Tennessee legislation · 114th General Assembly
Tennessee SB1602: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39, Chapter 13 and Title 55, Chapter 10, relative to leaving the scene of an accident.
Status: Chaptered, May 27, 2026
Fiscal Summary STATE GOVERNMENTEXPENDITURESIncarceration$1,007,500 LOCAL GOVERNMENTEXPENDITURESMandatoryFY26-27 & Subsequent Years($78,600) Bill Summary ON APRIL 6, 2026, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 1602, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 rewrites the bill to, instead, provide that a person who is involved in a motor vehicle accident, fails to stop or comply with state law to provide information and render aid, and knew or should reasonably have known that death resulted from the accident, that, in addition to a Class E felony offense, such defendant must be punished by confinement for no less than one year, of which the defendant must serve 100%, and a fine of no less than $5,000 and no more than $10,000. This amendment applies to offenses committed on or after July 1, 2026. ON APRIL 21, 2026, THE HOUSE SUBSTITUTED SENATE BILL 1602 FOR HOUSE BILL 1967, ADOPTED AMENDMENT #2, AND PASSED SENATE BILL 1602, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #2 names the bill the "James Bardsley, Jr. Life Protection Act." ON APRIL 22, 2026, THE SENATE CONCURRED IN HOUSE AMENDMENT #2.
What the bill says
From the amended text:
Amendment No. 2 to HB1967 Stevens Signature of Sponsor AMEND S e n ate Bill No. 1602* House Bill No. 1967 by deleting all language after the enacting clause and substituting: SECTION 1. This act is known and may be cited as the "James Bardsley, Jr. Life Protection Act." SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-10-101(b)(2)(A), is amended by deleting the subdivision and substituting: (A) It is a Class E felony for any person to fail to stop or comply with the requirements of subsection (a) when the person knew or should reasonably have known that death resulted from the accident. In addition to any other punishment that may be imposed for a violation of this subdivision (b)(2)(A), the defendant must be punished by confinement for not less than one (1) year, of which the defendant is required to serve one hundred percent (100%), and a fine of no less than five thousand dollars ($5,000) and no more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000). SECTION 3. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it, and applies to offenses committed on or after that date. HA1210