Criminal Justice (Courts)

failed · Tennessee · House Feb 18, 2026

HB 948: Domestic Violence - As introduced, requires a person who is convicted of domestic assault or subject to an order of protection to dispossess any firearm in the person's possession by transferring the firearm to a law enforcement agency and to provide the court with an affidavit of dispossession of firearms and a receipt from the law enforcement agency. - Amends TCA Title 36; Title 39 and Title 40.

HB 948 requires individuals convicted of domestic assault or subject to a domestic violence order of protection to surrender any firearms they possess to a law enforcement agency within 48 hours. They must then provide the court with a receipt from law enforcement and a completed affidavit of firearm dispossession within three business days. Law enforcement must issue a receipt at the time of surrender, and the court will require proof of compliance. The law applies to all such orders or convictions occurring on or after July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates firearm surrender by domestic violence offenders, reducing gun access for high-risk individuals and aligning with criminal justice reform goals to enhance victim safety and prevent recidivism.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence Firearms

Track

in committee · Tennessee · House May 15, 2025

HB 787: DUI Offenses - As enacted, creates a distance to drive program study committee to help determine the feasibility of implementing a distance to drive program that would facilitate reinstatement of suspended and revoked driver licenses for criminal defendants based on meeting the objectives set by the court and completing all the requirements set by the department of safety. - Amends TCA Title 16; Title 39; Title 40 and Title 55.

HB 787 creates a study committee to examine the feasibility of implementing a "distance to drive" program for DUI offenders in Tennessee. This program would allow individuals with suspended or revoked driver licenses - due to DUI convictions - to have their licenses reinstated by meeting court objectives and completing requirements set by the Department of Safety. The bill amends multiple Tennessee Code sections (16, 39, 40, 55) to establish this committee and adjust a license reinstatement deadline. It does not create the program itself but studies whether it could be implemented to help DUI defendants regain driving privileges.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates study committee to explore license reinstatement program for DUI offenders, aligning with criminal justice reform goals of reducing barriers to rehabilitation and reintegration.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

Track

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 31, 2025

SB 1349: Expunction - As introduced, requires a clerk of a court with criminal jurisdiction to automatically remove and destroy all public records of a conviction for a Class E felony or misdemeanor that is eligible for expunction, one year after the person has completed any sentence imposed by the court. - Amends TCA Title 10; Title 18 and Title 40.

SB 1349 automatically removes and destroys public records of eligible Class E felony or misdemeanor convictions one year after the person completes their sentence. It directly affects individuals convicted of qualifying offenses who meet existing expunction criteria under Tennessee law. The bill requires court clerks to handle this process without cost to the person, with courts notifying clerks for future cases (post-July 1, 2025), and allowing pre-2025 convictions to be processed via a request to the court. This eliminates manual steps for eligible individuals, streamlining access to record clearance.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAutomates expunction of eligible records to reduce barriers to reintegration, aligning with criminal justice reform goals of reducing recidivism and improving rehabilitation opportunities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

Track

died · Tennessee · House May 15, 2025

HB 322: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, creates the offense of human smuggling; makes related changes. - Amends TCA Title 39.

HB 322 creates a new criminal offense of "human smuggling" under Tennessee law, directly affecting individuals who transport people across borders for financial gain while concealing them from authorities. The bill defines human smuggling as transporting 10+ adults or 5+ minors (knowing they entered the U.S. illegally) to avoid detection by law enforcement, or encouraging such entry. It classifies this as a Class E felony, punishable by up to 6 years in prison, and adds misdemeanor penalties for harboring individuals who entered the U.S. illegally. The law also grants the state attorney general authority to seek court orders dissolving organizations involved in trafficking or smuggling.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new felony for human smuggling, expanding criminalization and increasing penalties under criminal justice framework.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Human Trafficking

Track

died · Tennessee · House Apr 30, 2025

HB 762: Witnesses - As enacted, establishes procedures for the use of certified facility dogs during witness testimony and other court proceedings; establishes standards for certified facility dogs. - Amends TCA Title 24; Title 36; Title 37 and Title 40.

HB 762 establishes rules for using certified facility dogs to support witnesses, especially victims, during court testimony to reduce stress and improve testimony accuracy. The bill sets specific standards for dogs (including training, health checks, and $500,000 liability insurance) and handlers (requiring legal procedure training), and requires courts to approve their use via a motion before proceedings. During testimony, dogs must wear visible identification, handlers must stay visible to the witness (outside jury view), and courts must inform juries that the dog’s presence doesn’t affect the case. Courts must also take steps to minimize jury visibility of the dog during testimony.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeImproves witness testimony accuracy in courts via certified facility dogs, reducing trauma for victims and enhancing court proceedings.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

Track

signed · Tennessee · Senate Apr 30, 2025

SB 391: Witnesses - As enacted, establishes procedures for the use of certified facility dogs during witness testimony and other court proceedings; establishes standards for certified facility dogs. - Amends TCA Title 24; Title 36; Title 37 and Title 40.

SB 391 allows certified facility dogs to accompany witnesses - especially trauma victims - in court to reduce stress and improve testimony accuracy. It sets strict requirements: dogs must have 2+ years of training, vet health certificates, $500,000 insurance, and visible markings, while handlers must be certified in legal protocols. Courts must approve requests via motion, require handlers to stay visible to witnesses but out of jury view during testimony, and instruct juries not to view the dog as prejudicial. The law, effective April 11, 2025, applies to all Tennessee court proceedings involving witness testimony.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill improves court testimony accuracy for trauma victims via certified facility dogs, enhancing witness experience and fair trial outcomes in criminal proceedings.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

in committee · Tennessee · House May 15, 2025

HB 40: General Assembly, Directed Studies - As enacted, requires TACIR to study the availability of housing and other treatment facilities for juvenile offenders who have been adjudicated delinquent and committed to the department of children's services, and the availability of local juvenile detention centers and other facilities for the housing and treatment of juvenile offenders who have been detained by the juvenile court prior to an adjudicatory hearing; requires TACIR to report its findings and recommendations. - Amends TCA Title 37; Title 39 and Title 40.

HB 40 requires Tennessee's TACIR (Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations) to study two specific areas of juvenile justice: (1) the availability of local detention centers and treatment facilities for juveniles detained before court hearings, and (2) the availability of housing and treatment facilities for juveniles found delinquent and placed in state care. The study must determine if additional facilities are needed for either group and assess current resources. TACIR must report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly by January 1, 2026, using existing resources. This bill is procedural, directing a study rather than implementing new policies or changing facility standards.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires study of juvenile facility availability to improve housing/treatment resources, aligning with criminal justice reform goals of enhancing rehabilitation and resource assessment.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Juvenile Justice

Track

signed · Tennessee · Senate Apr 30, 2025

SB 1299: DUI Offenses - As enacted, requires an ignition interlock provider to permit a person to appear for calibration, monitoring, or inspection of the device at any time within a two-week period; authorizes a court to order reinstatement of a person’s driver license if the person has no other revocations or suspensions on the person’s driving record and the person’s only noncompliance with ignition interlock requirements has been with regard to the required calibration, monitoring, or inspection of the ignition interlock device; makes various other changes in regard to ignition interlock devices and the ignition interlock usage period. - Amends TCA Section 55-10-417 and Section 55-10-425.

SB 1299, now law in Tennessee, modifies ignition interlock device requirements for drivers convicted of DUI offenses. It allows individuals to schedule calibration, monitoring, or inspection appointments within a two-week window before or after their original date (instead of strict on-time appointments), and permits courts to reinstate driver’s licenses if the sole noncompliance was missing a calibration appointment and no other license suspensions exist. The bill also adds provisions for military service members deployed outside Tennessee for over 30 days, enabling temporary tolling of ignition interlock usage periods with proof of deployment. These changes take effect April 11, 2025, and apply directly to drivers required to use ignition interlock devices.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAllows flexible scheduling for DUI ignition interlock compliance, reducing barriers to license reinstatement and promoting offender rehabilitation through practical policy adjustments.85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationEnhances road safety by facilitating ignition interlock compliance, reducing DUI recidivism and improving driver accountability within transportation safety framework.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Driver Licensing Traffic Safety

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1353: Criminal Procedure - As introduced, restores the right of suffrage for persons convicted of an infamous crime after expiration of the sentence imposed for the infamous crime; removes requirement that the person pay restitution and court costs and be current in all child support obligations before having the person's right of suffrage restored; permits a person to have the right of suffrage restored without having the person's full rights of citizenship restored. - Amends TCA Title 2 and Title 40.

SB 1353 restores voting rights for Tennessee residents convicted of "infamous crimes" after completing their sentence, removing previous barriers like unpaid restitution, court costs, or current child support obligations. It amends voting eligibility laws to allow this right to be restored without requiring full citizenship rights restoration. The bill updates voter registration forms to accept proof of sentence completion (via court documents or a voting rights certificate) instead of requiring pardons or full citizenship restoration. This directly affects individuals with past convictions who have finished their sentences but were previously barred from voting due to financial or support requirements. The changes apply to both state and federal convictions that qualify as infamous crimes under Tennessee law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestores voting rights for formerly incarcerated individuals post-sentence, removing financial barriers, aligning with criminal justice reform goals to reduce recidivism and promote reintegration.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Courts Victims' Rights

Track

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 31, 2025

SB 389: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, creates a Class C felony of reckless endangerment involving community terrorism, which is committed against a population within a geographic territory by members of a criminal gang or within 1,000 feet of a school or park; requires the sentencing court to revoke or prohibit the issuance of a driver license to individuals convicted of such offense for a five-year period following conviction. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 13 and Title 40, Chapter 35.

SB 389 creates a new Class C felony for "reckless endangerment involving community terrorism," defined as gang-related acts endangering populations in specific geographic areas or within 1,000 feet of schools, parks, or other public facilities. It mandates that courts revoke or prohibit driver's licenses for five years following conviction, requires GPS monitoring to enforce geographic restrictions, and prohibits license reinstatement without court approval. Offenders may later apply for a restricted license for essential activities (work, medical care, school) after five years, subject to court approval, with full license reinstatement possible after demonstrating rehabilitation. The bill directly affects individuals convicted under this new felony, the Tennessee Department of Safety (handling license actions), and courts issuing sentencing orders. It applies specific penalties to offenses meeting the "community terrorism" definition outlined in the bill.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new felony, mandates 5-year license revocation, expands criminalization of gang acts near schools/parks, increasing penalties and restricting defendant rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Sentencing

Track