Witnesses - As enacted, establishes procedures for the use of certified facility dogs during witness testimony and other court proceedings; establishes standards for certified facility dogs. - Amends TCA Title 24; Title 36; Title 37 and Title 40.
HB 762 establishes rules for using certified facility dogs to support witnesses, especially victims, during court testimony to reduce stress and improve testimony accuracy. The bill sets specific standards for dogs (including training, health checks, and $500,000 liability insurance) and handlers (requiring legal procedure training), and requires courts to approve their use via a motion before proceedings. During testimony, dogs must wear visible identification, handlers must stay visible to the witness (outside jury view), and courts must inform juries that the dog’s presence doesn’t affect the case. Courts must also take steps to minimize jury visibility of the dog during testimony.
Bill status
died
3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
House Passage
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 5, 2025
Last action Apr 30, 2025
Floor votes · House Mar 31, 2025
How they voted
98–0
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 100
Mar 31, 2025
D
Democratic22
100% Yea
R
Republican78
97% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
20
Key actions
10
Committee
11
Mar 31, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (98-0-2)
house
Mar 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee
lower
Mar 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 3/27/2025
lower
Mar 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Action def. in Judiciary Committee to 3/26/2025
lower
Mar 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/26/2025
lower
Mar 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
Action def. in Judiciary Committee to 3/19/2025
lower
Mar 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/19/2025
lower
Mar 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Judiciary Committee
lower
Mar 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/12/2025
lower
Feb 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Civil Justice Subcommittee for 3/5/2025
lower
Feb 10, 2025
Committee
Assigned to s/c Civil Justice Subcommittee
lower
Feb 6, 2025
Committee
P2C, ref. to Judiciary Committee
lower
Feb 5, 2025
Introduced
Intro., P1C.
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Mary Littleton
RRepublican
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