AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39; Title 40 and Title 55, Chapter 10, relative to driving under the influence of an intoxicant.
Summary
HB1814 amends Tennessee law governing driving under the influence sentencing by creating an alternative to the ignition interlock requirement for certain DUI convictions involving alcohol or opioids. If a court determines that an ignition interlock device would otherwise be appropriate, the court may instead allow the convicted person to receive naltrexone injections at the person’s own expense for 12 continuous months. The bill applies to convictions under Tennessee’s DUI statute and is framed as a sentencing option available at the court’s discretion.
The bill also requires the sentencing order to include reporting requirements related to the person’s naltrexone treatment as a condition of probation. If the person fails to comply with the ordered injections, that failure becomes grounds for probation revocation. The act is set to take effect July 1, 2026.
Impact
The bill would add a new sentencing and probation option to Title 55, Chapter 10 by allowing courts to substitute medically supervised naltrexone treatment for ignition interlock restrictions in certain DUI cases involving alcohol or opioids. It would affect people convicted of DUI, trial courts imposing sentences, probation supervision, and providers or systems involved in documenting compliance with treatment. The measure does not eliminate ignition interlock requirements generally, but gives courts discretion to use naltrexone injections as an alternative in appropriate cases.
Sentiment
The available vote history suggests the bill was received favorably in committee, with the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee recommending passage by a 9-0 vote. No committee transcript was provided, so there is no recorded floor discussion to indicate broader debate. Based on the text and the unanimous subcommittee vote, the bill appears to have been viewed as a targeted public-safety and treatment-oriented sentencing option rather than a controversial overhaul of DUI law.
Contention
The main point of potential contention is the substitution of a medical treatment requirement for a device-based driving restriction. Supporters are likely to view naltrexone injections as a treatment-focused alternative that may address substance use more directly, while critics may question whether it is an appropriate replacement for ignition interlock monitoring, especially because it is paid for by the offender and enforced through probation reporting. Another possible issue is the bill’s reliance on court discretion, which could lead to uneven application across cases and jurisdictions.
Crossfiled
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39; Title 40 and Title 55, Chapter 10, relative to driving under the influence of an intoxicant.