Tennessee legislation · 114th General Assembly
Tennessee HB1649: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 33, Chapter 2; Title 38; Title 39; Title 50; Title 63 and Title 68, relative to Kratom.
Status: Chaptered, May 15, 2026
Fiscal Summary STATE GOVERNMENTREVENUEGeneral FundFY26-27 & Subsequent Years($1,288,700) EXPENDITURESIncarceration$34,300 LOCAL GOVERNMENTREVENUEMandatoryFY26-27 & Subsequent Years($525,900) EXPENDITURESMandatoryFY26-27 & Subsequent Years$385,900 Article II, Section 24 of the Tennessee Constitution provides that: no law of general application shall impose increased expenditure requirements on cities or counties unless the General Assembly shall provide that the state share in the cost. Bill Summary Present law makes it an offense for a person to knowingly to do any of the following: ' Sell, or offer for sale, Kratom unless labeled and in its natural form.' Distribute, sell, or offer for sale, Kratom to a person under 21.' Purchase or possess Kratom if under 21. This bill revises the offenses described above by, instead, making it an offense for a person to knowingly do any of the following: ' Possess Kratom' Manufacture, deliver, or sell Kratom' Possess with the intent to manufacture, deliver, or sell Kratom This bill classifies the offense of possessing Kratom as a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by a term of imprisonment of 11 months, 29 days; a fine of $2,500; or both. The other two offenses are classified as Class C felonies, punishable by a term of imprisonment of three to 15 years and a potential fine of $10,000. However, such felony offenses are raised to a Class B felony if the violation involved the delivery or sale of Kratom to a minor from an adult who is at least two years older than the minor and the adult knew the person was a minor. A Class B felony is punishable by a term of imprisonment of eight to 30 years and a potential fine of $25,000. TESTING REQUIREMENTS This bill requires a treating physician to order toxicology testing for the presence of Kratom if the physi
What the bill says
An act to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 33, Chapter 2; Title 38; Title 39; Title 50; Title 63 and Title 68, relative to Kratom.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 33, Chapter 2; Title 38; Title 39; Title 50; Title 63 and Title 68, relative to Kratom. SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-17-452, is amended by deleting subdivision (a)(3). SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 4, is amended by adding the following as a new section: (a) It is an offense to knowingly possess Kratom. (b) It is an offense to knowingly manufacture, deliver, or sell Kratom. (c) It is an offense to knowingly possess Kratom with intent to manufacture, deliver, or sell Kratom. (d) As used in this section, "Kratom" means any part of the mitragyna speciosa plant containing the alkaloid mitragynine or metabolite 7-hydroxymitragynine; any substance or compound obtained by extraction of the mitragyna speciosa leaf; any alkaloid or alkaloid derivative that has been created by chemical synthesis or biosynthetic means that synthetically alters the composition of any Kratom alkaloid or alkaloid derivative; any derivative, analog, or other preparation of Kratom; and any derivative, analog, or other preparation thereof that is substantially chemically equivalent or identical to Kratom. (e) (1) A violation of subsection (a) is a Class A misdemeanor. (2) HB1649 (A) Except as provided in subdivision (e)(2)(B), a violation of subsection (b) or (c) is a Class C felony. (B) A violation of …
Sponsors
- Helton-Haynes, Esther (R, 30) · primary sponsor
- Rudder, Iris (R, 39)
- Sherrell, Paul (R, 43)
- Doggett, Clay (R, 70)
- Moody, Debra (R, 81)
- Howell, Dan (R, 22)
- Butler, Ed (R, 41)
- Eldridge, Rick (R, 10)
- Hawk, David B. (R, 5)
- Jones, Renea (R, 4)
- Moon, Jerome (R, 8)
- Wright, Dave (R, 19)
Latest actions
- : Effective date(s) 07/01/2026
- : Pub. Ch. 950
- : Signed by Governor.
- : Transmitted to Governor for his action.
- : Signed by Senate Speaker
- : Signed by H. Speaker
- : Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.
- : Passed Senate, Ayes 23, Nays 2, PNV 4
- : Amendment tabled (Amendment 2 - SA1060)
- : Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - SA1053)
Votes
- FLOOR VOTE: Third Consideration (April 16, 2026): 23 yea, 2 nay, passed
- SENATE FINANCE, WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE: Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee (April 8, 2026): 9 yea, 2 nay, passed
- FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION (April 8, 2026): 78 yea, 9 nay, passed
- HOUSE FINANCE, WAYS, AND MEANS COMMITTEE: Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee (March 31, 2026): 25 yea, 2 nay, passed
- SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee (March 25, 2026): 6 yea, 1 nay, passed
- HOUSE FINANCE, WAYS, AND MEANS SUBCOMMITTEE: Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee (March 25, 2026): 12 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: Archives, Publications, My Bills
Common questions
- What is HB1649?
- HB1649 is a bill in the Tennessee Legislature (114th General Assembly): AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 33, Chapter 2; Title 38; Title 39; Title 50; Title 63 and Title 68, relative to Kratom.
- What does HB1649 do?
- In its own words: An act to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 33, Chapter 2; Title 38; Title 39; Title 50; Title 63 and Title 68, relative to Kratom.
- What is the status of HB1649?
- Chaptered as of May 15, 2026. Latest action: Effective date(s) 07/01/2026 (May 15, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB1649?
- Helton-Haynes, Esther (R, 30), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB1649?
- On the Tennessee Legislature website: https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default?BillNumber=HB1649&GA=114
Source: official Tennessee record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.