HB1160 SB1064 / Directs health department to report psychotropic medications and their side effects.

This bill directs Tennessee’s Department of Health to compile, by January 1, 2026, a comprehensive inventory of every psychotropic medication defined under Tennessee Code Annotated § 49-2-124, together with known side effects for each drug. The report is to be delivered to the chairs of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee and the House Committee on Health-Related Matters. By amending multiple titles of the Tennessee Code (Titles 4, 33, 41, 49, 53, 63, 68, and 71), the act simply inserts a new reporting requirement; it does not alter prescribing authority or create new regulatory regimes for practitioners or patients.

At its heart, the measure enhances transparency and legislative oversight. Psychotropic medications, often prescribed to children in educational or institutional settings, carry a range of side effects—from mild drowsiness to more serious risks such as metabolic changes or behavioral disturbances. Providing lawmakers with an authoritative, up-to-date reference equips them to evaluate existing policies, inform parents and educators, and consider whether additional safeguards or parental-consent protocols are needed in Tennessee’s schools and care facilities.

Because the fiscal note confirms no significant expenditure is required—existing staff and resources suffice—the proposal advances informed public‐policy decisions at virtually no cost to taxpayers. It empowers the legislature, under its constitutional prerogatives, to oversee state health agencies and ensure families and institutions have clear information on potent psychotropic treatments administered under current law.