TennesseePeople who leave fatal crash scenes face prison and fines starting July 2026
For offenses on or after July 1, 2026, a person who knowingly or reasonably should know someone died in an accident must stop or face a felony penalty.
What it does
A person who fails to stop or follow required steps after an accident that caused a death commits a felony and must serve at least one year in prison and pay a $5,000 to $10,000 fine, if they knew or should have known someone died.
Argument forThe felony penalty could deter people from leaving without stopping or following required steps after an accident that caused a death.
Argument againstA person who knew or should have known someone died could face at least a year in prison and must serve all of that term.
More detail
A person who fails to stop or follow required steps commits a felony and must serve at least one year in prison and pay a fine. It applies to a person who fails to stop or follow the requirements in subsection (a) after an accident that caused a death. The penalty applies when the person knew or reasonably should have known that someone died in the accident. The fine must be between $5,000 and $10,000, and the person must serve 100% of the required prison term. The law applies to offenses committed on or after July 1, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 27Pub. Ch. 1072Latest
- May 27Effective date(s) 07/01/2026
- May 22Signed by Governor Bill Lee.Became Law
- May 11Transmitted to Governor for action.To Governor
- May 7Signed by H. SpeakerMajor
- Apr 30Signed by Senate SpeakerMajor
- Apr 29Enrolled and ready for signaturesMinor
- Apr 24Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Apr 22Concurred, Ayes 29, Nays 0 (Amendment 2 - HA1210)Major
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: Motion to Concur House Amendment # 2 4/22/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 21Subst. for comp. HB.Major
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR MOTION TO ADOPT AMENDMENT # 2 BY STEVENS PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/21/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/21/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 21H. adopted am. (Amendment 2 - HA1210)Major
- Apr 21Am. withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - HA0994)Minor
- Apr 21Passed H., as am., Ayes 94, Nays 0, PNV 0Passed House
- Apr 21Placed on Senate Message Calendar for 4/22/2026
- Apr 20Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Apr 8Rcvd. from S., held on H. desk.
- Apr 6Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0821)
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: as Amended Third Consideration 4/6/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 6Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 33, Nays 0Passed Senate
- Apr 6Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Apr 6Engrossed; ready for transmission to HouseMinor
- Apr 2Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/6/2026
- Mar 23Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 8, Nays 0 PNV 0
- Vote recorded SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 8, Nays 0 PNV 0 3/23/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 18Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/23/2026
- Mar 16Reset on Final calendar of Senate Judiciary Committee
- Mar 11Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/16/2026
- Mar 4Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Jan 14Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary CommitteeMinor
- Jan 13Introduced, Passed on First ConsiderationMinor
- Jan 12Filed for introductionIntroduced
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