House passes statewide ban on kratom in measure dubbed ‘Matthew Davenport’s Law’

The Tennessee House passed House Bill 16,49 on third reading, a measure that would prohibit the sale and distribution of kratom and related compounds in the state and strengthen oversight and toxicology testing.

Sponsor Representative Hilton Haynes presented the bill as a public-health response and said the measure "does 6 things," including criminal penalties, requiring county medical examiners to test for kratom when investigating suspected overdose deaths, expanding toxicology testing in medical settings and updating workforce drug policy. "This act to be known as Matthew Davenport's Law," Haynes said, citing a July 1, 2026 effective date.

Members who supported the bill cited reports from the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and local law enforcement and said synthetics tied to kratom have driven overdoses. Representative Williams thanked the sponsor and said the bill responds to a growing public-health threat.

Opponents urged a narrower approach. Representative Johnson said experts told the committee that "kratom in its natural form is not problematic" and urged carving out nondangerous, natural forms or focusing on the synthetic analogs. Representative Linn and others said many constituents use natural kratom and asked for narrower regulation rather than an outright ban.

The House voted to pass the bill; the clerk reported 78 ayes, 9 nays and 8 present-not-voting. The measure moves on according to the legislature's process for enrollment and transmission to the governor’s desk.