SB 1065 requires new Tennessee county constables (elected or appointed after July 1, 2025) to complete 128 hours of law enforcement training within their first year. Until training is finished, new constables must work under a trained constable or a POST-certified officer, unless they previously served as a full-time POST-certified officer within the last five years. The bill clarifies that constables do not need POST certification to perform their duties and prohibits the POST Commission from mandating minimum work hours to maintain certification.
SB 944 requires courts to order mental health evaluations for defendants convicted of domestic assault, child abuse, aggravated child abuse, cruelty to animals, or aggravated cruelty to animals before sentencing. The evaluations must be conducted by community mental health centers or qualified professionals and are intended to inform sentencing decisions. This bill amends Tennessee law (Titles 33, 39, and 40) to establish this process, directly affecting individuals convicted of these specific offenses. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, and does not change penalties for the underlying crimes.
SB 324, known as "Savanna's Law," creates a public online registry maintained by Tennessee's Bureau of Investigation (TBI) for individuals convicted of two or more domestic violence offenses against the same victim. It requires courts to forward qualifying conviction details to the TBI within seven days, listing offenders' names, dates of birth, conviction dates, and counties - while excluding sensitive information like addresses or Social Security numbers. Offenders must pay a $150 registration fee ($50 to the court, $100 to the TBI), and names are removed from the registry after 2-10 years based on prior offenses. The law applies to offenses occurring on or after January 1, 2026, and aims to enhance public awareness of repeat domestic violence offenders.
SB 963 extends the deadline for filing misdemeanor charges against defendants found incompetent to stand trial from 11 months and 29 days to two years after arrest. If charges are dismissed due to ongoing incompetence, the chief officer must notify the court of the defendant's release and provide an outpatient treatment plan addressing community safety. The bill directly affects misdemeanor defendants declared incompetent, requiring courts and sheriffs to receive updated discharge and treatment information. These changes amend Tennessee law in Titles 33, 40, and 52 to improve coordination during the competency process.
HB 1177 extends the time limit for filing misdemeanor charges against defendants found incompetent to stand trial from 11 months and 29 days to two years after arrest, unless the defendant is restored to competency. It directly affects misdemeanor defendants declared incompetent by a court, requiring prosecutors to move faster or dismiss charges if competency isn't restored. The bill also mandates that when such a defendant is released into the community after charges are dismissed due to incompetence, the chief officer must notify the court, provide a discharge notice, and share an outpatient treatment plan designed to ensure community safety. These changes update Tennessee Code Sections 33-7-301 and 52-6-102.
HB 1089 requires courts to order mental health evaluations for defendants convicted of specific abuse-related crimes - including domestic assault, child abuse, aggravated child abuse, or cruelty to animals - before sentencing. The law directs Tennessee's Department of Mental Health to create a process where community mental health centers or qualified professionals conduct these evaluations. It directly affects defendants in these cases and the state's mental health evaluation system, adding a pre-sentencing step to assess potential mental health factors. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 39-14-202 and related titles to implement this requirement, effective May 21, 2025.
HB 1409 is Tennessee's enacted state budget for fiscal years 2024 and 2025, authorizing funding for all state government operations. It allocates specific amounts to the legislative branch (including $33.6 million for the House of Representatives), judicial systems (covering courts, legal aid, and court services), and executive agencies (such as the Attorney General's office). The bill details funding for routine functions like salaries, court operations, and public services, without creating new policies or programs. It became law on May 21, 2025, and takes effect July 1, 2025.
HB 486 modifies Tennessee law to require district public defenders to meet certain deadlines within ten business days instead of ten calendar days, effective July 1, 2025. This change directly affects public defenders' offices across Tennessee by extending the timeframe for completing specific legal tasks, accounting for weekends and holidays. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated sections related to public defender procedures (Title 8, Chapter 14; Title 9, Chapter 4) without creating new positions or altering funding. It streamlines administrative processes for public defenders while maintaining existing service requirements.
HB 1128 revises Tennessee's laws governing county constables by establishing new training requirements and removing certain certification barriers. It requires all constables newly elected or appointed on or after July 1, 2025, to complete 128 hours of law enforcement training within their first year, with a pairing requirement with experienced officers during training unless they have prior POST-certified experience. The bill eliminates the requirement for constables to be certified by the POST commission to perform their duties and removes any mandated work-hour minimums for maintaining certification. This directly affects county constables in Tennessee, changing how they qualify and train for their roles.
SB 1075 (enacted as Public Chapter 513) amends Tennessee law to expand the definition of "machine gun" to include parts designed solely for converting firearms into machine guns. It upgrades the felony classification for machine gun possession, manufacture, or sale from Class E to Class C and reclassifies certain firearm ammunition offenses. The bill also makes defendants ineligible for parole if convicted of aggravated assault involving a firearm used from a motor vehicle. These changes directly affect individuals possessing machine guns or specific firearm-related offenses in Tennessee, with the law taking effect upon enactment.
