AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 38 and Title 68, relative to death certificates.
Summary
SB1597 amends Tennessee law governing death certificates and related vital records access. The bill changes the definition of “next of kin” for purposes of the death-certificate provisions in Title 68 to include the person with the highest priority under the probate code and, in addition, a surviving parent of the decedent. It also revises the circumstances under which certain death-certificate information may be released upon specific request.
Under the bill, access to the relevant records may be provided upon request of the decedent’s spouse, child, parent, or other next of kin; the other parent of a minor child of the decedent; or an authorized representative of one of those persons. The act is designated as “April’s Law of 2026” and takes effect immediately upon becoming law.
Impact
The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated §§ 68-3-205 and 68-3-502, affecting the state’s rules for who qualifies as next of kin and who may request death-certificate records. It broadens the class of eligible requesters by expressly adding a surviving parent to the definition of next of kin and by clarifying access for parents of minor children and their authorized representatives. The practical effect is to expand and clarify access to death-certificate information for certain family members and representatives, while leaving the underlying vital records framework in place.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have received broadly favorable support throughout the legislative process. It was recommended for passage by the Senate Judiciary Committee and then passed the Senate floor with overwhelming support, including a unanimous final passage vote in the Senate. The available voting history suggests little opposition overall, indicating general agreement that the measure addresses a sensitive family-access issue in the death-certificate process.
Contention
The main point of potential contention is the scope of who should be treated as “next of kin” and who should have authority to request death-certificate records. The bill specifically adds a surviving parent to the definition and allows access for the other parent of a minor child, which may reflect a policy choice to broaden access for close relatives even where probate priority rules might otherwise be narrower. The recorded votes show only minimal opposition at earlier stages, suggesting any disagreement was limited and did not prevent final enactment.