Criminal Justice

in committee · Tennessee · House Feb 2, 2026

HB 1819: Sentencing - As introduced, increases the penalty for failing to stop at the scene of an accident when the person knew or should reasonably have known that death resulted from the accident by requiring a mandatory period of confinement of not less than one year and a minimum fine of $10,000. - Amends TCA Title 39; Title 40 and Title 55.

HB 1819 increases penalties for hit-and-run accidents resulting in death by making it a Class E felony. Drivers who fail to stop after causing a fatal accident - when they knew or should have known death occurred - face a mandatory minimum of one year in jail and a $10,000 fine. The bill amends Tennessee laws in Titles 39 (criminal procedure), 40 (transportation), and 55 (vehicle regulations) to implement these stricter penalties. It will take effect on July 1, 2026, applying to offenses committed on or after that date.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases mandatory minimum sentencing for hit-and-run fatalities, expanding criminal penalties under criminal justice framework.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Sentencing

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signed · Tennessee · House Apr 27, 2026

HB 1704: Immigration - As enacted, creates the Class A misdemeanor of intentionally failing or refusing to depart when a final order of removal is outstanding; creates the Class A misdemeanor of intentionally entering, attempting to enter, or being found in this state after being denied admission, excluded, deported, or removed from the United States. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 7; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40 and Title 41.

HB 1704 would create two Class A misdemeanors in Tennessee: (1) intentionally failing to leave the state within 90 days after a final federal removal order, and (2) intentionally re-entering the state after being denied admission, excluded, deported, or removed by federal authorities. It directly affects undocumented immigrants subject to federal removal orders or denied entry, making certain immigration status violations criminal offenses. The bill requires courts to pause criminal proceedings until individuals exhaust all federal legal options to challenge the removal order. The law’s key provisions are conditional, with Section 2 (re-entry offense) only taking effect after specific federal court decisions or legislative changes affecting state immigration authority.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCriminalizes immigration status violations, expanding criminalization of non-violent acts and increasing criminal justice system involvement for immigration matters.95% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationCreates Class A misdemeanors for failing to depart after removal order or re-entering post-removal, increasing state-level immigration enforcement against undocumented immigrants.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 20, 2026

SB 1920: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, prohibits the use of a telecommunication device, with intent to deprive the owner of property, to fraudulently obtain or exercise control over the property of another without the owner's effective consent, which is punishable as theft, but in no event less than a Class E felony. - Amends TCA Title 39.

SB 1920 makes it a crime to use a phone or similar device with the intent to steal property without the owner's consent, such as through scams or fraudulent calls. It directly affects individuals who commit this type of theft using telecommunications. The bill sets a minimum penalty of a Class E felony (the least serious felony in Tennessee) for this offense, while still allowing for harsher punishment under existing theft laws. This creates a specific legal standard for "telecommunication fraud" as a form of theft.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new felony for telecommunication fraud, expanding criminalization under theft laws without reform elements92% confidence

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 9, 2026

SB 1678: Sentencing - As introduced, increases the penalty for failing to stop at the scene of an accident when the person knew or should reasonably have known that death resulted from the accident by requiring a mandatory period of confinement of not less than one year and a minimum fine of $10,000. - Amends TCA Title 39; Title 40 and Title 55.

SB 1678 increases penalties for hit-and-run accidents that cause death in Tennessee. The bill requires a mandatory minimum one-year prison sentence and a $10,000 fine for drivers who knew or should have reasonably known death resulted from the accident. It amends Tennessee law to reclassify such offenses as a Class E felony, applying to incidents occurring on or after July 1, 2026. This directly affects drivers who flee the scene of fatal crashes without stopping.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandates mandatory minimum sentence for hit-and-run causing death, increasing punitive measures without reform elements95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Sentencing

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signed · Tennessee · Senate May 27, 2026

SB 1900: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, increases the penalty for assaulting a first responder from a Class A misdemeanor with a mandatory fine of $5,000 and a mandatory minimum of 30 days incarceration to a Class E felony with a mandatory fine of $10,000 and a mandatory minimum of 60 days incarceration. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 40.

SB 1900 increases penalties for assaulting law enforcement officers in Tennessee by upgrading the offense from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony. This change mandates a $10,000 fine and a 60-day minimum jail sentence for assaulting police officers or other first responders, compared to the current $5,000 fine and 30-day minimum for assaulting nurses. The bill specifically amends Tennessee law to impose these stricter penalties for assaults on law enforcement, while keeping existing misdemeanor penalties for assaults on nurses. The changes will take effect on July 1, 2026, and directly affect individuals convicted of assaulting police officers or first responders.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases mandatory sentences for assaulting first responders, upgrading to felony with harsher penalties (60-day minimum vs. 30-day), opposing criminal justice reform trends.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement Policing

died · Tennessee · House Feb 2, 2026

HB 2040: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, creates the criminal offense of intentionally communicating a threat of harm to a public official or a member of the public official's immediate family; punishes a violation as a Class E felony. - Amends TCA Title 39.

HB 2040, introduced in Tennessee, would have created a new Class E felony for intentionally threatening a public official or their immediate family (defined as spouse, parent, sibling, child, or adoptive/step relationships). It required the threat to be communicated with knowledge of the target’s official role, intended as harm due to that role, and perceived as threatening by a reasonable person. The bill aimed to directly affect individuals making such threats against public officials or their families, imposing criminal penalties for these communications. However, the bill was withdrawn on February 2, 2026, and did not advance further.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new Class E felony for threats against officials, expanding criminalization without reform elements. Aligns with OPPOSE indicators of increased penalties.95% confidence

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in committee · Tennessee · House May 27, 2026

HB 1802: Firearms and Ammunition - As enacted, lowers the standard for the use of deadly force to protect property. - Amends TCA Title 39.

HB 1802 amends Tennessee law to lower the standard for using deadly force when protecting property. It allows individuals to use deadly force against others committing trespass, arson, property damage (including livestock), burglary, theft, robbery, or animal cruelty if they reasonably believe it is immediately necessary and non-deadly force would risk death or serious injury to themselves or others. The bill explicitly prohibits using deadly force against someone facing away from the defender. This directly affects property owners and residents defending their homes or belongings against certain criminal acts. The law changes existing self-defense protections by expanding the circumstances where deadly force is permitted for property protection.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill lowers threshold for deadly force in property disputes, expanding circumstances where lethal force is permitted, opposing reform efforts to reduce excessive force in criminal justice.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms Violent Crime

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passed · Tennessee · Senate Apr 13, 2026

SB 1658: DUI Offenses - As introduced, adds a 30-day mandatory minimum period of incarceration for persons convicted of driving under the influence if, at the time of the offense, the person was within a marked school zone and a warning flasher or flashers were in operation. - Amends TCA Title 39; Title 40 and Title 55, Chapter 10.

SB 1658 adds a mandatory 30-day jail sentence for drivers convicted of DUI (driving under the influence) who were operating a vehicle within a marked school zone with active warning flashers. This applies to anyone convicted of a DUI offense meeting those specific conditions, increasing their sentence beyond the standard penalty. The 30-day minimum must be served in addition to any other jail time for the DUI conviction. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, for offenses committed on or after that date.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeAdds mandatory 30-day jail for DUI in school zones, increasing penalties beyond standard sentences - aligns with 'increases mandatory sentences' indicator.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Sentencing

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signed · Tennessee · Senate May 18, 2026

SB 1945: Bail, Bail Bonds - As enacted, allows the court to temporarily revoke a defendant's bond and order the defendant held without bail for no more than 10 days pending a bail revocation hearing if the defendant violates a condition of release, is charged with an offense committed during the defendant's release, or engages in conduct that results in the obstruction of the orderly and expeditious progress of the trial. - Amends TCA Title 40, Chapter 11.

SB 1945 amends Tennessee's bail laws to allow courts to temporarily revoke a defendant's bond and order them held without bail for up to 10 days if they violate release conditions, commit a new offense while released, or disrupt trial proceedings. This directly affects defendants who are already on bail but breach their release terms. The bill requires courts to issue a written order and schedule a hearing before imposing the temporary hold, with a separate hearing needed for permanent bond revocation. The change modifies existing procedures under Tennessee Code Annotated Title 40, Chapter 11, without creating new offenses or penalties.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRestricts defendant rights by enabling temporary detention without bail for violations, opposing reform efforts to reduce pretrial detention.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 5, 2026

SB 2113: 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 2113 makes it a Class A misdemeanor to knowingly inhale, ingest, use, or possess nitrous oxide ("laughing gas") or amyl nitrite ("poppers"), directly affecting individuals who use these substances recreationally. Exceptions include medical prescriptions, manufacturing/industrial use, food preparation, or personal use by those aged 21+ (with flavoring creating a presumption against these exemptions). Businesses selling nitrous oxide illegally face license suspension for first violations and revocation for second violations. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, with courts able to require drug rehabilitation as a probation condition.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill criminalizes recreational nitrous oxide use as Class A misdemeanor, expanding criminalization without reform elements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Probation & Parole

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