SB 457 lowers the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) threshold for aggravated vehicular assault and homicide in Tennessee. It reduces the required BAC level from 0.20% to 0.15% for these offenses, making it easier to prove these crimes in court. The bill directly affects drivers charged with serious alcohol-related offenses under Tennessee Code Annotated Sections 39-13-115 (aggravated vehicular assault) and 39-13-218 (aggravated vehicular homicide). The change takes effect July 1, 2025, and applies to all cases filed on or after that date. This is a substantive policy adjustment to the legal definition of these crimes, not a procedural or commemorative measure.
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 221 allows Tennessee courts to use juvenile court records - including past dispositions and evidence - in pretrial reports for setting bond in certain criminal cases. It requires magistrates to consider a defendant's prior juvenile record when determining their risk of danger to the community. This change directly affects individuals with prior juvenile court involvement who are facing criminal charges and undergoing bond hearings. The bill amends Tennessee Code sections 37-1-133, 37-1-153, and 40-11-118 to permit this use of juvenile records, which were previously prohibited in non-juvenile court proceedings.
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.
SB 932 creates a study committee to evaluate the feasibility of implementing a "distance to drive" program for individuals with suspended or revoked driver licenses due to DUI offenses. The program would allow license reinstatement if participants meet court-mandated objectives and complete all requirements set by the Department of Safety. This bill does not create the program itself but establishes a committee to study its potential implementation, directly affecting people convicted of DUI with license suspensions. The committee’s findings would inform future legislative decisions about the program, with no immediate policy changes enacted by this bill.
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.
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 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 252 adjusts Tennessee's maximum compensation for crime victims under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Act to 105% of the national average compensation offered by all 50 states, D.C., and U.S. Virgin Islands. It requires the state treasurer to review and adjust this maximum amount every three years (starting January 2026), comparing it to the national average and rounding up to the nearest $100 if needed. The adjusted amount must be published on the Treasury website by March 1 each comparison year, effective for claims filed on or after July 1. This directly affects crime victims in Tennessee who file claims for compensation after the effective date.
