Criminal Justice

in committee · Tennessee · House Feb 5, 2026

HB 2470: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, creates an offense to knowingly inhale, ingest, use, or possess any compound, liquid, gas, or chemical that contains nitrous oxide. - Amends TCA Title 39; Title 57, Chapter 7; Title 63 and Title 67, Chapter 4, Part 10.

HB 2470 would make it a Class A misdemeanor to knowingly inhale, ingest, use, or possess nitrous oxide (commonly called "laughing gas") or amyl nitrite ("poppers"), directly affecting individuals using these substances recreationally. The bill includes exceptions for medical use, industrial manufacturing, food service propellants, and automotive purposes, but labeling or flavoring creates a presumption against these exceptions. Businesses selling nitrous oxide for prohibited use face license suspension (30 days for first violation) or revocation (second violation). The bill, which would take effect July 1, 2026, amends multiple Tennessee code sections to implement these changes.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by creating new misdemeanor offense for recreational nitrous oxide use, increasing penalties without reform focus.95% confidence

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in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 18, 2026

HB 2235: Human Rights - As introduced, enacts the "Tennessee Fair Chance Housing Act." - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 21 and Title 66.

HB 2235, the "Tennessee Fair Chance Housing Act," prohibits housing providers (like landlords, property managers, and real estate agents) from discriminating against applicants based solely on criminal history. It establishes time limits: housing providers can only consider misdemeanor convictions within the past 3 years and felony convictions within the past 10 years. For sex offense convictions, providers must conduct an individualized assessment to determine if there's a direct safety risk before denying housing. The bill also bans questions about arrests that didn't result in conviction and requires written evaluations considering factors like rehabilitation efforts and the nature of the offense.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits housing discrimination based on criminal history, reducing barriers to reentry and promoting rehabilitation through time limits on conviction consideration.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingProhibits housing discrimination based on criminal history, protecting tenant rights and increasing housing access for individuals with past records.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Tenant Rights

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 2, 2026

SB 2408: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, adds insects to the offense of displaying, exhibiting, handling, or using a venomous or dangerous snake or reptile in a manner that endangers the life or health of another person. - Amends TCA Title 39.

SB 2408 amends Tennessee law to expand the definition of criminal offenses involving dangerous animals. It replaces "venomous or dangerous snake or reptile" with "venomous or dangerous snake, insect, or reptile" in Section 39-17-101, making it illegal to display, exhibit, handle, or use venomous insects in ways that endanger public safety. This change directly affects individuals who handle venomous insects (like certain wasps or bees) in public or commercial settings where others might be at risk. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, extending existing criminal penalties for dangerous animal handling to include specific venomous insects.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by adding venomous insects to dangerous animal offenses, increasing legal penalties for public safety violations without reform indicators.90% confidence

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in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 2209: Tennessee Bureau of Investigation - As introduced, enacts the "Federal Enforcement Accountability and Community Protection Act." - Amends TCA Title 8; Title 38 and Title 50.

HB 2209, the "Federal Enforcement Accountability and Community Protection Act," requires Tennessee law enforcement to report federal enforcement actions causing death or serious injury (a "critical incident") to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) within 24 hours. It mandates the TBI to conduct independent reviews of such incidents, publish findings within 90 days, and report annually on state resource involvement. The law prohibits state/local agencies from providing non-emergency resources to federal agencies during these incidents until the review is complete. This directly affects Tennessee law enforcement agencies and federal agencies operating in the state, focusing on transparency and accountability for federal actions impacting residents.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates independent reviews of federal enforcement critical incidents to enhance accountability, aligning with criminal justice reform indicators like police oversight and transparency.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

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in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 29, 2026

HB 2564: Victims' Rights - As enacted, requires a notification of a restorative justice option, which is a voluntary, victim-centered process that may include facilitated communication, conferencing, community repair agreements, or other structured accountability and repair practices, to be provided through a program for victims in Davidson and Shelby counties. - Amends TCA Title 29; Title 36; Title 37; Title 39 and Title 40.

HB 2564 requires Tennessee's attorney general to notify crime victims about escrow accounts holding funds for civil judgments using email, phone calls, and text messages - beyond just direct in-person or mail notification. This bill directly affects victims who have civil judgments against offenders and are eligible to receive funds from these escrow accounts. The key provision amends Tennessee Code Section 29-13-405(1) to mandate these additional notification methods. The change ensures victims receive timely updates about available funds through multiple accessible communication channels.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates multi-channel victim notification for escrow funds, ensuring access to restitution under criminal justice system.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Victims' Rights

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate May 27, 2026

SB 2640: DUI Offenses - As enacted, clarifies present law regarding the revocation of a person's driver license for an implied consent violation. - Amends TCA Section 55-10-407.

SB 2640 amends Tennessee law to increase the mandatory license suspension period for first-time drivers convicted of DUI who refuse a chemical test (implied consent violation) from one year to one year and six months. This change directly affects individuals facing license revocation under these specific circumstances, as defined by the revised Section 55-10-407. The bill modifies the penalty structure without altering the underlying offense or adding new requirements.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases mandatory license suspension for DUI implied consent violations, expanding penalties. Reduces defendant rights via harsher sentencing.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill strengthens DUI safety enforcement by increasing license suspension periods for refusal of chemical tests, enhancing transportation safety standards under vehicle regulations.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Driver Licensing Traffic Safety

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in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 11, 2026

HB 2618: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, increases the penalty for assault against a first responder from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony with a mandatory fine of $10,000 and a mandatory minimum sentence of 60 days. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 13.

HB 2618 increases penalties for assaulting first responders (like police and EMTs) in Tennessee, reclassifying it from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony. The bill mandates a $10,000 fine and a 60-day minimum jail sentence with no early release for these offenses, effective July 1, 2026. It also separately increases penalties for assaults against nurses to a Class A misdemeanor with a $5,000 fine and 30-day minimum sentence. The bill directly affects individuals convicted of assaulting these specific professions by imposing stricter financial and incarceration requirements.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandates felony penalties with mandatory minimums for assaulting first responders, increasing criminalization and restricting defendant rights through no early release.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Policing Violent Crime

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in committee · Tennessee · House Feb 5, 2026

HB 2524: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, creates the new criminal offenses of systematic unauthorized employment and aggravated systematic unauthorized employment; establishes the tort of unfair competition. - Amends TCA Title 29 and Title 39.

HB 2524 creates new criminal offenses for employers who systematically evade federal employment verification (like I-9 forms) or exploit unauthorized workers. It defines "systematic unauthorized employment" as repeated failures to verify worker eligibility, misclassify employees as independent contractors, or knowingly use subcontractors employing unauthorized workers, making it a Class E felony. Employers found liable must pay restitution covering unpaid wages (based on FLSA or state minimum wage), taxes, benefits, and damages, plus fines of $50,000-$500,000 for businesses. The law directly affects Tennessee employers, particularly general contractors and businesses with patterns of evasion, and amends Tennessee Code Sections 39-13-301 and 39-13-317.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates Class E felony for employment verification violations, expanding criminalization of employer practices per bill's criminal offense focus.95% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationBill criminalizes employers evading federal I-9 verification, increasing state enforcement against unauthorized employment, aligning with 'increases state immigration enforcement' indicator.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill imposes criminal penalties for employers evading I-9 verification and exploiting unauthorized workers, requiring restitution for unpaid wages per FLSA/state minimum wage, strengthening worker protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Victims' Rights Work Authorization Labor Standards Minimum Wage

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signed · Tennessee · House Apr 23, 2026

HB 2505: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, makes it a Class A misdemeanor for a virtual kiosk operator or other person to knowingly install or allow installation of, permit, place, or otherwise operate a virtual currency kiosk in this state. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 8; Title 12; Title 13; Title 29; Title 39; Title 45; Title 47 and Title 67.

HB 2505 prohibits the operation of virtual currency kiosks in Tennessee by making it a Class A misdemeanor to knowingly install, permit, or operate such devices. It directly affects kiosk operators, property owners who allow installations, and anyone managing these terminals. The bill defines "virtual currency kiosk" as an electronic terminal facilitating crypto exchanges (like converting digital currency to cash) and specifies penalties for violations. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, applying to all such activities after that date.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands criminalization by creating new Class A misdemeanor offense for virtual kiosk operations, directly increasing criminal penalties without reform context.90% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyProhibits virtual currency kiosks (crypto exchange terminals) via criminal penalties, restricting a specific technology application in the digital finance space.95% confidence

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 20, 2026

SB 2649: Tennessee Bureau of Investigation - As introduced, requires the TBI to establish a cold case division, to be divided into three geographic regions, each staffed by a regional director and no fewer than five cold case detectives; requires each local law enforcement agency to submit unsolved missing person or homicide cases to the cold case division following the passage of 10 years without resolution. - Amends TCA Title 38; Title 39 and Title 40.

SB 2649 creates a statewide cold case division within the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), organized into three geographic regions with each region requiring a regional director and at least five dedicated cold case detectives. It mandates that local law enforcement agencies submit unsolved missing person or homicide cases to this division after 10 years without resolution. Family members of victims may request access to their case files after 10 years if they have no criminal record, a prior statement in the file, and are not suspects. The bill directly affects victims' families, local police departments, and the TBI by establishing new investigative protocols for long-standing cases.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates TBI cold case division to solve unsolved homicides/missing persons after 10 years, requiring local agency submissions and family access, promoting criminal justice reform.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing Violent Crime

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