TennesseeCities must pay for autopsies they request unless the state pays
Starting July 1, 2026, municipalities must pay for autopsies they request unless the state pays, and two amounts in criminal law provisions are set at $60.
What it does
When a municipality or its law enforcement agency requests an autopsy, the municipality must pay unless the state pays the cost.
The law sets two amounts at $60 in criminal law provisions. The text does not say what each amount covers.
Argument forNaming the municipality as the payer when it requests an autopsy may make responsibility for that bill clearer.
Argument againstCities may have less money for other services when they must pay for requested autopsies and the state does not cover the cost.
More detail
A municipality must pay for an autopsy it or its law enforcement agency requests, unless the state pays. This applies when a municipality or its law enforcement agency requests an autopsy. The state may pay the cost instead. This rule takes effect July 1, 2026.
The law sets two amounts at $60 in criminal law provisions. The amounts apply under two provisions cited in the law; the text does not explain what each amount covers. These amounts take effect July 1, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 26Pub. Ch. 1025Latest
- May 26Effective date(s) 07/01/2026
- May 19Signed by Governor Bill Lee.Became Law
- May 7Transmitted to Governor for his action.To Governor
- May 5Signed by Senate SpeakerMajor
- Apr 30Signed by H. SpeakerMajor
- Apr 28Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.Minor
- Apr 22Received from House, Passed on First ConsiderationMinor
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: Third Consideration 4/22/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 22Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.Major
- Apr 22Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 2 - SA1080)
- Apr 22Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - SA0925)
- Apr 22Passed Senate, Ayes 28, Nays 4Passed Senate
- Apr 21H. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA0999)Major
- Vote recorded FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR AS AMENDED PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 4/21/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 21Passed H., as am., Ayes 73, Nays 13, PNV 1Passed House
- Apr 21Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.Minor
- Apr 16
- Vote recorded HOUSE CALENDAR & RULES COMMITTEE: H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/16/2026 4/14/2026. Result: fail.Lower
- Apr 14Sponsor(s) Added.Minor
- Vote recorded HOUSE FINANCE, WAYS, AND MEANS COMMITTEE: Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee 4/14/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 14Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules CommitteeMinor
- Apr 14Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/14/2026
- Apr 14H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/16/2026
- Apr 8Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means CommitteeMinor
- Vote recorded HOUSE FINANCE, WAYS, AND MEANS SUBCOMMITTEE: Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee 4/8/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 8Placed on cal. Finance, Ways, and Means Committee for 4/14/2026
- Apr 1Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means CommitteeMinor
- Vote recorded HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee 4/1/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 1Assigned to s/c Finance, Ways, and Means SubcommitteeMinor
- Apr 1Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/8/2026
- Mar 25Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Judiciary CommitteeMinor
- Vote recorded HOUSE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SUBCOMMITTEE: Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Judiciary Committee 3/25/2026 Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 25Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 4/1/2026
- Mar 18Action Def. in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee to 3/25/2026
- Mar 18Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/25/2026
- Mar 11Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/18/2026
- Feb 5P2C, ref. to Judiciary CommitteeMinor
- Feb 5Assigned to s/c Criminal Justice SubcommitteeMinor
- Feb 4Intro., P1C.Minor
- Feb 2Filed for introductionIntroduced
Criminal Justice