HB 198
FISCAL NOTE
Fiscal Review Committee
Tennessee General Assembly
January 17, 2025
Fiscal Analyst: Arielle Woodmore | Email: arielle.woodmore@capitol.tn.gov | Phone: 615-741-2564
HB 198
SUMMARY OF BILL: Adds members of the General Assembly as eligible witnesses
entitled to be present at an execution.
FISCAL IMPACT:
NOT SIGNIFICANT
Assumptions:
• Pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-23-116(a), the following witnesses are entitled to be
present at the carrying out of a death sentence:
o The warden of the prison or the associate warden;
o The sheriff of the county where the crime was committed;
o A member of the clergy who has been preparing the condemned person for death;
o The prison physician;
o Attendants selected by the warden as may be necessary to properly carry out the
execution of the death sentence;
o A total of seven members of the print, radio, and television news media;
o Immediate family members of the victim who are 18 years of age or older;
o Immediate family members of the condemned offender who are 18 years of age or
older;
o The defense counsel chosen by the condemned person; and
o The Attorney General or a designee.
• The proposed legislation adds members of the General Assembly as eligible witnesses to be
present.
• Authorizing a member of the General Assembly to witness a person’s execution will have
no impact to state or local government.
CERTIFICATION:
The information contained herein is true and correct to the best of my knowledge.
Bojan Savic, Executive Director