Alcoholic Beverages - As enacted, expands the immunity from prosecution when seeking medical assistance for a person experiencing, or believed to be experiencing, an overdose to include alcohol-related offenses; clarifies that overdose includes both drugs and alcohol. - Amends TCA Title 63.
HB 995 expands Tennessee's law protecting individuals who seek medical help for an overdose to include alcohol-related incidents. It amends state code by replacing "drug overdose" with "overdose" and "drug violation" with "drug or alcohol violation" in immunity provisions. This means people calling for help during an alcohol or drug overdose can no longer face prosecution for minor alcohol or drug offenses related to the incident. The law directly affects individuals experiencing overdoses and those assisting them by seeking emergency care. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2025.
Bill status
in committee
3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 6, 2025
Last action Apr 29, 2025
Floor votes · House Apr 2, 2025
How they voted
21–0
Passed
Total votes 21
Apr 2, 2025
D
Democratic5
100% Yea
R
Republican16
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
17
Key actions
7
Committee
9
Apr 2, 2025
Lower · Passed
Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee
lower
Apr 2, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/3/2025
lower
Apr 2, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (21-0)
house
Mar 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Action def. in Judiciary Committee to 4/02/2025
lower
Mar 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 4/2/2025
lower
Mar 19, 2025
Committee
Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Judiciary Committee
lower
Mar 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/26/2025
lower
Mar 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/19/2025
lower
Feb 11, 2025
Committee
Assigned to s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee
lower
Feb 10, 2025
Committee
P2C, ref. to Judiciary Committee
lower
Feb 6, 2025
Introduced
Intro., P1C.
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Iris Rudder
RRepublican
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