SB 1089 increases the mandatory court fee amount from $1.00 to $2.00 per municipal court case that must be forwarded by municipal court clerks to the state treasurer. The funds are specifically designated to cover administrative costs for training and continuing education programs for municipal court judges and clerks. This change, effective July 1, 2025, modifies Tennessee law (TCA Titles 16 and 17) to provide additional funding for judicial and clerical professional development. The bill directly affects municipal court operations and the administrative office of the courts, with no changes to the fee structure for case participants.
SB 769 changes Tennessee law to treat unauthorized possession of a used, detached catalytic converter as a felony instead of a minor misdemeanor. It makes this offense punishable by up to 11 months and 29 days in jail, a $2,500 fine, or both. The bill directly affects individuals or businesses that possess catalytic converters without authorization, such as scrap recyclers or those who may have stolen them. This policy update strengthens penalties to deter catalytic converter theft, which is a growing problem across the state.
HB 1144 sets a safety standard for private correctional facilities in Tennessee. If an inmate death rate at a privately operated facility (or a county facility contracted to house state inmates) is twice that of a comparable state-run facility, the Department of Correction must reduce the facility's population by 10%. This applies to facilities operating under contracts with the state or county, directly affecting private prison operators and county correctional systems. The bill amends Tennessee Codes Title 8, 12, 40, and 41 to implement this requirement.
HB 1353 creates a new Class E felony offense for threatening or harming individuals involved in the judicial process (such as witnesses, judges, court staff, prosecutors, public defenders, or jurors) or their family members, specifically when done to interfere with, intimidate, or retaliate against their participation in court proceedings. It directly affects anyone who targets these judicial participants with threatening or harmful acts to disrupt their work. The law defines "family member" broadly (including spouses, parents, children, and siblings) and "judicial participant" to cover key court personnel and legal professionals. This bill amends Tennessee law to strengthen protections for those supporting the justice system, effective July 1, 2025.
SB 1115 (Tennessee) requires the Department of Correction to reduce inmate populations by 10% at privately operated correctional facilities if their death rate exceeds twice that of a comparable state-run facility. This applies to facilities under contract with the state or county for holding state inmates. The bill also mandates that required facility reports be posted on the Department of Correction website. It amends Tennessee Code sections related to correctional services (Titles 8, 12, 40, 41) and took effect May 9, 2025.
HB 787 creates a study committee to examine the feasibility of implementing a "distance to drive" program for DUI offenders in Tennessee. This program would allow individuals with suspended or revoked driver licenses - due to DUI convictions - to have their licenses reinstated by meeting court objectives and completing requirements set by the Department of Safety. The bill amends multiple Tennessee Code sections (16, 39, 40, 55) to establish this committee and adjust a license reinstatement deadline. It does not create the program itself but studies whether it could be implemented to help DUI defendants regain driving privileges.
HB 322 creates a new criminal offense of "human smuggling" under Tennessee law, directly affecting individuals who transport people across borders for financial gain while concealing them from authorities. The bill defines human smuggling as transporting 10+ adults or 5+ minors (knowing they entered the U.S. illegally) to avoid detection by law enforcement, or encouraging such entry. It classifies this as a Class E felony, punishable by up to 6 years in prison, and adds misdemeanor penalties for harboring individuals who entered the U.S. illegally. The law also grants the state attorney general authority to seek court orders dissolving organizations involved in trafficking or smuggling.
SB 392 creates a new Class E felony offense for "human smuggling" in Tennessee, defined as knowingly transporting 10+ adults or 5+ minors across state lines while concealing them from immigration authorities, with knowledge they entered the U.S. illegally. It also establishes a Class A misdemeanor for harboring undocumented immigrants (a $1,000 fine per person). The law amends Tennessee Code to include human smuggling under "human trafficking offenses" and grants the Attorney General authority to seek court orders dissolving organizations involved in these crimes. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.
SB 30 creates new misdemeanor offenses in Tennessee, primarily targeting individuals who intentionally provide false names to law enforcement during lawful detention or arrest (Section 4). It also prohibits transporting people in the enclosed cargo area of box trucks (defined as vehicles without passenger seats/safety belts) and restricts approaching within 25 feet of officers performing duties after being ordered to stop (Sections 5-6). Additionally, the bill bans unauthorized signage on bridges/highways without maintenance entity permission (Section 7) and amends procedures for police citations (Sections 8-9). These changes directly affect people detained by police, drivers using box trucks for passengers, and individuals placing signage on public infrastructure. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.
HB 370 expands Tennessee's harassment law to include in-person communication as a criminal offense, not just written, phone, or electronic contact. The bill amends state law to define "communicate" broadly, covering physical presence interactions (like shouting or gestures face-to-face), verbal exchanges, and digital messages. This change directly affects individuals who engage in harassment through direct physical interactions, making such conduct punishable under existing harassment statutes. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, updating how harassment is legally defined without altering penalties.
