All Roll Calls
Yes: 162 • No: 15
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, Esther (Republican)
Became Law
Criminal Offenses
Your PRIA Score
Score Hidden
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 2 costs, 2 mixed.
Kratom added to workplace drug tests
Beginning July 1, 2026, Tennessee’s labor commissioner must write rules that add Kratom to the definition of a workplace drug. After the rule is adopted, employers who test for drugs can include Kratom in their panels. Workers in testing programs face higher risk of discipline if Kratom shows up.
Kratom possession and sales become crimes
Beginning July 1, 2026, it is a crime to knowingly possess Kratom (Class A misdemeanor). Knowingly making, delivering, selling, or having Kratom to sell is a Class C felony. Selling or delivering to a minor is a Class B felony if the adult is at least two years older and knows the person is a minor. The law defines Kratom to include the plant, its extracts, derivatives (including synthetic or biosynthetic), and chemically equivalent preparations.
Kratom testing in overdoses and newborns
Starting July 1, 2026, if a county medical examiner or regional forensic center performs an autopsy for a suspected overdose, they must test for Kratom. When a treating doctor orders toxicology for a suspected overdose or newborn withdrawal (neonatal abstinence syndrome), the test must check for Kratom. These rules improve detection and tracking, but they can add lab work and costs in those cases.
Removes prior Kratom mentions in code
On July 1, 2026, the law deletes one subdivision in §39-17-452 and removes an explicit Kratom reference in §33-2-1404(a)(8). These edits change the code text. The real‑world effect depends on what those deleted lines previously did.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Esther Helton-Haynes, Esther
Republican • House
Cosponsors
Rebecca K. Alexander, Rebecca K.
Republican • House
Fred Atchley, Fred
Republican • House
Jody Barrett, Jody
Republican • House
Clark Boyd, Clark
Republican • House
Rush Bricken, Rush
Republican • House
Gino Bulso, Gino
Republican • House
Ed Butler, Ed
Republican • House
Kip Capley, Kip
Republican • House
Michele Carringer, Michele
Republican • House
Scott Cepicky, Scott
Republican • House
Mark Cochran, Mark
Republican • House
John Crawford, John
Republican • House
Elaine Davis, Elaine
Republican • House
Clay Doggett, Clay
Republican • House
Rick Eldridge, Rick
Republican • House
Ron M. Gant, Ron M.
Republican • House
Johnny Garrett, Johnny
Republican • House
John Gillespie, John
Republican • House
Rusty Grills, Rusty
Republican • House
Yusuf Hakeem, Yusuf
Democrat • House
Michael Hale, Michael
Republican • House
David B. Hawk, David B.
Republican • House
Caleb Hemmer, Caleb
Democrat • House
Gary Hicks, Gary
Republican • House
Gary Hicks, Gary
Republican • House
Dan Howell, Dan
Republican • House
Justin Jones, Justin
Democrat • House
Kelly Keisling, Kelly
Republican • House
William Lamberth, William
Republican • House
Michael Lankford, Michael
Republican • House
Tom Leatherwood, Tom
Republican • House
Mary Littleton, Mary
Republican • House
Aron Maberry, Aron
Republican • House
Pat Marsh, Pat
Republican • House
Brock Martin, Brock
Republican • House
Brock Martin, Brock
Republican • House
Jake McCalmon, Jake
Republican • House
Bo Mitchell, Bo
Democrat • House
Debra Moody, Debra
Republican • House
Jerome Moon, Jerome
Republican • House
Antonio Parkinson, Antonio
Democrat • House
Bill Powers, Bill
Republican • Senate
Kevin D. Raper, Kevin D.
Republican • House
Shane Reeves, Shane
Republican • Senate
Michele Reneau, Michele
Republican • House
Tim Rudd, Tim
Republican • House
Iris Rudder, Iris
Republican • House
Lowell Russell, Lowell
Republican • House
Rick Scarbrough, Rick
Republican • House
CameronSpeaker Sexton, Cameron
Republican • House
Johnny Shaw, Johnny
Democrat • House
Paul Sherrell, Paul
Republican • House
William Slater, William
Republican • House
Mike Sparks, Mike
Republican • House
John Stevens, John
Republican • Senate
Tom Stinnett, Tom
Republican • House
Chris Todd, Chris
Republican • House
Kevin Vaughan, Kevin
Republican • House
Greg Vital, Greg
Republican • House
Todd Warner, Todd
Republican • House
Dawn White, Dawn
Republican • Senate
Ryan Williams, Ryan
Republican • House
Dave Wright, Dave
Republican • House
Jason Zachary, Jason
Republican • House
Roll Call Votes
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
Pub. Ch. 950
5/15/2026Effective date(s) 07/01/2026
5/15/2026Signed by Governor.
5/7/2026Transmitted to Governor for his action.
5/6/2026HouseSigned by Senate Speaker
5/5/2026SenateSigned by H. Speaker
4/30/2026HouseEnrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.
4/23/2026HouseSenate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.
4/16/2026SenateAmendment withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - SA1053)
4/16/2026SenateAmendment tabled (Amendment 2 - SA1060)
4/16/2026SenatePassed Senate, Ayes 23, Nays 2, PNV 4
4/16/2026SenateReceived from House, Passed on First Consideration
4/9/2026SenatePassed H., Ayes 78, Nays 9, PNV 8
4/8/2026HouseSponsor(s) Added.
4/8/2026HouseEngrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.
4/8/2026HouseH. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/8/2026
4/2/2026HouseSponsor(s) withdrawn.
4/1/2026HousePlaced on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/2/2026
4/1/2026HouseRec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee
3/31/2026HouseSponsor(s) Added.
3/26/2026HouseRec. for pass by s/c ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
3/25/2026HousePlaced on cal. Finance, Ways, and Means Committee for 3/31/2026
3/25/2026HouseRec. for pass; ref to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
3/18/2026HouseAssigned to s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee
3/18/2026HousePlaced on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 3/25/2026
3/18/2026House
Bill Text
Enrolled / Public Chapter
Fiscal Note
Introduced
SA1053
SA1060
Related Bills
SB 1748 — AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 55 and Title 65, Chapter 15, relative to commercial driver licenses.
SB 2690 — AN ACT to make appropriations for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the state government for the fiscal years beginning July 1, 2025, and July 1, 2026, in the administration, operation and maintenance of the legislative, executive and judicial branches of the various departments, institutions, offices and agencies of the state; for certain state aid and obligations; for capital outlay, for the service of the public debt, for emergency and contingency; to repeal certain appropriations and any acts inconsistent herewith; to provide provisional continuing appropriations; and to establish certain provisions, limitations and restrictions under which appropriations may be obligated and expended. This act makes appropriations for the purposes described above for the fiscal years beginning July 1, 2025, and July 1, 2026.
SB 2509 — AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 13, Chapter 7 and Title 71, Chapter 3, relative to childcare agencies.
SB 2431 — AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 33; Title 63 and Title 68, relative to health facility regulation.
SB 2419 — AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 68, relative to fireworks.
SB 2403 — AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 29 and Title 49, relative to education.