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SB 1146

Drugs, Prescription - As enacted, requires a county medical examiner to test for, and obtain certain information concerning, the presence of any drugs in a decedent in certain situations; requires the health science center to conduct certain studies regarding drug interactions and submit quarterly reports to the general assembly. - Amends TCA Title 38; Title 53; Title 63 and Title 68.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Rusty Crowe

Tennessee requires medical examiners to test deceased individuals for drugs and mandates health science centers study drug interactions with quarterly legislative reports beginning July 2025.

Pub. Ch. 272
#drugs #prescription
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Bill Summary · SB 1146

Legislative bill overview

SB 1146 mandates that Tennessee county medical examiners test deceased individuals for drugs and document drug information in specific circumstances. It also requires the state health science center to conduct studies on drug interactions and submit quarterly reports to the legislature about findings.

Why is this important

The bill aims to improve public health data collection around drug-related deaths and drug interaction risks by creating systematic testing and reporting requirements. This information could inform overdose prevention strategies, identify dangerous drug combinations, and guide public health policy decisions at the state level.

Potential points of contention

  • Resource burden on medical examiners: Expanded testing and documentation requirements may strain already-overworked county medical examiner offices without corresponding funding increases
  • Privacy and data sensitivity: Comprehensive drug testing of all decedents raises questions about consent, family notification, and how sensitive health data will be stored and protected
  • Vague implementation details: The bill's reference to "certain situations" and "certain information" leaves ambiguity about which deaths require testing and what data must be collected, potentially creating inconsistent application across counties
  • Quarterly reporting timeline: Rapid reporting requirements may be difficult to achieve given autopsy backlogs and laboratory processing times in many counties

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

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