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 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.
HB 190 lowers the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) threshold for aggravated vehicular assault and homicide charges in Tennessee. It amends Tennessee Code Annotated Sections 39-13-115(b)(2)(A) and 39-13-218(a)(3) to reduce the minimum BAC level from 0.20% to 0.15% for these offenses. This change directly affects defendants charged with aggravated vehicular assault (requiring 0.15% BAC in blood/breath) or homicide (requiring 0.15% BAC in blood). The bill makes it easier for prosecutors to pursue aggravated charges at a lower blood alcohol level than previously required. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.
HB 1140 reclassifies the unauthorized possession of a used, detached catalytic converter as a Class E felony in Tennessee, instead of a Class A misdemeanor. This change subjects offenders to potential jail time (up to 11 months, 29 days), a fine of up to $2,500, or both. The bill directly affects individuals or businesses possessing catalytic converters without authorization, such as scrap dealers or auto repair shops. It amends Tennessee criminal code sections in Titles 38, 39, 55, and 62 to implement this penalty upgrade, effective July 1, 2025.
SB 547 requires Tennessee court clerks to add a $12.50 fee to every misdemeanor and felony cost bill, sending the collected funds to county governments (or district attorney offices in multi-county districts) for public safety support services. These funds must be used at the sole discretion of the district attorney general for public safety purposes, with no requirement for specific programs. Counties must approve the fee via a two-thirds vote of their legislative body, and district attorneys must submit annual reports detailing how the funds were spent. The fee does not apply to traffic violations or affect existing restitution or criminal injury compensation payments.
SB 533 changes who pays for electronic monitoring devices when prisoners are released for work in Tennessee. For unpaid work release, the organization employing the prisoner must cover the monitoring costs. For paid employment, the prisoner’s wages must be used to pay for the device, with the sheriff deducting the cost and paying the provider directly. This applies to county or state facilities under Tennessee Code Annotated Title 41, effective July 1, 2025. The bill removes a prior 2024 start date but otherwise modifies existing work release rules.
SB 407 changes how Tennessee restores voting rights after felony convictions. It removes the requirement for a governor's pardon, instead automatically restoring voting rights once a person completes their sentence (including probation or parole) for most felony convictions. The bill affects individuals with past felony convictions who were previously barred from voting without a pardon. However, voting rights remain restricted for those convicted of first-degree murder, aggravated rape, treason, or certain violent sexual offenses, as specified in the law.
SB 678 changes Tennessee sentencing for aggravated sexual battery. It makes this crime a more serious Class A felony (instead of Class B) when the victim was under 18 or was mentally defective, mentally incapacitated, or physically helpless. The bill requires defendants convicted in these cases to be sentenced as Range II offenders, meaning their minimum sentence cannot be lower than Range II even if Range III applies. This policy change directly affects defendants convicted of aggravated sexual battery where the victim meets one of the specified vulnerability conditions, effective July 1, 2025.
This Tennessee bill (HB 587) expands the state's definition of racketeering activity to include organized retail crime (like large-scale shoplifting) and carrying a firearm during a dangerous felony. It also explicitly adds carjacking to the list of activities classified as racketeering. These changes will affect law enforcement investigations and prosecutions of these specific crimes. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.
HB 1352 changes Tennessee law to classify aggravated sexual battery as a Class A felony (a more serious offense) when the victim is under 18 years old or is mentally defective, mentally incapacitated, or physically helpless - previously, it was a Class B felony. The bill mandates that defendants in these cases must be sentenced within Tennessee’s Range II sentencing range (the minimum for Class A felonies), though judges may impose a higher Range III sentence if appropriate. This affects all convictions for aggravated sexual battery meeting these victim criteria and takes effect July 1, 2025.
