TennesseeHB 1649114th General Assembly (2025-2026)HouseWALLET

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 33, Chapter 2; Title 38; Title 39; Title 50; Title 63 and Title 68, relative to Kratom.

Sponsored By: Esther Helton-Haynes (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Criminal Offenses

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 1 mixed.

New crimes for Kratom possession and sales

Beginning July 1, 2026, it is a crime to knowingly have Kratom. Possession is a Class A misdemeanor. Making, delivering, selling, or having Kratom with intent to sell is a Class C felony. If an adult at least two years older sells or delivers Kratom to a minor and knows the person is a minor, it is a Class B felony. Kratom includes the Mitragyna speciosa plant, its extracts, and related synthetic or chemically similar forms.

Kratom added to workplace drug rules

Beginning July 1, 2026, the labor department must write a rule to treat Kratom as a drug under Tennessee’s workplace drug law. After that rule takes effect, employers can include Kratom in drug tests and discipline under their policies. Workers who use Kratom face higher job risks, and employers may face added compliance steps.

Overdose and autopsies must test Kratom

Starting July 1, 2026, when a doctor orders a toxicology test for a suspected drug overdose, the test must check for Kratom. The same rule applies when testing for suspected neonatal abstinence syndrome in newborns. County medical examiners and regional forensic centers must also test for Kratom during overdose autopsies. These tests help doctors and families know whether Kratom was present.

Kratom references removed in two laws

On July 1, 2026, the law deletes an old Kratom line from a criminal statute and removes the words ", including Kratom" from a mental-health law. These edits change how Kratom is named in those sections. They do not change the new crimes or testing rules set elsewhere in this act.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Esther Helton-Haynes
Republican • House

Cosponsors

Rebecca K Alexander
Republican • House
Fred Atchley
Republican • House
Jody Barrett
Republican • House
Clark Boyd
Republican • House
Rush Bricken
Republican • House
Gino Bulso
Republican • House
Ed Butler
Republican • House
Kip Capley
Republican • House
Michele Carringer
Republican • House
Scott Cepicky
Republican • House
Mark Cochran
Republican • House
John Crawford
Republican • House
Elaine Davis
Republican • House
Clay Doggett
Republican • House
Rick Eldridge
Republican • House
Ron M. Gant
Republican • House
Johnny Garrett
Republican • House
John Gillespie
Republican • House
Rusty Grills
Republican • House
Yusuf Hakeem
Democrat • House
Michael Hale
Republican • House
David B. Hawk
Republican • House
Caleb Hemmer
Democrat • House
Gary Hicks
Republican • House
Gary Hicks
Republican • House
Dan Howell
Republican • House
Justin Jones
Democrat • House
Kelly Keisling
Republican • House
William Lamberth
Republican • House
Michael Lankford
Republican • House
Tom Leatherwood
Republican • House
Mary Littleton
Republican • House
Aron Maberry
Republican • House
Pat Marsh
Republican • House
Brock Martin
Republican • House
Brock Martin
Republican • House
Jake McCalmon
Republican • House
Bo Mitchell
Democrat • House
Debra Moody
Republican • House
Jerome Moon
Republican • House
Antonio Parkinson
Democrat • House
Bill Powers
Republican • Senate
Kevin D. Raper
Republican • House
Shane Reeves
Republican • Senate
Michele Reneau
Republican • House
Tim Rudd
Republican • House
Iris Rudder
Republican • House
Lowell Russell
Republican • House
Rick Scarbrough
Republican • House
Cameron Speaker Sexton
Republican • House
Johnny Shaw
Democrat • House
Paul Sherrell
Republican • House
William Slater
Republican • House
Mike Sparks
Republican • House
John Stevens
Republican • Senate
Tom Stinnett
Republican • House
Chris Todd
Republican • House
Kevin Vaughan
Republican • House
Greg Vital
Republican • House
Todd Warner
Republican • House
Dawn White
Republican • Senate
Ryan Williams
Republican • House
Dave Wright
Republican • House
Jason Zachary
Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 162 • No: 15

Senate vote • 4/16/2026

Haynes - FLOOR VOTE: Third Consideration 4/16/2026

Yes: 23 • No: 2

House vote • 4/8/2026

Haynes - HOUSE CALENDAR & RULES COMMITTEE

Yes: 0 • No: 0

House vote • 4/8/2026

Haynes - FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/8/2026

Yes: 78 • No: 9

House vote • 3/31/2026

Haynes - HOUSE FINANCE, WAYS, AND MEANS COMMITTEE

Yes: 25 • No: 2

House vote • 3/25/2026

Haynes - HOUSE FINANCE, WAYS, AND MEANS SUBCOMMITTEE

Yes: 12 • No: 0

House vote • 3/18/2026

Haynes - HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

Yes: 16 • No: 2

House vote • 3/4/2026

Haynes - HOUSE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SUBCOMMITTEE

Yes: 8 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

Signed by Governor.
5/7/2026
Transmitted to Governor for his action.
5/6/2026House
Signed by Senate Speaker
5/5/2026Senate
Signed by H. Speaker
4/30/2026House
Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.
4/23/2026House
Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.
4/16/2026Senate
Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - SA1053)
4/16/2026Senate
Amendment tabled (Amendment 2 - SA1060)
4/16/2026Senate
Passed Senate, Ayes 23, Nays 2, PNV 4
4/16/2026Senate
Received from House, Passed on First Consideration
4/9/2026Senate
Passed H., Ayes 78, Nays 9, PNV 8
4/8/2026House
Sponsor(s) Added.
4/8/2026House
Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.
4/8/2026House
H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/8/2026
4/2/2026House
Sponsor(s) withdrawn.
4/1/2026House
Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/2/2026
4/1/2026House
Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee
3/31/2026House
Sponsor(s) Added.
3/26/2026House
Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
3/25/2026House
Placed on cal. Finance, Ways, and Means Committee for 3/31/2026
3/25/2026House
Rec. for pass; ref to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
3/18/2026House
Assigned to s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee
3/18/2026House
Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 3/25/2026
3/18/2026House
Action def. in Judiciary Committee to 3/18/2026
3/11/2026House
Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/18/2026
3/11/2026House

Bill Text

Fiscal Note
PDF
Introduced
PDF
SA1053
PDF
SA1060
PDF

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