Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official PDF posted by the Tennessee General Assembly, fetched 2026-09-25. Page and line markers are part of the official record; nothing is edited or removed. This is the chaptered version. The official bill page.
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PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 666
SENATE BILL NO. 1597
By Lamar, Gardenhire
Substituted for: House Bill No. 1807
By Parkinson, Terry, Camper, Clemmons, Reneau, Lynn, Moody, Love, Russell
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 38 and Title 68, relative to death certificates.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. This act is known and may be cited as "April's Law of 2026."
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 68-3-502(i)(9), is amended by deleting the
subdivision and substituting:
(9) As used in this subsection (i), "next of kin" means:
(A) The person who has the highest priority pursuant to § 62-5-703; and
(B) In addition to the person described in subdivision (i)(9)(A), a surviving
parent of the decedent.
SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 68-3-205, is amended by deleting
subdivision (d)(2}(D)(i) and substituting:
(i) Upon specific request of:
(a) The decedent's spouse, child, parent, or other next of kin;
(b) The other parent of a child of the decedent if the child is under eighteen
(18) years of age; or
(c) The authorized representative of a person listed in subdivision
(d)(2)(D)(i)(a) or (b);
SECTION 4. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.
SENATE BILL NO. 1597
PASSED: March 23, 2026
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RAN[)Y ilcNALLY
SPEAKER OF THE SENATE
CAMljfflJNJIEXTON,SPEAKER
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
{¾>ri / APPROVED this 2!!:::___ day of 2026
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