SB 468, the "Women's Safety and Protection Act," defines "female" and "male" biologically (based on reproductive systems at birth) for state law applications. It requires Tennessee state agencies to maintain separate facilities and accommodations for biological females in correctional facilities, juvenile detention centers, domestic violence shelters, restrooms, and dormitories to protect safety and privacy. The bill mandates that biological sex - not gender identity - determines eligibility for these spaces, prohibiting agencies from banning such distinctions in settings where safety or privacy is a concern. It applies directly to women, girls, and facilities serving them, with specific provisions for restrooms, sleeping quarters, and shelter access. The law overrides conflicting state laws to enforce these biological sex-based definitions.
HB 555 changes Tennessee's burglary law by reclassifying the offense of burglarizing a vehicle (such as a car or truck) from a Class E felony to a Class D felony. This adjustment directly affects individuals convicted of this specific type of burglary, resulting in a less severe criminal classification. The bill also updates related legal references in Tennessee Code to align with this change. It will take effect on July 1, 2025, applying to offenses committed after that date.
HB 2452 allows courts to clear certain violent criminal records from public view after a person receives a pardon. It directly affects individuals who were pardoned for violent offenses that previously could not be expunged under Tennessee law. The bill requires courts to weigh public safety and consider whether the offense was violent (including murder, aggravated kidnapping, or sexual offenses involving minors), along with other factors from both the petitioner and prosecutors. This changes prior rules that blocked expungement of violent offenses even after a pardon. The bill modifies Tennessee Code Annotated Title 40 to enable this process while maintaining safeguards for public safety.
HB 2014 amends Tennessee law to increase sentencing for drivers convicted of vehicular homicide due to intoxication who also flee the scene of the accident. If convicted of both offenses under the same incident, the driver must be sentenced as a Range II offender (minimum) for the vehicular homicide charge, per the new Section 39-13-213(b)(2)(H). This applies to cases where a driver causes death while intoxicated and violates §55-10-101 (leaving the scene). The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and directly affects individuals convicted of both specific traffic-related offenses.
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 696 creates a statewide Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) Coordinator position to improve coordination and support for local SARTs across Tennessee. The coordinator, employed by the Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence, will provide training, oversight, and technical assistance to ensure local teams follow best practices and access resources. The bill requires annual reports to the legislature on SART performance, gaps in services, and recommendations for improvement. Funding for the position will come from state grants to the coalition, with the law taking effect July 1, 2025.
HB 184 creates a new Class C felony for reckless endangerment classified as "community terrorism," defined as gang-related acts against populations in a geographic area or within 1,000 feet of schools, parks, or other public spaces like libraries. Convicted individuals face a mandatory 5-year driver's license revocation or prohibition (with limited exceptions for work/medical needs), plus GPS monitoring to enforce geographic restrictions near the crime site. The law applies specifically to offenses committed by criminal gang members or near protected locations, requiring courts to order these penalties alongside sentencing. Reinstatement of a driver's license is only possible after five years, with strict requirements for restricted use and court approval.
HB 473 requires law enforcement in Tennessee to collect a mouth swab DNA sample from anyone arrested for a felony offense on or after July 1, 2025. The sample must be taken before the person is released from custody and sent to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for analysis. If charges are dismissed or the person is acquitted, the DNA sample and records must be destroyed, unless other felony charges are pending. This law directly affects all individuals arrested for felonies in Tennessee after the effective date.
HB 33 establishes a new rule for pretrial release in Tennessee: defendants charged with offenses involving firearm use/display or causing serious injury/death are presumed not to be released on their own promise to return to court (personal recognizance). This directly affects individuals facing these specific charges during initial court hearings. If a judge decides to override this presumption, they must provide written reasons for each factor considered in their decision. The bill amends Tennessee law to take effect July 1, 2025.
HB 944 prohibits the possession of specific firearms defined as "assault weapons" (including models like AR-15s, AK-47s, and certain semiautomatic rifles/pistols) in Tennessee. It requires current owners to apply for a "certificate of possession" by July 1, 2025, to legally retain these weapons. The bill also creates a Class E felony for purchasing, selling, or possessing parts designed to accelerate fire in semiautomatic rifles, making any rifle equipped with such parts a "prohibited weapon." This directly affects Tennessee residents owning the listed firearms or related components.
