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
SB1895 creates an alternative sentencing option for certain DUI offenders in Tennessee whose convictions involve alcohol or opioids. If a court determines that an ignition interlock device would otherwise be appropriate, the court may instead allow the person to receive naltrexone injections at their own expense for 12 continuous months in lieu of being restricted to a vehicle equipped with an ignition interlock device. The bill applies to convictions under Tennessee’s DUI statute and is framed as a discretionary option for the court rather than a mandatory substitute.
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 receive the injections as ordered, that failure becomes grounds for probation revocation. The act is set to take effect July 1, 2026.
Impact
The bill would amend Tennessee Code Annotated Title 55, Chapter 10 by adding a new section governing DUI sentencing alternatives, and it would interact with existing ignition interlock requirements under § 55-10-409. It gives courts a new tool to condition probation on medication-assisted treatment with naltrexone for certain alcohol- or opioid-related DUI cases, shifting some compliance monitoring from vehicle-based restrictions to treatment-based reporting. The practical effect is to expand judicial discretion while imposing new probation conditions and potential revocation consequences for noncompliance.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes in the provided materials, the bill appears to be a policy-oriented measure focused on treatment and supervision rather than punishment alone. Its structure suggests support for using medication-assisted treatment as an alternative to ignition interlock restrictions, but there is no direct evidence in the provided record of formal support or opposition from legislators, advocates, or stakeholders. The overall tone of the proposal is pragmatic and rehabilitative.
Contention
The main point of potential contention is the substitution of naltrexone injections for an ignition interlock device. Supporters may view the bill as a treatment-based alternative that addresses substance use more directly, while critics may question whether medication compliance can be monitored as effectively as an interlock device or whether courts should require a person to pay for treatment out of pocket. Another possible issue is the bill’s use of probation revocation for missed injections, which could be seen as creating a strict enforcement mechanism tied to medical treatment. No specific opposition or support is documented in the provided transcripts or vote history.
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.