HB 1144 sets a safety standard for private correctional facilities in Tennessee. If an inmate death rate at a privately operated facility (or a county facility contracted to house state inmates) is twice that of a comparable state-run facility, the Department of Correction must reduce the facility's population by 10%. This applies to facilities operating under contracts with the state or county, directly affecting private prison operators and county correctional systems. The bill amends Tennessee Codes Title 8, 12, 40, and 41 to implement this requirement.
HB 1140 reclassifies the unauthorized possession of a used, detached catalytic converter as a Class E felony in Tennessee, instead of a Class A misdemeanor. This change subjects offenders to potential jail time (up to 11 months, 29 days), a fine of up to $2,500, or both. The bill directly affects individuals or businesses possessing catalytic converters without authorization, such as scrap dealers or auto repair shops. It amends Tennessee criminal code sections in Titles 38, 39, 55, and 62 to implement this penalty upgrade, effective July 1, 2025.
SB 254 requires Tennessee's Department of Correction to submit an annual report by February 1st on the effectiveness of diverting offenders from state prisons. The report must be sent to the House Criminal Justice Committee, Senate Judiciary Committee, and Fiscal Review Committee. This bill amends Tennessee law to establish this specific reporting requirement for diversion programs, focusing on how well they reduce prison populations. It directly affects the Department of Correction (which must file the report) and the three legislative committees (which will review it). The bill is procedural and does not change diversion program rules or funding.
HB 1029 amends Tennessee law to require correctional departments to address housing services during mandatory pre-release orientation for inmates. The bill changes the existing requirement from covering "education, employment" to including "housing, employment" as essential topics. This policy directly affects inmates transitioning from confinement by ensuring they receive information about housing resources before release. The change applies to Section 40-35-505 of Tennessee Code Annotated, which governs inmate orientation protocols. The bill does not alter other aspects of correctional services or funding.
HB 553 amends Tennessee's assault law to broaden the definition of "law enforcement officer" to include correctional officers working in county jails, state facilities, or private prisons, as well as probation and parole officers employed by the state or private providers. This change directly affects these correctional and probation officers by extending legal protections against assault to cover them under the same criminal penalties that apply to traditional law enforcement. The bill specifically updates Tennessee Code Annotated Section 39-13-116 to list these new categories explicitly, ensuring they are protected under the assault offense statute. The law will take effect on July 1, 2025.
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.
HB 674, the "Proximity Placement and Family Visitation Incentive Act," would allow eligible incarcerated individuals in Tennessee correctional facilities to request a transfer to a facility closer to their home county if they maintain good behavior for at least 12 months and participate in rehabilitation programs. Priority for transfers would go to inmates with families that regularly visit them (verified by records) or face financial hardship from travel costs. The Tennessee Department of Correction would track and report annually on visitation patterns, eligible inmates, and transfer numbers to monitor the program’s implementation. This bill directly affects incarcerated people seeking closer family visits and the state’s correctional system.
SB 243 creates a Class E felony for altering, defacing, or removing a firearm's permanent serial number or distinguishing mark, or for selling, purchasing, or possessing such a modified firearm. It directly affects individuals who tamper with firearm identification or handle firearms with altered markings. The bill imposes a mandatory minimum 180-day prison sentence for violations, with no possibility of early release. This law amends Tennessee Code sections covering criminal offenses related to firearms and takes effect July 1, 2025.
HB 1294 prohibits Tennessee's Department of Correction from blocking the distribution of books and educational materials donated by book vendors to state inmates, with specific exceptions. The bill directly affects incarcerated individuals, correctional facilities, and book vendors by requiring institutions to allow access to donated materials unless they meet strict security exceptions. Key provisions allow rejection only for materials that: (1) contain sexually explicit content or regular nudity (excluding medical/educational depictions), or (2) pose documented security risks like inciting violence, aiding escapes, or promoting contraband. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, and requires institutions to follow administrative procedures if inmates dispute denials.
HB 706 adds 10 new assistant district attorney general positions and 10 new criminal investigator positions across 10 specific Tennessee judicial districts that contain state correctional facilities. These roles are funded by the Department of Correction and focus exclusively on investigating and prosecuting crimes committed within state prisons, including violations of specific prison-related laws. The bill mandates that prison officials grant these prosecutors and investigators full access to prison records, evidence, and facilities upon request. The positions become effective July 1, 2025, and do not restrict existing staffing options for district attorneys.
