Criminal Justice

SB 1937 amends Tennessee laws related to child abuse and child sexual abuse by adding the commissioner of mental health and substance abuse services to the Second Look Commission. It updates how abuse cases are reviewed (replacing "second or subsequent incident" with "case being reviewed") and expands the commission’s access to state agency records needed for its work. The bill also updates definitions to include "strangulation" in abuse and neglect contexts and modifies child protective team responsibilities. These changes directly affect children in abuse cases, child protective teams, and the Second Look Commission’s operations. The bill takes effect in 2026, with most provisions delayed until July 1.

This bill honors the 21st District Recovery Court in Tennessee on its twenty-fifth anniversary. The resolution recognizes the program's work since 2001 in helping nonviolent offenders recover from addiction through a combination of accountability and support. It highlights the court's success in reducing recidivism and helping participants regain employment and family stability. The bill is a commemorative measure that does not change any laws or policies.

This bill is a joint resolution that formally congratulates Governor Bill Lee for deploying the Tennessee National Guard to assist law enforcement in Memphis. It recognizes the Governor's response to a declared emergency and acknowledges the National Guard's role in supporting the Memphis Safe Task Force, which aims to reduce violent crime through increased policing and investigations. The resolution expresses gratitude to National Guard members for their service and does not create any new laws or policy requirements. It serves as a ceremonial acknowledgment of past actions rather than establishing future obligations or changes to state operations.

This joint resolution honors Co-Responder Amanda Finn of the Chattanooga Police Department for receiving the Professional Staff Newcomer Award. The measure recognizes her contributions to the Crisis Co-Response Unit, including improving clinical training, enhancing officer de-escalation skills, and strengthening community relationships. By formally commending her achievements, the Tennessee legislature acknowledges her leadership and impact on public safety operations.

This House Joint Resolution honors and commends the Peer Support Team of the Chattanooga Police Department for receiving the Chief's Award. The resolution recognizes the team's work in transforming peer support from a reactive to a proactive model, including early intervention initiatives, certification training, and mentorship programs for new officers. It highlights their contributions to officer wellness, policy development, and crisis response efforts. This is a commemorative measure rather than a policy change, and it does not affect any laws or regulations.

This bill, known as the Tennessee Sexual Violence Justice Act, establishes new requirements for law enforcement officers investigating sexual assault cases in Tennessee. It mandates that investigators complete annual trauma-informed training focused on victim-centered approaches, with specific curriculum standards developed in coordination with victim advocates and healthcare providers. The legislation also requires the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to test sexual assault evidence collection kits within 90 days of receipt and submit annual reports on testing timelines to state officials. Additionally, the bill ensures that DNA profiles from these kits are eligible for entry into national and local DNA databases to aid in solving cases.

This bill would require most firearm sales and transfers in Tennessee to be conducted through a federally licensed gun dealer, with specific exceptions for private sales between family members, transfers to law enforcement, and sales of antique firearms. The law creates a Class B misdemeanor offense for individuals who sell or transfer firearms outside of these approved channels, punishable by fines up to $10,000 and up to nine months in jail. Additionally, anyone convicted of violating this provision would be prohibited from possessing firearms for two years. The bill would take effect on July 1, 2025, if it were to become law.

This bill requires Tennessee law enforcement agencies to create alternative crisis response units by January 1, 2026, where a qualified mental health professional accompanies police officers to mental health-related calls and leads the response. The legislation mandates that the Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission establish uniform training standards for these units and provide annual training for officers on supporting mental health professionals during calls. The bill directly affects law enforcement agencies across the state and the training commission by creating new operational requirements and training obligations. It amends existing state statutes to formalize these alternative response protocols rather than creating entirely new laws from scratch.

This bill creates a new law enforcement investigatory privilege in Tennessee that protects information gathered during open criminal investigations and prosecutions from being subpoenaed in civil or criminal cases. The privilege applies to information covered under Rule 16 of the Rules of Criminal Procedure and remains in effect until an investigation is closed by the district attorney general, a defendant is acquitted, or a conviction becomes final. Law enforcement officials can still issue subpoenas for their own investigative purposes, but the district attorney general may file motions to stop or change subpoenas that seek protected information. The legislation clarifies that this privilege does not override a criminal defendant's constitutional rights or change existing procedures for law enforcement subpoenas.

HB 2377 revises Tennessee's definition of "continuous sexual abuse of a child" in criminal law. It requires prosecutors to prove three or more separate incidents of sexual abuse against one or more minors, with at least one incident occurring in the filing county and another on or after July 1, 2026. The bill also specifies that these incidents must occur over a period of 30 days or more, and mandates unanimous jury agreement on this timeframe. The changes apply to cases occurring on or after July 1, 2026, directly affecting prosecutors, courts, and defendants in child sexual abuse cases.