Criminal Justice (Law Enforcement)

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 8, 2025

SB 595: Bail, Bail Bonds - As introduced, requires a sheriff to accept the surrender of a criminal defendant on pretrial release by a bail bondsman or surety for good cause, pending a hearing by a court with jurisdiction to admit to bail to determine whether there is good cause for the surrender. - Amends TCA Title 40, Chapter 11.

SB 595 requires Tennessee sheriffs to accept surrender of defendants from bail bond companies when there's "good cause," pending a court hearing to determine if that cause is valid. This affects bail bond companies, sheriffs, and defendants on pretrial release by changing how surrenders are handled. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated (TCA 40-11-132) to mandate that sheriffs accept these surrenders immediately rather than rejecting them without court review. It establishes a clear process where a court - not the sheriff - decides if the surrender reason (e.g., defendant fleeing) is justified. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee as of April 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates court review for bail bond surrenders, adding judicial oversight to prevent arbitrary detention and aligns with bail reform goals protecting defendant rights in criminal justice process.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement

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in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 626: Law Enforcement - As introduced, requires a law enforcement officer who becomes aware that an order of protection has been entered against a person in the officer’s presence but has not been served on the person to take appropriate steps to facilitate service of the order of protection, including notifying the sheriff’s department of the person’s immediate location; requires the curriculum of the Tennessee peace officer standards and training commission to include instruction on such requirements. - Amends TCA Title 36, Chapter 3, Part 6; Title 38 and Title 40.

HB 626 requires Tennessee law enforcement officers to take specific action when they observe someone who has an active order of protection against them but hasn't been served the document. If an officer sees this situation in person, they must notify the sheriff's department of the person's location and other details to help serve the order. The bill also mandates that officer training programs include instruction on these requirements. This law directly affects police officers and sheriff's departments by changing how they handle unserved protection orders during encounters.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires officers to enforce protection orders, enhancing victim safety and procedural compliance in criminal justice.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Law Enforcement Policing

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died · Tennessee · House Feb 2, 2026

HB 1445: Finance and Administration, Dept. of - As introduced, creates a law enforcement officer recruitment fund and grant program administered by the department for the purpose of assisting eligible law enforcement agencies in officer recruitment. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 8; Title 9 and Title 38.

HB 1445 creates a state-funded grant program to help local law enforcement agencies recruit officers. It establishes a "law enforcement officer recruitment fund" within the state general fund, targeting cities, counties, or municipalities with 10% or more vacant officer positions. The Department of Finance and Administration will manage the fund, setting application rules, grant criteria, and reporting requirements for agencies seeking funds to cover recruitment costs only. Unspent funds will carry forward annually, but the program requires future legislative appropriations to activate, with the bill taking effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates state-funded grant program from general fund for law enforcement recruitment, increasing public safety spending within budget framework.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds law enforcement recruitment to address vacancies, strengthening agency capacity within criminal justice system.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Law Enforcement

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signed · Tennessee · Senate Apr 8, 2025

SB 1290: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, makes permanent the exclusion of narcotic testing equipment used to determine whether a controlled substance contains a synthetic opioid, unless the narcotic testing equipment is possessed for purposes of the commission of a drug offense, from the definition of drug paraphernalia; removes the July 1, 2025, repeal date for that exclusion. - Amends TCA Section 39-17-402.

SB 1290 permanently removes a temporary expiration date for a law that excludes certain testing equipment from being classified as drug paraphernalia. Specifically, it makes permanent the exclusion of equipment used to test for synthetic opioids (like fentanyl) unless the equipment is used to commit a drug crime. This change directly affects harm reduction organizations, public health workers, and law enforcement using such tools for legitimate testing purposes. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Section 39-17-402 by deleting the prior repeal date of July 1, 2025. The law is now permanent and took effect April 3, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill permanently removes restrictions on synthetic opioid testing equipment for harm reduction, supporting public health initiatives without criminalizing legitimate use. Aligns with criminal justice reform by reducing unnecessary criminalization ...90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves legal barrier for public health workers to use synthetic opioid testing equipment, enabling harm reduction programs that protect community health and prevent overdoses.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Law Enforcement Public Health Substance Abuse

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 12, 2025

SB 971: Jails, Local Lock-ups - As introduced, exempts a prisoner of a county workhouse or jail who is released from custody on work release from wearing an electronic monitoring device if the prisoner was convicted of a non-violent crime and the sheriff has determined that the prisoner poses a low risk to the public and for escape. - Amends TCA Title 41, Chapter 2.

Senate Bill 971 would exempt certain county jail or workhouse prisoners on work release from wearing electronic monitoring devices. Specifically, it applies to individuals convicted of non-violent crimes who are determined by the sheriff to pose a low risk to public safety and for escape. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 41, Chapter 2, to remove the current requirement for electronic monitoring under these conditions. This change would directly affect eligible inmates in Tennessee county correctional facilities participating in work release programs.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExempts low-risk non-violent offenders from electronic monitoring, reducing unnecessary restrictions and supporting rehabilitation-focused criminal justice reform.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement Violent Crime

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died · Tennessee · House Feb 12, 2025

HB 58: Law Enforcement - As introduced, requires an employing law enforcement agency to contact any prior law enforcement agency that employed the agency's officer or special deputy as part of the thorough investigation into the person's good moral character. - Amends TCA Title 38, Chapter 8.

HB 58 requires Tennessee law enforcement agencies to contact a job candidate's previous law enforcement employers as part of verifying their "good moral character" during hiring. This applies directly to police departments and sheriff's offices when vetting new officers or special deputies. The bill amends Tennessee law to mandate this specific step in the background check process. As a procedural change to hiring requirements, it does not alter substantive law or create new penalties.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires prior employer contact for officer vetting, enhancing accountability in law enforcement hiring per bill's procedural change to background checks.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms Law Enforcement Policing

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