Criminal Justice

signed · Tennessee · House Mar 11, 2026

HJR 932: Memorials, Recognition - Prison Fellowship -

This House Joint Resolution (HJR 932) is a symbolic resolution honoring Prison Fellowship's 50th anniversary and recognizing its work supporting incarcerated individuals through faith-based programs. It acknowledges the organization's role in advancing religious freedom in prisons, reducing recidivism via initiatives like its Academy program (with documented success in Texas, Minnesota, and Tennessee), and serving families through its Angel Tree program. The resolution does not create new laws or affect any specific individuals or policies - it solely expresses legislative commendation for Prison Fellowship's service.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeHonors Prison Fellowship's recidivism-reduction programs (Academy) and rehabilitation initiatives, aligning with criminal justice reform goals of reducing recidivism.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

in committee · Tennessee · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 2388: Criminal Procedure - As enacted, revises present law that authorizes the attorney general to bring an action to enforce compliance with the Tennessee Abortion-Inducing Drug Risk Protocol Act or intervene as a matter of right in a case in which the constitutionality of such act is challenged. - Amends TCA Title 38; Title 39 and Title 40.

SB 2388 changes three key aspects of Tennessee's criminal justice system. It raises the monthly fee defendants must pay toward supervision costs from $10 to $15 (affecting individuals under community supervision). It also changes penalties for illegally possessing a telecommunication device in prison, making it a full Class E felony (not limited to fines). Finally, it requires municipalities to cover autopsy costs requested by local law enforcement, unless the state pays instead (directly affecting local government budgets). These changes take effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases defendant supervision fees, toughens prison device penalties to full felony, and shifts autopsy costs - restrictive measures opposing reform efforts95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement Probation & Parole

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signed · Tennessee · Senate May 5, 2026

SB 2197: Expunction - As enacted, permits a court to expunge certain violent offenses for which a person has been pardoned; requires the court to consider, in weighing the best interests of justice and public safety, whether the offense sought to be expunged was violent and any other relevant factors presented by the petitioner and the district attorney general. - Amends TCA Title 40.

SB 2197 allows courts to expunge certain violent offenses from a person's record after they've received a pardon, directly affecting individuals who have been pardoned for specific crimes. The bill amends Tennessee law to remove the previous requirement that expungement petitions be limited to "nonviolent" offenses, instead requiring courts to specifically consider whether the offense sought for expungement was violent (such as murder, aggravated kidnapping, or sexual offenses involving minors). Courts must weigh the best interests of justice and public safety, including factors presented by both the petitioner and the district attorney general, when deciding such petitions. This creates a rebuttable presumption in favor of expungement for non-violent offenses while adding a specific review step for violent offenses.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves nonviolent restriction for expungement post-pardon, aiding rehabilitation and reducing recidivism by allowing courts to consider violent offenses on a case-by-case basis.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 5, 2026

SB 2303: 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.

SB 2303 makes it a Class A misdemeanor to knowingly inhale, ingest, use, or possess nitrous oxide ("laughing gas") or amyl nitrite ("poppers") for non-exempt purposes. The law directly affects individuals who use these substances recreationally and businesses selling them, with penalties including fines and possible probation requiring drug rehabilitation. Exceptions exist for medical use (prescribed by a practitioner), industrial manufacturing, food service (as a propellant), and automotive uses, but flavored products or labeled containers create a legal presumption against these exceptions. The bill also imposes license suspensions for 30 days on businesses violating the law and revocation for repeat offenses, effective July 1, 2026.

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

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole

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in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 11, 2026

HB 2622: Expunction - As introduced, extends the time period within which a court ordering the expunction of a person's public records of a criminal offense must send a copy of the expunction order to the Tennessee bureau of investigation from 30 days to 45 days. - Amends TCA Section 8-21-401 and Title 40.

HB 2622 amends Tennessee law to extend the deadline for courts ordering criminal record expungements from 30 to 45 days. This change requires courts to send expunction orders to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) within 45 days instead of 30 days after issuing the order. The bill directly affects individuals seeking to clear criminal records, as it provides courts with additional time to process and notify the TBI. This is a procedural adjustment to existing expungement rules under TCA Section 8-21-401 and Title 40, with no new eligibility criteria or substantive changes to the expungement process.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExtends expunction deadline to facilitate record clearance, aiding criminal justice reform by reducing barriers for individuals with past convictions to reintegrate.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 2439: Safety, Dept. of - As introduced, enacts the “Oral-Fluid DUI Testing and Evidence-Based Enforcement Safeguards Act." - Amends TCA Title 55, Chapter 10, Part 4.

HB 2439 establishes new rules for law enforcement use of oral-fluid testing in DUI cases. It requires officers to use only approved devices, document specific driving-related reasons for testing (not general suspicion), and complete quality checks before each use. The bill mandates that screening results cannot be used as evidence in court or for license suspension without a confirmatory lab test conducted by an accredited facility. It also requires agencies to preserve samples for independent retesting and disclose all relevant records to defendants. This bill directly affects police officers conducting DUI investigations, defendants in DUI cases, and laboratories performing confirmatory tests.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates confirmatory lab tests for DUI evidence, requires specific officer justification, and preserves samples - enhancing evidentiary standards and defendant rights in criminal proceedings.85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill mandates evidence-based DUI testing protocols to improve road safety enforcement accuracy, directly enhancing transportation safety standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement Policing Driver Licensing Traffic Safety Vehicle Registration

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passed · Tennessee · House Apr 23, 2026

HJR 863: Memorials, Congress - Urges the U.S. Congress to enact H.R. 2350 (S. 1137), which permits states to deploy cell-phone jamming systems in prisons. -

HJR 863 is a Tennessee resolution urging the U.S. Congress to pass H.R. 2350/S. 1137, which would allow states to use cell-phone jamming systems in prisons. The resolution highlights that federal law currently bans such jamming, leaving prisons vulnerable to smuggled phones used for drug trafficking, violence, and escape coordination - evidenced by 25,840 contraband phones found in state facilities in one year. The resolution emphasizes that the proposed federal law would permit jamming only with safeguards to avoid disrupting emergency 911 calls, and it cites bipartisan support from state attorneys general. This is a procedural resolution seeking federal legislative action, not a policy change itself.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeUrges federal law permitting prison cell-jamming to combat contraband phones, directly enhancing prison security and corrections management within criminal justice.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill seeks to permit cell-phone jamming in prisons to combat security threats (drug trafficking, violence), directly enhancing cybersecurity by preventing unauthorized communications.92% confidence

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introduced · Tennessee · House Feb 5, 2026

HB 2203: Jails, Local Lock-ups - As introduced, requires the monthly report of the warden of a county workhouse for each prisoner placed under a work release program to be filed with the judge by whom the prisoner was sentenced on or before the fifteenth day of the month immediately following the reporting period. - Amends TCA Title 5; Title 40 and Title 41.

HB 2203 requires county workhouse wardens to submit monthly reports to the sentencing judge about each prisoner in a work release program. The report, due by the 15th of the following month, must detail the prisoner's conduct and financial progress during the program. This affects county workhouse staff (who must file reports) and sentencing judges (who receive them). The bill amends Tennessee law to add this reporting requirement, focusing on transparency for judges overseeing work release participation.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates judicial oversight of work release programs via monthly reports, enhancing transparency and accountability in rehabilitation efforts, aligning with reform indicators.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Judges Sentencing

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 25, 2026

SB 2492: Correction, Dept. of - As introduced, prohibits governmental entities from preventing certain persons from entering correctional institutions used to house aliens for the purpose of conducting oversight. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 3, Part 6; Title 4, Chapter 4; Title 39; Title 40 and Title 41.

SB 2492 prohibits Tennessee governmental entities and prison contractors from blocking certain officials from entering correctional facilities housing non-U.S. citizens (referred to as "aliens" in the bill) to conduct oversight. It specifically prevents restrictions on U.S. Congress members, their staff, and Tennessee state legislators or their staff visiting these facilities. The law also bans altering facility conditions during such visits to ensure unobstructed oversight. Exceptions apply during emergencies like riots, disease outbreaks, or active threats. This bill directly affects oversight access at facilities detaining immigrant detainees.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates oversight access to correctional facilities housing non-U.S. citizens, promoting transparency and accountability in corrections, a core criminal justice reform principle.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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died · Tennessee · House Apr 15, 2026

HB 2480: Public Defenders - As introduced, creates five additional social worker positions in the public defender system. - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 14 and Title 9, Chapter 4.

HB 2480 creates five new social worker positions within Tennessee's public defender offices, effective July 1, 2026. This bill directly affects public defenders and their clients, particularly those needing social services support during legal proceedings. The key provision amends Tennessee Code (Title 8, Chapter 14 and Title 9, Chapter 4) to establish these additional roles. The bill does not alter legal procedures or funding mechanisms but increases staffing capacity for social work services in the public defense system.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAdds social workers to public defender system to support clients' social needs, aligning with rehabilitation-focused criminal justice reform.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates social worker positions in public defender offices, expanding mental health and social services support for clients, directly aligning with healthcare support indicators.95% confidence

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