SB 237 Tennessee Senate · 114th Regular Session (2025-2026)

Juvenile Offenders - As introduced, requires a juvenile 16 years of age or older accused of a delinquent act to be transferred from juvenile court to criminal court to be tried as an adult if the juvenile has a prior adjudication of delinquency for any offense and the juvenile court finds probable cause to believe the juvenile committed the delinquent act. - Amends TCA Title 37; Title 39 and Chapter 1007 of the Public Acts of 2024.

SB 237 requires Tennessee juvenile courts to automatically transfer to adult criminal court any 16-year-old or older youth accused of a delinquent act (a crime if committed by an adult) who has a prior court finding of delinquency for any offense. The transfer happens if the court finds probable cause the youth committed the current act and the youth is not committable to a mental health facility. Juveniles and their families must receive 14 days' written notice before a hearing to determine if these conditions are met. The bill applies to offenses committed on or after July 1, 2025, changing how certain repeat juvenile offenders are processed in the justice system.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 27, 2025 Last action Feb 10, 2025
Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
3
Key actions
0
Committee
1
Feb 10, 2025
Committee
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee
upper
Jan 27, 2025
Introduced
Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Brent Taylor
Brent Taylor
RRepublican
TN
31