Tennessee legislation · 114th General Assembly
Tennessee HB398: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 29; Title 33; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71, relative to health.
Status: Chaptered, May 18, 2026
Fiscal Summary NOT SIGNIFICANT Bill Summary ON MARCH 30, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 343, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 rewrites the bill to, instead, authorize, as of January 1, 2027, a licensed paramedic to make an actual determination and pronouncement of death. However, the paramedic must have successfully completed training in the determination and pronouncement of death and have attempted to resuscitate the person in accordance with standards established by the emergency medical services board. A paramedic is prohibited from making an actual determination and pronouncement of death if the patient is in a hospital when the apparent death occurs. This amendment requires a paramedic to complete a course of instruction on making an actual determination and pronouncement of death. Further, the emergency medical services board is prohibited from issuing a paramedic license to an applicant from another state if such applicant does not provide proof of the successful completion of such a training. ON APRIL 16, 2026, THE HOUSE SUBSTITUTED SENATE BILL 343 FOR HOUSE BILL 398, ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1, AND PASSED SENATE BILL 343, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 incorporates the provisions of Senate Amendment #1 with the following changes: (1) Clarifies that only a paramedic who intends to determine and pronounce death (instead of all paramedics) is required to complete a course of instruction in determining and pronouncing death; (2) Removes the prohibition against licensing applicants from other states who have not been trained to make determinations of death; (3) Requires that a paramedic who determines and pronounces death retain proof of successful completion of the course and make the proof readily available to the board or the board's designee upon request; and (4) Adds that
What the bill says
From the amended text:
House Health 1 Amendment No. 1 to HB0398 Terry Signature of Sponsor AMEND S e n ate Bill No. 343* House Bill No. 398 by deleting all language after the enacting clause and substituting: SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 68, Chapter 3, Part 5, is amended by adding the following as a new section: (a) A paramedic, licensed pursuant to § 68-140-306, may make an actual determination and pronouncement of death if the paramedic has successfully completed training in the determination and pronouncement of death and the paramedic has attempted to resuscitate the person in accordance with standards established by the emergency medical services board. (b) This section does not permit a paramedic to make the actual determination and pronouncement of death of a patient who is in a hospital when the apparent death occurs. (c) This section does not preclude a physician licensed pursuant to title 63, chapter 6 or 9, from directing a paramedic to cease resuscitative efforts. SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 68, Chapter 140, Part 3, is amended by adding the following as a new section: (a) A paramedic who intends to determine and pronounce death shall, before doing so, complete a course of instruction in determining and pronouncing death. (b) A paramedic who determines and pronounces death shall retain proof of successful completion …