Tennessee Senate Bill SB1146

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/6/25
• Engrossed: 4/7/25
• Enrolled: 4/15/25
• Passed: 4/24/25
• Chaptered: 4/29/25

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 38; Title 53; Title 63 and Title 68, relative to psychotropic drugs.

Impact

If enacted, SB1146 will amend Tennessee's healthcare and forensic regulations by establishing a protocol for collecting and studying data concerning the interplay between psychotropic medications and other substances found in individuals who engaged in mass shootings. By instituting systematic testing and reporting practices, the bill could bring to light critical insights regarding mental health treatments and their relationship with violent incidents. This could also influence future legislative approaches towards mental health care and drug regulations.

Summary

Senate Bill 1146 focuses on the investigation procedures following mass shootings, specifically in relation to the use of psychotropic drugs by deceased individuals involved. The bill mandates that medical examiners consult with the decedent's mental health professionals to gather information about any psychotropic medications they may have used. Furthermore, the bill directs examiners to test for the presence of these drugs and report findings to the health science center. This aims to investigate potential correlations between psychotropic drug use and violent behaviors, particularly in mass shooting events.

Sentiment

The sentiment around SB1146 appears to be cautiously supportive among lawmakers who recognize the need to gather more data on mental health and its potential implications in violent incidents. Advocates for mental health treatment may view the bill as an opportunity to better understand the medications that affect behavior. However, critics might express concerns regarding privacy issues and the ethical implications of testing deceased individuals without explicit consent during their lives.

Contention

The notable points of contention include debates over the ethical dimensions of testing for psychotropic drugs in decedents, the potential stigmatization of mental health conditions, and the implications for privacy laws surrounding medical information. Some legislators may also voice concerns about how the data collected and shared could be utilized, particularly amidst fears of misinterpreting correlations as causation in the context of mass violence.