less. - Amends TCA Title 37; Title 39 and Title 40.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Richard Briggs

Tennessee criminalizes knowingly exposing children to fentanyl and synthetic opioids, establishing Class E felonies for children 8+ and Class B felonies for children 8 and under.

Comp. became Pub. Ch. 499
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Bill Summary · SB 1415

Legislative bill overview

SB 1415 creates a new criminal offense in Tennessee for knowingly exposing children to fentanyl and related synthetic opioids in ways that place them in imminent danger. The law distinguishes between two severity levels: a Class E felony for children over 8 years old and a Class B felony for children 8 and under, with the harsher penalty reflecting the greater vulnerability of younger children.

Why is this important

The opioid crisis has created situations where children are exposed to dangerous synthetic drugs through parental drug use, unsafe storage, or contaminated environments. This legislation directly addresses fentanyl's potency—which is 50-100 times stronger than morphine—by establishing specific criminal liability for conduct that endangers children, potentially preventing overdose deaths and serious harm among minors.

Potential points of contention

  • Mens rea requirements: The "knowingly" standard may create prosecutorial challenges in cases involving negligence or recklessness without clear intent, potentially limiting the law's application in some dangerous situations
  • Class B felony severity for young children: While protecting young children is important, Class B felonies carry substantial prison sentences that may conflict with rehabilitation-focused criminal justice approaches, particularly for first-time offenders
  • Overlap with existing statutes: Tennessee already has child endangerment and drug-related offense laws; critics may argue this creates redundancy rather than closing gaps, raising questions about prosecutorial discretion and sentencing disparities

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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