HB 1815 Tennessee House · 114th Regular Session (2025-2026)

Jails, Local Lock-ups - As enacted, authorizes a sheriff, jail administrator, or deputy jailer to refuse or delay acceptance into the jail of an arrestee if the arrestee has not received medical treatment for obvious serious physical injuries or conditions of an emergency nature; makes other related changes. - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 8; Title 29; Title 40 and Title 41.

HB 1815 allows jails to refuse accepting arrestees who require medical attention and were arrested for a non-violent misdemeanor (not a crime against a person). The arresting agency must arrange for a healthcare provider to evaluate the person and obtain a release form confirming they no longer need medical care or can be confined. If the healthcare provider provides this release form, the jail must accept the person. The bill directly affects individuals arrested for minor non-violent offenses needing medical care at the time of arrest.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
House Passage
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
Apr 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Jan 22, 2026 Signed Apr 16, 2026
Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
29
Key actions
10
Committee
7
Amendments
1
Apr 16, 2026
Signed into law
Signed by Governor.
lower
Apr 1, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by H. Speaker
lower
Apr 1, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by Senate Speaker
upper
Mar 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate, Ayes 32, Nays 0
upper
Mar 23, 2026
Introduced
Received from House, Passed on First Consideration
lower
Mar 19, 2026
Lower · Passed
H. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA0665)
lower
Mar 19, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed H., as am., Ayes 90, Nays 0, PNV 0
lower
Mar 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee
lower
Mar 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 3/12/2026
lower
Mar 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. State & Local Government Committee for 3/11/2026
lower
Mar 3, 2026
Committee
Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to State & Local Government Committee
lower
Feb 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Departments & Agencies Subcommittee for 3/3/2026
lower
Feb 2, 2026
Committee
P2C, ref. to State & Local Government Committee
lower
Feb 2, 2026
Committee
Assigned to s/c Departments & Agencies Subcommittee
lower
Jan 22, 2026
Introduced
Intro., P1C.
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Lowell Russell
Lowell Russell
RRepublican
TN
21