Criminal Justice

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 2, 2026

SB 2098: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, creates an offense for a vape shop retailer, or a distributor, wholesaler, or importer, who sells or offers for sale a vapor product for retail sale in this state to sell nitrous oxides. - Amends TCA Title 39; Title 57, Chapter 7 and Title 67.

SB 2098 prohibits vape shop retailers, distributors, wholesalers, and importers from selling or offering nitrous oxide (laughing gas) for retail sale in Tennessee. It directly affects businesses operating vape shops or handling vape products, imposing fines starting at $500 per violation for first offenses, increasing to $1,000-$1,500 for third violations within a year, and adding license suspensions or revocations for repeat offenses. Manufacturers causing nitrous oxide to be sold through these channels face $10,000 fines per product. The law creates civil penalties (not criminal charges) and treats repeated violations as deceptive trade practices, effective July 2026.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new criminal offense for nitrous oxide sales, expanding criminalization rather than advancing reform or reducing penalties.90% confidence

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in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 11, 2026

HB 1475: Evidence - As introduced, prohibits a court from excluding evidence against a criminal defendant unless the evidence was obtained by deliberate, reckless, or grossly negligent conduct or recurring or systemic negligence that violated the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution and refusal to suppress the evidence would contradict a clearly established holding of the United States supreme court; establishes an immediate interlocutory appeal to the Tennessee supreme court when a court grants a motion to suppress evidence. - Amends TCA Title 40.

HB 1475 limits when Tennessee courts can exclude evidence in criminal cases. It prohibits excluding evidence unless it was obtained through deliberate, reckless, or grossly negligent conduct violating the Fourth Amendment, or recurring/systemic negligence, and refusing to exclude it would contradict a clear U.S. Supreme Court ruling. The bill also creates an immediate appeal for prosecutors to the Tennessee Supreme Court when a judge suppresses evidence, requiring the court to expedite the review. This aligns Tennessee's evidence rules strictly with federal standards, preventing state courts from imposing stricter exclusion rules than those set by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRestricts evidence suppression, reducing defendant rights in criminal cases by limiting when courts can exclude illegally obtained evidence.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Judges

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signed · Tennessee · House May 15, 2026

HB 1525: Sentencing - As enacted, requires a sentencing court to order the sentences for two or more offenses involving more than one minor victim to run consecutively unless the court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the facts of the case do not warrant the imposition of consecutive sentences and the imposition of consecutive sentences would not be in the best interest of justice. - Amends TCA Title 40.

HB 1525 requires Tennessee courts to impose consecutive sentences for defendants convicted of two or more offenses involving more than one minor victim, unless the court finds by a preponderance of evidence that consecutive sentencing isn't warranted and would harm justice. It directly affects defendants convicted of multiple crimes against minors, such as sexual offenses or abuse across separate incidents. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 40, Section 40-35-115, making consecutive sentencing the default for these cases. Exceptions are limited to specific judicial findings about case facts and the "best interest of justice," not general discretion. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, for offenses committed on or after that date.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandates consecutive sentences for multiple minor offenses, increasing penalties and restricting judicial discretion per TCA 40-35-115.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Sentencing

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 20, 2026

SB 1655: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, enacts "Matthew Davenport's Law," which creates a Class D felony offense of knowingly possessing Kratom; creates a Class B felony offense of knowingly manufacturing, delivering, or selling Kratom, or of knowingly possessing Kratom with intent to manufacture, deliver, or sell Kratom; punishes a violation of the offense as a Class A felony if the offense involved the delivery or sale of Kratom to a minor; requires toxicology tests in certain circumstances to include testing for Kratom; requires the commissioner of labor and workforce development to promulgate a rule to add Kratom to the definition of a drug in regard to workers' compensation claims. - Amends TCA Title 33, Chapter 2; Title 38; Title 39; Title 50; Title 63 and Title 68.

This bill, "Matthew Davenport's Law," makes it illegal to possess Kratom (Class D felony), manufacture or sell it (Class B felony), or sell it to minors (Class A felony). It requires toxicology testing for drug overdose deaths and neonatal abstinence syndrome cases to include Kratom testing, and mandates adding Kratom to the definition of "drug" for workers' compensation claims. These provisions would directly affect Kratom users, distributors, healthcare providers conducting toxicology tests, and workers' compensation claimants. The law is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new felony offenses for Kratom possession (Class D), distribution (Class B), and sales to minors (Class A), expanding criminalization of substance use without reform elements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

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in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 15, 2026

HB 1962: Sentencing - As introduced, states that there is a rebuttable presumption that a defendant convicted of aggravated assault is not a favorable candidate for probation if the offense involved the use or display of a firearm during the commission of the offense. - Amends TCA Title 40, Chapter 35.

HB 1962 creates a strong presumption against granting probation to defendants convicted of aggravated assault involving a firearm. Specifically, if a defendant used or displayed a firearm during the assault (as defined under Tennessee law), the court must assume they are not suitable for probation unless the defendant proves otherwise. This rule applies to all aggravated assault convictions under § 39-13-102 and takes effect July 1, 2026. The bill directly affects individuals convicted of firearm-related aggravated assault by making probation significantly harder to obtain.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates rebuttable presumption against probation for firearm-assisted aggravated assault, restricting defendant rights and increasing sentencing severity per criminal justice indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms Sentencing Violent Crime

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 30, 2026

SB 1698: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, increases the penalty for criminal impersonation of a law enforcement officer from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony if the offense occurs while the defendant is committing or attempting to commit a crime of violence. - Amends TCA Title 38; Title 39 and Title 40.

SB 1698 increases the penalty for impersonating a law enforcement officer from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony when the impersonation occurs during the commission or attempt of a crime of violence. This change directly affects individuals who falsely pose as police officers while committing or attempting violent crimes. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-16-301, to establish this higher penalty level. The law will take effect on July 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalty severity from misdemeanor to felony for impersonating officers during violent crimes, expanding criminalization and raising sentencing levels.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

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in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 8, 2026

HB 1521: Sentencing - As introduced, increases the penalty for leaving the scene of an accident resulting in injury from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony; increases the penalty for leaving the scene of an accident that the person knew or should reasonably have known resulted in death from a Class E felony to a Class D felony. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 13 and Title 55, Chapter 10.

HB 1521, titled the "James Bardsley Life Protection Act," increases penalties for drivers who leave the scene of an accident without stopping. It raises the penalty for leaving an accident causing injury from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony. For accidents where death occurs and the driver knew or should have known, the penalty increases from a Class E felony to a Class D felony. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 55-10-101 and 39-13-101, taking effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for hit-and-run offenses, expanding criminalization and raising mandatory sentences - contrary to reform efforts.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sentencing

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in committee · Tennessee · House Jan 21, 2026

HB 1656: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, increases the penalty for assault against a firefighter, emergency services personnel, or other person who responds to calls for emergency assistance from a Class A misdemeanor with a mandatory minimum 30-day sentence and $5,000 fine to a Class E felony with a mandatory minimum 60-day sentence and $10,000 fine. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 40.

HB 1656 increases penalties for assaulting firefighters, emergency services personnel, or other first responders who answer emergency calls. It changes the offense from a Class A misdemeanor (with a 30-day minimum jail term and $5,000 fine) to a Class E felony (with a 60-day minimum sentence and $10,000 fine). The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Titles 39 and 40 and will take effect on July 1, 2026. This change specifically targets individuals who commit violence against emergency personnel during their duties.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases mandatory sentences and fines for assaulting first responders, expanding criminalization of assault against emergency personnel per bill language.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Sentencing Violent Crime Tags Public Safety

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died · Tennessee · House Jan 22, 2026

HB 1728: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, creates an offense for a vape shop retailer, or a distributor, wholesaler, or importer, who sells or offers for sale a vapor product for retail sale in this state to sell Kratom and nitrous oxides. - Amends TCA Title 39; Title 57, Chapter 7 and Title 67.

HB 1728 makes it illegal for vape shop retailers, distributors, wholesalers, or importers to sell Kratom or nitrous oxide in Tennessee. The bill directly affects businesses operating vape shops or selling vape-related products, prohibiting them from offering these specific items for retail sale. Violations carry civil penalties of up to $500 per product for first offenses, increasing to $1,500 per product for third violations within a year, with potential license suspension or revocation. Manufacturers causing Kratom or nitrous oxide to be sold face $10,000 penalties per product. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands criminalization by creating new offenses for selling Kratom/nitrous oxide, imposing fines and license penalties, directly increasing criminal penalties.90% confidence

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Jan 15, 2026

SB 1607: 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.

SB 1607 changes the penalty for assaulting a first responder or law enforcement officer from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony. It requires a mandatory $10,000 fine and a 60-day minimum jail sentence with no early release for such offenses. The bill also establishes a separate penalty for assaulting a nurse, which would be a Class A misdemeanor with a $5,000 fine and 30-day minimum sentence. The law is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for assaulting first responders to felony level with mandatory fines/sentences, expanding criminalization and reducing judicial discretion per indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement Sentencing

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