Tennessee House Bill HB2369

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/2/26
• Refer: 2/5/26
• Refer: 3/25/26
• Refer: 4/1/26
• Refer: 4/8/26
• Refer: 4/14/26
• Engrossed: 4/21/26
• Enrolled: 4/28/26
• Passed: 5/19/26

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 38; Title 39 and Title 40, relative to criminal justice.

Impact

The adjustments proposed in HB2369 could lead to increased financial burdens on municipalities as they may now be required to allocate funds for autopsy expenses which were previously managed differently. This could strain local resources, particularly in smaller municipalities with limited budgets. If the state does not cover the costs, there could be adverse effects on public health investigations and the efficacy of local law enforcement operations, leading to potential delays in case resolutions.

Summary

House Bill 2369 aims to amend certain sections of the Tennessee Code Annotated, specifically Title 38, Title 39, and Title 40, focusing on aspects related to criminal justice. A primary feature of the bill is the stipulation that when an autopsy is requested by a municipality or its law enforcement agencies, the financial responsibility for the autopsy lies with the municipality unless the cost is covered by the state. This amendment introduces clarity on funding responsibilities for autopsy services which could impact local budgets significantly.

Contention

Notable points of contention surrounding HB2369 may arise from the implications of shifting autopsy costs to local governments. Critics might argue that this shift undermines the financial capabilities of these municipalities, particularly those that are already facing fiscal challenges. Moreover, the increased cost could lead to complicated decisions about when to request autopsies, potentially impacting the thoroughness of investigations into suspicious deaths and public safety outcomes.