SB 591 creates two new offenses in Tennessee law: a Class E felony for recklessly threatening mass violence against child care agencies, preschools, or religious institutions via any communication method, and a Class B misdemeanor for failing to report such threats. The bill requires anyone who knows of such a threat to immediately report it to local law enforcement and the affected institution, including specific details like the threat's nature and the person making it. It also allows courts to order threat-related defendants to undergo evaluations for potential harm and mandates restitution for disruptions caused by threats. The law directly affects individuals making or ignoring threats to vulnerable institutions, with penalties taking effect July 1, 2025.
SB 1659 amends Tennessee sentencing laws to add 12 new aggravating factors that juries must consider when sentencing defendants convicted of rape of a child or aggravated rape of a child. Key provisions include factors like the defendant being in a position of trust (e.g., teacher or caregiver), prior convictions involving minors, filming the crime, using substances to influence the victim, or the offense being especially heinous. The bill directly affects defendants in these specific child sexual assault cases by making certain circumstances mandatory for sentencing consideration. It also removes a prior mitigating factor (victim participation/consent) that applied to child rape cases and takes effect July 1, 2026.
HJR 863 is a Tennessee resolution urging the U.S. Congress to pass H.R. 2350/S. 1137, which would allow states to use cell-phone jamming systems in prisons. The resolution highlights that federal law currently bans such jamming, leaving prisons vulnerable to smuggled phones used for drug trafficking, violence, and escape coordination - evidenced by 25,840 contraband phones found in state facilities in one year. The resolution emphasizes that the proposed federal law would permit jamming only with safeguards to avoid disrupting emergency 911 calls, and it cites bipartisan support from state attorneys general. This is a procedural resolution seeking federal legislative action, not a policy change itself.
HB 1741 requires insurers covering incarcerated individuals in Tennessee to treat FDA-approved non-opioid pain medications equally with opioids on their preferred drug lists (PDL). Specifically, insurers must not disadvantage or discourage coverage for non-opioid pain treatments compared to opioids, provided the non-opioid has been FDA-approved for pain management for at least nine months. The bill applies to all insurance policies covering inmates, including those through TennCare or private insurers, and amends multiple Tennessee Code titles related to healthcare coverage. It takes effect January 1, 2027, and does not prevent insurers from favoring one opioid over another or one non-opioid over another.
HB 2514 revises Tennessee's firearms laws by removing the offense of carrying a firearm "with intent to go armed" in K-12 schools, school buses, and university properties (when posted). It prohibits carrying firearms in K-12 schools/buses if the person intends to go armed, while eliminating similar restrictions for universities and colleges. The bill also rewrites rules around handgun possession while intoxicated, adds new definitions for "firearm" and "deadly force," and creates a legal presumption that threatening deadly force to defend property against unlawful entry is justified. It establishes immunity from prosecution for using justified force, including displaying weapons, unless the person knew the individual was a law enforcement officer or caused injury to an innocent bystander. These changes directly affect individuals carrying firearms in schools, campuses, or during property disputes.
SB 218 creates a presumption that defendants charged with offenses involving firearm use/display or causing serious injury/death should not be released on personal recognizance before trial. This directly affects individuals facing these specific charges and requires magistrates to document written reasoning if they override this presumption. The bill mandates that magistrates include specific written findings for each factor considered when determining bail, rather than relying on general discretion. It amends Tennessee Code Annotated § 40-11-115 and takes effect July 1, 2025.
HB 577 increases the state-funded stipend that eligible counties receive for housing each convicted felon in county facilities. This change directly affects counties operating correctional facilities, providing them with additional state funding per inmate. The bill amends multiple sections of Tennessee law (TCA Titles 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 29, 38, 39, 40, and 41) to adjust the stipend amount. It was signed into law in May 2025 and takes effect on July 1, 2025.
HB 524 allows eligible veterans facing criminal charges in Tennessee to request transferring their case to Montgomery County's veterans treatment court program under specific conditions. The bill affects veterans who meet the program's jurisdictional criteria (as if the crime occurred in Montgomery County), require a written waiver of their right to a jury trial in their home county, and have the Montgomery County District Attorney General agree to the transfer. Key provisions amend Tennessee law to permit this transfer process for contiguous counties with populations between 220,000-220,100 (based on 2020 census data), which Montgomery County satisfies. This creates a new procedural pathway for veterans to access specialized treatment courts instead of standard criminal proceedings. The bill became effective May 21, 2025, after Governor's approval.
HB 371 requires individuals convicted of Class A or Class B misdemeanors in Tennessee to complete a behavioral training course as part of their sentencing. Offenders must pay for the course (capped at $100), provide proof of completion to the court within a court-specified timeframe, and face potential jail time (up to 10 days) for failing to comply. The course must be accessible online, offered in multiple languages, include human interaction, and be provided by certified vendors meeting specific standards. This law affects misdemeanor offenders directly and takes effect July 1, 2025.
HB 69 requires Tennessee to create two secure electronic portals by January 1, 2028, to verify voter eligibility before processing registration applications. The first portal will let county election offices check if applicants are U.S. citizens using records from the Department of Safety (like driver's license data), and the second will verify felony conviction status using Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) records. The bill also updates driver's license laws to require proof of U.S. citizenship for new licenses and removes references to non-citizens in eligibility criteria. These changes directly affect voter applicants, county election administrators, and the Department of Safety/TBI in their verification processes.
