Tennessee House Bill HB2189

Tennessee 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/25/24

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 8; Title 56 and Title 68, relative to accidental fentanyl poisoning.

Impact

If enacted, HB2189 will amend the Tennessee Code Annotated, specifying requirements for data collection and reporting regarding fentanyl-related deaths. The intended outcome is to provide lawmakers with crucial insights into the prevalence of fentanyl poisonings, which could inform future legislative and health initiatives aimed at combating the opioid crisis. By having a detailed account of deaths attributed to accidental fentanyl poisoning, the state hopes to enhance its public health strategy and allocate resources more effectively towards prevention and intervention efforts.

Summary

House Bill 2189 aims to address the growing concern of accidental fentanyl poisoning in Tennessee. The bill mandates that, by January 1, 2025, the Department of Health must report to both the House Health Committee and the Senate Health and Welfare Committee on the number of fatalities related to accidental fentanyl poisoning occurring over the past decade. Additionally, the report must include the methods the department has employed to tackle this issue and an evaluation of their effectiveness. This legislative measure reflects a proactive approach to understanding and mitigating the impact of fentanyl on public health.

Contention

While HB2189 is largely a data-gathering bill, there may be underlying tensions regarding how the findings are interpreted and acted upon. Certain stakeholders could argue about the adequacy of current methods used to prevent fentanyl poisonings and the effectiveness of existing health initiatives. Concerns may also arise over how this data will influence future policies, particularly in terms of funding and resource allocation for health departments and addiction recovery programs.