Criminal Justice (Courts)

in committee · Tennessee · House May 27, 2026

HB 1346: Courts - As enacted, enacts the "Recovery Court Renewal Act." - Amends TCA Title 40, Chapter 32, Part 1.

HB 1346 would allow individuals with a prior DUI conviction (under §55-10-401) to petition for expungement of eligible criminal offenses after waiting at least 10 years from their conviction date. To qualify, petitioners must have fully paid all fines/restitution, completed probation or imprisonment, and not have prior expungements or multiple DUI convictions. The bill amends Tennessee's expungement law to create this specific pathway, effective July 1, 2025, if passed. It applies only to offenses eligible under existing expungement rules (§40-32-101(g)(1)) and limits petitions to one per person. The bill is currently under review by the Criminal Justice Subcommittee.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAllows expungement of DUI convictions after 10 years, promoting rehabilitation and reducing barriers to employment, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Probation & Parole Victims' Rights

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 12, 2025

SB 996: Criminal Procedure - As introduced, creates an exception to the requirement that a petitioner pay the costs of a petition to restore the person's citizenship rights if the court finds that the petitioner is indigent. - Amends TCA Title 2; Title 4; Title 22; Title 36; Title 39 and Title 40.

SB 996 modifies Tennessee law to waive court fees for individuals seeking to restore citizenship rights if a court determines they are indigent (unable to pay costs). It directly affects people with past legal issues who are trying to regain voting rights or other citizenship privileges but cannot afford filing fees. The bill changes existing law to require courts to waive these fees upon proof of indigency, rather than requiring petitioners to pay upfront. This applies to petitions filed after the law takes effect, affecting those navigating the citizenship restoration process in Tennessee. The bill does not change eligibility for rights restoration, only the financial barrier to initiating the process.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeWaives court fees for indigent individuals seeking to restore citizenship rights, reducing barriers to reintegration and aligning with criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Courts

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signed · Tennessee · House May 15, 2026

HB 1268: Courts - As enacted, enacts the "Violent Criminal Court Act." - Amends TCA Title 8; Title 10; Title 16; Title 37; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40; Title 41 and Title 55.

HB 1268 requires the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) to submit its annual report on narcotics investigations to specific legislative committees by February 15 each year, instead of the previous unspecified annual deadline. The bill amends Tennessee law (specifically Titles 8, 10, 16, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, and 55) to update the submission date and clarify which committees receive the report (the House committee with jurisdiction over criminal justice and the Senate Judiciary Committee). This change directly affects the TBI's narcotics division and the legislative committees responsible for oversight. The bill modifies reporting procedures without altering the content or scope of the investigations themselves.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires TBI narcotics investigation reports to legislative committees by fixed date, enhancing oversight transparency in criminal justice operations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

signed · Tennessee · Senate Apr 29, 2025

SB 406: Orders of Protection - As enacted, expands the courts in Shelby County that can hear a petition for an order of protection to include a criminal court when the criminal court is hearing a criminal matter involving a domestic abuse victim, sexual assault victim, or stalking victim; makes related changes. - Amends TCA Title 16; Title 18 and Title 36.

SB 406 expands which Tennessee courts in Shelby County can handle petitions for orders of protection. It allows criminal courts to process these petitions when the same court is already hearing a related criminal case involving domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking victims. This change eliminates the need for victims to seek protection orders in a separate court, streamlining the process while the criminal case is active. The bill directly affects survivors of these specific crimes in Shelby County who are navigating both criminal and protection proceedings. The law took effect on April 24, 2025, after being signed by the Governor.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands court access for victims of domestic abuse/sexual assault/stalking, reducing bureaucratic barriers and improving victim access to protection orders within active criminal cases.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence Violent Crime

signed · Tennessee · Senate Apr 29, 2025

SB 601: Bail, Bail Bonds - As enacted, makes various changes regarding global positioning monitoring and the pretrial release of certain defendants. - Amends TCA Title 8; Title 39; Title 40 and Title 55, Chapter 10.

SB 601 updates Tennessee's pretrial release rules for defendants using global positioning monitoring systems. It defines "qualified contract service providers" (companies managing GPS monitoring), requiring them to have 24/7 monitoring centers, written court protocols, and notify emergency dispatchers if defendants violate bond conditions. The bill also creates a process where courts must hold hearings within 10 days if defendants fall behind on monitoring costs, with options to revoke bond, require payment, or seek alternative funding (excluding local sheriff's departments). This directly affects defendants on monitored pretrial release, victims receiving alerts, courts imposing conditions, and private GPS monitoring companies.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill establishes standards for GPS monitoring in pretrial release, requires due process hearings for non-payment of costs, and protects defendant rights - aligning with criminal justice reform goals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement

signed · Tennessee · Senate May 27, 2026

SB 254: Criminal Procedure - As enacted, requires a defendant who is ordered to wear a transdermal monitoring device or alternative device, including other alternative alcohol or drug monitoring device, or global positioning monitoring device, as a condition of pretrial release, and who has not been determined by the court to be indigent, to pay all fees associated with the installation, monitoring, maintenance, and operation of the device. - Amends TCA Title 38; Title 39; Title 40 and Title 55.

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.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates annual reports on diversion program effectiveness to reduce prison populations, directly supporting criminal justice reform through data-driven oversight of alternatives to incarceration.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts

in committee · Tennessee · House May 15, 2025

HB 1353: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, creates an offense for a person who harms or threatens to harm an individual involved in the judicial process or a family member of such person with the intent to impede, intimidate, interfere with, or retaliate against the justice system participant in connection with their participation in the judicial process, punishable as a Class E felony. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 16.

HB 1353 creates a new Class E felony offense for threatening or harming individuals involved in the judicial process (such as witnesses, judges, court staff, prosecutors, public defenders, or jurors) or their family members, specifically when done to interfere with, intimidate, or retaliate against their participation in court proceedings. It directly affects anyone who targets these judicial participants with threatening or harmful acts to disrupt their work. The law defines "family member" broadly (including spouses, parents, children, and siblings) and "judicial participant" to cover key court personnel and legal professionals. This bill amends Tennessee law to strengthen protections for those supporting the justice system, effective July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProtects judicial participants from intimidation, strengthening court integrity and system functionality per bill's intent to deter interference with proceedings.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 291: Medical Occupations - As introduced, extends from 30 business days to 60 business days the period of time an individual, applicant, licensee, certificate holder, or registrant has to file a petition in Davidson County chancery court following receipt of a notice from a health-related licensing authority that the authority is denying an application for or refusing to renew a license, certificate, or registration on the basis of a prior criminal conviction. - Amends TCA Title 39; Title 40; Title 63 and Title 68.

SB 291 extends the deadline for healthcare license applicants or holders facing denial due to a prior criminal conviction to file a court challenge in Davidson County. It changes the timeframe from 30 to 60 business days after receiving a denial notice from a licensing authority. This procedural bill affects individuals seeking or renewing licenses in Tennessee’s healthcare professions (like nurses or doctors) who must challenge denials based on past criminal records. The change applies to cases filed in Davidson County chancery court under Tennessee law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExtends deadline for challenging healthcare license denials based on prior criminal convictions, reducing barriers to professional reentry and aligning with criminal justice reform goals of reducing recidivism.80% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends deadline for healthcare license challenges, improving access to medical professions by reducing procedural barriers for applicants with prior convictions.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 1, 2025

SB 914: Handgun Permits - As introduced, extends the time, from 30 to 45 days, within which a person whose handgun carry permit has been suspended or revoked may petition the chancery court for judicial review of the department of safety's final determination. - Amends TCA Title 39.

SB 914 extends the timeframe for individuals whose handgun carry permits have been suspended or revoked to challenge that decision in court. Specifically, it changes the deadline from 30 to 45 days to petition a chancery court for review of the state safety department's final determination. The bill directly affects permit holders facing suspension or revocation, giving them more time to seek judicial review. This is a procedural change to Tennessee law (TCA Title 39) with no other substantive policy shifts. The amendment takes effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExtends due process for permit holders, aligning with procedural fairness in criminal justice by increasing judicial review window.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Firearms

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failed · Tennessee · House Apr 1, 2025

HB 1222: Orders of Protection - As introduced, allows a court to issue an emergency protection order upon a finding that a person poses an imminent risk of harm to the person or others if allowed to purchase or possess a firearm; authorizes a family member, household member, intimate partner, or law enforcement officer to petition for such an order. - Amends TCA Title 36 and Title 39.

HB 1222 would allow courts in Tennessee to issue emergency orders restricting a person’s access to firearms if a family member, household member, intimate partner, or law enforcement officer files a petition alleging the person poses an imminent risk of harm. The bill requires courts to issue these orders immediately if harm is imminent, prohibits the petitioner from paying court costs (shifting costs to the respondent), and mandates a hearing within 30 days to extend the order for up to one year. It specifically defines "family member," "household member," and "intimate partner" to clarify who can petition and ensures law enforcement receives copies to enforce the order. The bill, which amends Tennessee Code Titles 36 and 39, is currently pending (it failed in the Criminal Justice Subcommittee in April 2025).

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestricts firearm access for imminent harm risk via court orders, enhancing public safety within criminal justice framework per protection order reforms.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence Firearms

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