HB 120 creates two new criminal offenses in Tennessee: intentionally obstructing officers from entering, leaving, or moving within areas where they protect vulnerable individuals, and refusing to vacate restricted zones when ordered for safety. It directly affects anyone who interferes with the Division of Protective Services (including highway patrol and law enforcement officers) while they are safeguarding people under their protection. Violating these provisions is a Class A misdemeanor, but becomes a Class E felony if the person posed a threat to the protected individual. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, and applies to all locations where protective services are actively engaged.
HB 1095 requires Tennessee's Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission to issue a certification to private special deputies appointed on or after January 1, 2026, if they meet police officer qualifications and complete an approved recruit training program. To maintain this certification, special deputies must also complete annual in-service training sessions relevant to their duties. The bill directly affects private special deputies employed by entities like private security firms or businesses with law enforcement authority. It updates existing training requirements in Tennessee law (Titles 4, 8, 38, and 49) to standardize certification for this specific role, effective March 28, 2025.
SB 337 allows Tennessee counties with populations over 900,000 (per the 2020 census) to temporarily increase their local sales tax rate from 2.75% to 3.75% for up to eight years. The additional revenue must be used exclusively for constructing a new county jail or paying off debt related to such construction. If the jail debt is paid off early, the tax rate reverts to 2.75% immediately. After the temporary period, counties must allocate revenue from the 2.75% tax rate to fund sheriff's department operations (in addition to existing funding), not for other purposes.
SB 956 reduces waiting periods for expunging certain criminal records in Tennessee. It shortens the required time from 5 years to 3 years for misdemeanors or Class E felonies, and from 10 years to 6 years for Class D felonies after completing a sentence. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 40-32-101(g)(2)(B) and (k)(1)(C) to implement these changes. This affects individuals seeking to clear eligible criminal records for specific offense types. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.
SB 17 requires Tennessee law enforcement agencies to share an individual’s immigration status with federal officials only when that person has been arrested for a criminal offense. It exempts school resource officers regarding students and people not arrested (such as victims or witnesses). The bill imposes a $1,000 civil penalty for noncompliance, enforceable by the attorney general. This bill failed in the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 17, 2025, and has not advanced further.
SB 959 allows individuals serving 8+ years in prison for crimes committed before January 1, 2026, to request a new sentencing hearing if they were victims of domestic abuse (physical, sexual, or psychological) inflicted by a family or household member at the time of the offense. To apply, they must submit court records, police reports, or other verified evidence proving their abuse history and current sentence eligibility. Courts will review prison program participation (like domestic violence counseling) and abuse history but cannot reconsider the original conviction. If approved, the court may reduce the sentence while crediting time already served.
SB 710 amends Tennessee law to require that public servants convicted of misusing official information (a Class B misdemeanor) must complete at least 30 hours of community service, determined by the court, in addition to any other penalties allowed under law. This bill directly affects public employees who misuse their position or access to official information. The key provision adds a mandatory community service requirement to existing punishments for this specific offense, as outlined in amended Tennessee Code § 39-16-404(b). The law takes effect July 1, 2025.
