Criminal Justice

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Jan 15, 2026

SB 1629: Firearms and Ammunition - As introduced, deletes the criminal offenses of carrying a firearm or club with intent to go armed and carrying a weapon in a public park with the intent to go armed; prohibits a juvenile from carrying a firearm with intent to go armed except in certain circumstances. - Amends TCA Title 36; Title 37; Title 39; Title 49; Title 50 and Title 55.

SB 1629 removes criminal penalties for carrying a firearm with intent to go armed in public places, including public parks, by deleting related offenses in Tennessee law. It updates definitions to use "firearm" instead of "handgun" in multiple sections and creates specific exceptions allowing juveniles to carry firearms under limited circumstances, such as protecting livestock or transporting unloaded firearms in vehicles with safety measures. The bill also clarifies that schools may restrict firearm access in certain areas while permitting authorized individuals to carry firearms in state parks and recreational areas. This legislation directly affects the general public, juveniles, and educational institutions by modifying firearm possession rules and penalties. The changes take effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves criminal penalties for firearm carrying in public, reducing unnecessary criminalization per criminal justice reform principles.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Firearms Juvenile Justice

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signed · Tennessee · Senate Apr 29, 2026

SB 1840: Statutes of Limitations and Repose - As enacted, requires prosecution for vehicular homicide committed on or after July 1, 2026, to commence within 10 years from the date the offense occurs. - Amends TCA Title 28; Title 39 and Title 40.

SB 1840, known as "Quinton's Law," extends the statute of limitations for wrongful death lawsuits in Tennessee under specific conditions. It adds a three-year deadline for filing such claims if criminal charges are filed within two years by law enforcement, a district attorney, or a grand jury related to the same incident. This change directly affects families seeking civil remedies when criminal proceedings are active for the death. The law applies to causes of action accruing on or after July 1, 2026, and modifies existing time limits for other civil actions in Titles 28, 39, and 40 of Tennessee Code.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExtends civil remedies for wrongful death victims during active criminal proceedings, aligning with victim rights protection in criminal justice reform.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Violent Crime

failed · Tennessee · Senate Mar 3, 2026

SB 1754: Criminal Procedure - As introduced, removes the requirement for a petitioner for restoration of citizenship or an applicant for a certificate of employability to pay the costs of the proceedings; makes other changes to the process for restoration of citizenship. - Amends TCA Title 40, Chapter 29.

SB 1754 removes court fees for individuals applying to restore citizenship rights or obtain a certificate of employability in Tennessee. It eliminates the requirement for petitioners to pay costs associated with these proceedings under Tennessee Code Annotated Sections 40-29-103 and 40-29-107. The bill directly affects people seeking to regain citizenship rights after legal restrictions or those needing employment verification certificates. Key changes include deleting cost-related language in the statutes and specifying "no cost" for applicants. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves court fees for citizenship restoration and employability certificates, reducing financial barriers to reintegration for formerly incarcerated individuals, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.92% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationRemoves court fees for citizenship restoration and employability certificates, reducing financial barriers for immigrants seeking rights/services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Citizenship & Naturalization Work Authorization

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 25, 2026

SB 2095: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, increases the amount of marijuana that may be possessed, from one-half ounce to five ounces, for it to be considered a small amount of marijuana and punishable as a Class A misdemeanor; revises penalty to make it punishable by a $500 fine for a first offense and a $1,000 fine for a second or subsequent offense. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17.

SB 2095 increases Tennessee's legal possession limit for marijuana from one-half ounce to five ounces, meaning possession within this new range remains a misdemeanor offense. It sets a $500 fine for a first offense and $1,000 for subsequent offenses, replacing the previous penalties. The bill directly affects individuals possessing between 0.5 and 5 ounces of marijuana, adjusting both the legal threshold and financial penalties. The changes take effect on July 1, 2026, and amend Tennessee Code Annotated Sections 39-17-417 and 39-17-418.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeIncreases legal marijuana possession limit and reduces penalties, aligning with criminal justice reform by decriminalizing minor offenses and reducing over-policing.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 23, 2026

SB 1790: Correction, Dept. of - As enacted, authorizes the department to adopt or amend a formulary for use in the correctional facilities operated by or on behalf of the department. - Amends TCA Title 8; Title 41; Title 53; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71.

SB 1790 requires insurers covering inmates in Tennessee to treat FDA-approved non-opioid pain medications equally with opioids in their preferred drug lists (PDLs), meaning non-opioid options cannot be disadvantaged in coverage or cost-sharing. It directly affects insurers offering policies that cover incarcerated individuals, including TennCare and private health plans. The law mandates that non-opioid medications (approved by the FDA for pain management) must have equal coverage treatment relative to opioids on the PDL, without prohibiting insurers from favoring one opioid over another. The bill applies to all such medications approved by the FDA for nine months or longer and takes effect January 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates equal coverage for FDA-approved non-opioid pain meds in correctional settings, promoting rehabilitation and reducing opioid dependency among inmates, aligning with criminal justice reform indicators.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires insurers to treat FDA-approved non-opioid pain meds equally with opioids in coverage, improving patient access to safer alternatives and reducing opioid reliance per healthcare policy goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Drug Policy Substance Abuse

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in committee · Tennessee · House May 18, 2026

HB 1581: Sunset Laws - As enacted, extends the inmate disciplinary oversight board to June 30, 2028. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 29 and Title 41, Chapter 21, Part 10.

HB 1581 extends the existence of Tennessee's Inmate Disciplinary Oversight Board until June 30, 2028, by amending state code sections related to the board's authority. This bill directly affects inmates in Tennessee correctional facilities and the state's prison system, as the board reviews disciplinary actions taken against inmates. The key change is a simple extension of the board's operational period, maintaining existing oversight without altering its structure or responsibilities.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExtends inmate disciplinary oversight board, maintaining existing accountability mechanisms without changes to structure or responsibilities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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died · Tennessee · Senate Jan 14, 2026

SB 1634: Criminal Procedure - As introduced, removes the requirement for a petitioner for restoration of citizenship or an applicant for a certificate of employability to pay the costs of the proceedings. - Amends TCA Title 40, Chapter 29.

SB 1634 removes court fees for two specific legal processes in Tennessee: restoring citizenship (for individuals like veterans who lost rights) and obtaining a certificate of employability (to help people with criminal records secure jobs). It amends Tennessee Code Annotated Sections 40-29-103(f) and 40-29-107(c) to state that "there is no cost to a petitioner" for these proceedings. The bill directly affects applicants seeking these legal remedies by eliminating associated court costs. It takes effect July 1, 2026, and is not a procedural resolution but a policy change removing financial barriers.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves court fees for citizenship restoration and employability certificates, reducing financial barriers to reentry and aligning with criminal justice reform goals like rehabilitation and reducing recidivism.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransRemoves court fees for veterans seeking citizenship restoration and employability certificates, directly aiding veteran employment and rights restoration per bill summary.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 1906: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, adds as an affirmative defense to the offense of criminal exposure of another to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), proof by a preponderance of the evidence that a person infected with HIV was in compliance with a treatment regime prescribed by the person's healthcare provider to medically suppress the risk of HIV transmission. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 13.

SB 1906 would amend Tennessee law to allow a person infected with HIV to use proof of following their prescribed medical treatment as an affirmative defense in criminal exposure cases. This defense requires showing by a preponderance of evidence that the treatment was suppressing the risk of HIV transmission. The bill directly affects individuals charged with criminal exposure of HIV, providing a legal argument that they took steps to prevent transmission. It changes the existing statute without altering the underlying crime or creating new obligations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAllows HIV+ defendants to use treatment compliance as defense in exposure cases, protecting defendant rights and aligning with criminal justice reform by reducing unnecessary convictions.90% confidence

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signed · Tennessee · House May 18, 2026

HB 1816: Drugs, Prescription - As enacted, requires the Tennessee opioid abatement council to allocate funds held in the opioid abatement fund in a certain manner. - Amends TCA Title 33; Title 38 and Title 41.

HB 1816, "The Isbill Act," requires Tennessee law enforcement officers and correctional staff to undergo annual training on the criteria for involuntary hospitalization for mental health treatment. Specifically, it mandates the POST Commission and Tennessee Corrections Institute to create and adopt guidelines explaining when emergency and non-emergency involuntary admissions to inpatient care are appropriate. These guidelines will directly affect all law enforcement officers and correctional personnel in the state. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 33, 38, and 41 to implement these training requirements, effective July 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires law enforcement training on mental health involuntary admissions, reducing criminalization of mental health crises and aligning with reform goals.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates annual mental health training for law enforcement on involuntary admission criteria, improving protocol access to inpatient care and aligning with mental health service support indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Law Enforcement Hospitals Mental Health Substance Abuse

died · Tennessee · Senate Feb 2, 2026

SB 2021: Welfare - As introduced, requires the commissioner of human services to provide to the commissioner of correction an application for food assistance to be used by inmates in state correctional institutions prior to release; requires the application to contain an option for the inmate to indicate a denial to apply for food assistance and reasons for doing so; requires the commissioner of correction to supply the application to each inmate prior to release; requires reports to the general assembly on certain data collected from the applications and on the number of inmates leaving incarceration who are approved for food assistance. - Amends TCA Title 41 and Title 71.

SB 2021 required Tennessee correctional facilities to provide inmates with a food assistance application before release, including options to decline assistance and state reasons for refusal (with anonymous option). It mandated correctional staff to distribute and collect these applications, then submit annual reports to the legislature on application completion rates, reasons for declines, and approval numbers. The bill was introduced in January 2026 but withdrawn on February 2, 2026, and never became law. It would have directly affected incarcerated individuals preparing for release and state correctional institutions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill provides pre-release food assistance applications to inmates, supporting reentry and reducing recidivism - key criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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