HB 2374 Tennessee House · 114th Regular Session (2025-2026)

Bail, Bail Bonds - As enacted, removes the requirement to place a defendant on a state or federal list or database as a fugitive from justice for failure to appear, unless it is on a felony; authorizes a court to relieve the surety of liability for an undertaking if the defendant has not been placed on the available state or federal list or database within five business days of the entering agency's receipt of the bench warrant or capias. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 40.

HB 2374 changes Tennessee court procedures for handling bench warrants when defendants fail to appear. It removes the requirement for courts to enter certain misdemeanor (violent/sexual) or non-violent felony bench warrants into state/federal databases, extends the time for entering felony warrants from 3 to 10 business days, and makes it optional for courts to relieve bail bond sureties of liability if warrants aren't entered within that timeframe. The bill directly affects courts, bail bond companies, and defendants who skip court appearances. These changes modify administrative processes but do not alter criminal definitions or penalties.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Apr 2026
House Passage
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
May 2026
Signed into Law
May 2026
Introduced Feb 4, 2026 Signed May 19, 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
38
Key actions
17
Committee
11
May 19, 2026
Signed into law
Signed by Governor.
lower
May 5, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by Senate Speaker
upper
Apr 30, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by H. Speaker
lower
Apr 23, 2026
Lower · Passed
Conference Committee report adopted, Ayes 33, Nayes 0
lower
Apr 22, 2026
Lower · Passed
Conf. comm. report adopted, Ayes 83, Nays 1, PNV 4
lower
Apr 20, 2026
Lower · Passed
Conference Committee appointed. (Haile, Hatcher, Lamar)
lower
Apr 14, 2026
Lower · Passed
H. nonconcurred in S. am. no. 1
lower
Apr 9, 2026
Introduced
Received from House, Passed on First Consideration
lower
Apr 9, 2026
Lower · Passed
Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0912)
lower
Apr 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 30, Nays 0
upper
Apr 6, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed H., Ayes 95, Nays 0, PNV 0
lower
Apr 1, 2026
Lower · Passed
Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee
lower
Apr 1, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/2/2026
lower
Mar 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
Action def. in Judiciary Committee to 4/1/2026
lower
Mar 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 4/1/2026
lower
Mar 18, 2026
Lower · Passed
Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Judiciary Committee
lower
Mar 18, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/23/2026
lower
Mar 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/18/2026
lower
Feb 5, 2026
Committee
P2C, ref. to Judiciary Committee
lower
Feb 5, 2026
Committee
Assigned to s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee
lower
Feb 4, 2026
Introduced
Intro., P1C.
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Clay Doggett
Clay Doggett
RRepublican
TN
70