HB 96 Tennessee House · 114th Regular Session (2025-2026)

Attorney General and Reporter - As enacted, authorizes the attorney general and reporter to conduct an investigation and initiate criminal prosecution of a judicial elected official or district attorney general whenever the attorney general and reporter has probable cause to investigate whether an official may have violated any state criminal law and either a decision to prosecute the official by the district attorney general may result in a personal, financial, or political conflict of interest or the attorney general and reporter receives a report of a violation of the prohibition on nepotism within state government entities. - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 6.

HB 96 authorizes Tennessee's Attorney General and Reporter to investigate and prosecute judges, court officials, or district attorneys when local prosecutors might face a conflict of interest. It specifically applies if there's evidence a judicial official may have broken state criminal law or if a nepotism violation is reported. The law creates a direct pathway for the Attorney General to handle these cases instead of relying on local prosecutors who cannot act impartially. This changes Tennessee's process for addressing potential criminal conduct by judicial officials.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 14, 2025 Last action Apr 8, 2025
Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
16
Key actions
8
Committee
10
Mar 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 3/6/2025
lower
Feb 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee
lower
Feb 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Action def. in Judiciary Committee to 2/26/2025
lower
Feb 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 2/26/2025
lower
Feb 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Judiciary Committee
lower
Feb 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 2/19/2025
lower
Feb 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 2/12/2025
lower
Jan 28, 2025
Committee
Assigned to s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee
lower
Jan 16, 2025
Committee
Ref. to Judiciary Committee
lower
Jan 15, 2025
Lower · Passed
P2C held on desk, pending appointment of Standing Committees
lower
Jan 14, 2025
Introduced
Intro., P1C.
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Elaine Davis
Elaine Davis
RRepublican
TN
18