Public Defenders - As enacted, creates five additional assistant district public defender positions effective July 1, 2025. - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 14 and Title 9, Chapter 4.
HB 486 modifies Tennessee law to require district public defenders to meet certain deadlines within ten business days instead of ten calendar days, effective July 1, 2025. This change directly affects public defenders' offices across Tennessee by extending the timeframe for completing specific legal tasks, accounting for weekends and holidays. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated sections related to public defender procedures (Title 8, Chapter 14; Title 9, Chapter 4) without creating new positions or altering funding. It streamlines administrative processes for public defenders while maintaining existing service requirements.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Feb 3, 2025
Signed May 21, 2025
Floor votes · Senate Apr 22, 2025 · House Apr 21, 2025
How they voted
38–0
Passed
Total votes 38
Apr 22, 2025
D
Democratic7
100% Yea
R
Republican31
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
38
Key actions
19
Committee
17
Amendments
1
May 21, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by Governor.
lower
May 8, 2025
Upper · Passed
Signed by Senate Speaker
upper
Apr 30, 2025
Lower · Passed
Signed by H. Speaker
lower
Apr 22, 2025
Introduced
Received from House, Passed on First Consideration
lower
Apr 22, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate, Ayes 33, Nays 0
upper
Apr 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
H. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA0380)
lower
Apr 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed H., as am., Ayes 94, Nays 0, PNV 0
lower
Apr 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
lower
Apr 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee
lower
Apr 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/17/2025
lower
Apr 16, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/17/2025
lower
Apr 14, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2025
lower
Apr 9, 2025
Lower · Passed
Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
lower
Apr 9, 2025
Committee
Assigned to s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee
lower
Apr 9, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2025
lower
Apr 2, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 4/9/2025
lower
Apr 1, 2025
Committee
Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Judiciary Committee
lower
Mar 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Action Def. in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee to 4/2/2025
lower
Mar 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 4/2/2025
lower
Mar 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Action Def. in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee to 3/26/2025
lower
Mar 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/26/2025
lower
Mar 12, 2025
Committee
Ref. to Judiciary Committee
lower
Mar 12, 2025
Committee
Assigned to s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee
lower
Mar 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/19/2025
lower
Feb 3, 2025
Introduced
Intro., P1C.
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Andrew Farmer
RRepublican
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