Criminal Justice (Courts)

in committee · Tennessee · Senate May 8, 2025

SB 1314: Criminal Procedure - As enacted, establishes a permanent criminal proceedings notification system, rather than a pilot project; removes the July 1, 2025, termination date for the criminal proceedings notification system. - Amends TCA Section 40-38-507.

SB 1314 makes Tennessee's criminal proceedings notification system permanent by removing its temporary "pilot program" status and eliminating the July 1, 2025, expiration date. This change, effective upon enactment (as reflected in Public Chapter 354), directly affects criminal defendants who receive court notifications under Tennessee Code Annotated Section 40-38-507. The bill amends the statute by deleting "as a pilot program" from subsection (a) and removing subsection (d) entirely. The policy change ensures the notification system will operate indefinitely without requiring future legislative renewal.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMakes criminal notification system permanent, strengthening defendant rights and procedural fairness under TCA 40-38-507 without restricting access.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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in committee · Tennessee · House Feb 10, 2025

HB 937: Election Laws - As introduced, establishes automatic restoration of voting rights for people who complete their sentence, including any parole or probationary period. - Amends TCA Title 2; Title 40 and Title 41.

HB 937 automatically restores voting rights for Tennessee residents who complete all parts of their sentence, including parole or probation, for certain convictions. It directly affects people previously convicted of "infamous crimes" (as defined by Tennessee law) who have finished their sentences. The bill eliminates the need for court petitions by requiring election officials to restore voting rights upon receipt of a "certificate of final discharge" from supervision. It also creates new systems for election officials to track suspended registrations and automatically update voter eligibility.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAutomatically restores voting rights post-sentence for formerly incarcerated individuals, advancing reintegration and criminal justice reform by eliminating barriers to civic participation.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Courts Probation & Parole

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in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 1053: Criminal Procedure - As introduced, allows certain persons deprived of the right of suffrage to apply for a voter registration card and have the right of suffrage provisionally restored if the person enters into a payment plan to become current on all child support obligations. - Amends TCA Title 40, Chapter 29.

HB 1053 would allow people in Tennessee who lost voting rights due to unpaid child support to temporarily regain voting rights by entering a payment plan for outstanding child support debts. It replaces a rule requiring full payment of all child support with a new option for provisional voting rights restoration through a court-approved payment plan. If someone fails to follow the payment plan, a court must provide legal counsel and allow them to present evidence of financial hardship before revoking voting rights. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, applying to new voter registration applications after that date.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestores voting rights for individuals with unpaid child support via payment plans, advancing criminal justice reform by promoting reintegration and protecting civil rights.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Courts

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in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 11, 2026

HB 689: Expunction - As introduced, authorizes court clerks in certain counties to implement an automatic expunction processing program that initiates processing the expunction of public records without petition by the person, certification of eligibility from the TBI, or court order in certain limited circumstances. - Amends TCA Title 40, Chapter 32.

HB 689 creates an automatic expungement program for eligible individuals in Tennessee counties with 366,200+ residents (per 2020 census). It allows court clerks in those counties to expunge qualifying criminal records without requiring the person to file a petition, obtain TBI certification, or get a court order. This applies to individuals who qualify for free expungement under specific legal categories (e.g., dismissed cases or certain convictions). The bill streamlines the process by having court clerks initiate expungements directly, with confidential record-keeping and no liability for clerks.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAutomates expungement for eligible cases (dismissed charges, certain convictions), reducing barriers to employment/housing and aligning with criminal justice reform goals like reducing recidivism.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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in committee · Tennessee · House Feb 5, 2025

HB 449: 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.

HB 449 would restore voting rights for Tennesseans convicted of an "infamous crime" (serious offenses like murder or rape) once their sentence ends, without requiring them to pay fines, restitution, or child support first. Currently, people with such convictions must clear all financial obligations and have their full citizenship rights restored to vote again. The bill changes eligibility rules to allow voting simply after sentence completion, verified through a certificate from prison or parole officials. It also updates voter registration forms to ask about sentence completion instead of full citizenship restoration. This affects people convicted of infamous crimes in Tennessee or other states who have finished their sentences.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestores voting rights for felons post-sentence without financial barriers, promoting reintegration and civil rights - core criminal justice reform aligned with indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Corrections Courts

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 12, 2025

SB 1211: Election Laws - As introduced, establishes automatic restoration of voting rights for people who complete their sentence, including any parole or probationary period. - Amends TCA Title 2; Title 40 and Title 41.

SB 1211 automatically restores voting rights to Tennessee residents who complete their felony sentences, including parole or probation, without requiring a court order. It directly affects people with felony convictions who have finished all court-imposed terms. The bill replaces the previous requirement for a court to restore rights with a system where a "certificate of final discharge" from supervision triggers automatic eligibility. Election officials must track suspended registrations and update voter rolls when eligibility is confirmed, using standardized forms for courts and the Department of Correction. This changes how Tennessee handles voting rights for returning citizens after sentence completion.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAutomatically restores voting rights for felony completers, advancing reintegration and civil rights - key criminal justice reform goals that reduce recidivism.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Courts Probation & Parole Tags Elections

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 16, 2026

SB 1119: Criminal Procedure - As introduced, allows certain persons deprived of the right of suffrage to apply for a voter registration card and have the right of suffrage provisionally restored if the person enters into a payment plan to become current on all child support obligations. - Amends TCA Title 40, Chapter 29.

This bill allows Tennessee residents who owe unpaid child support to apply for voter registration by entering a payment plan to catch up on those debts, rather than requiring full payment upfront to regain voting rights. It provides for provisional restoration of voting rights upon entering a payment plan, with courts able to revoke this provision if the plan is not followed - after offering court-appointed counsel and a hearing to address financial hardship. The law, effective July 1, 2025, applies to new voter registration applications and requires the Secretary of State to develop implementing rules with the Department of Human Services and courts. It directly affects individuals with outstanding child support obligations who seek to vote in Tennessee.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestores voting rights via payment plan for child support debt, a key criminal justice reform measure aligning with reducing barriers to civic participation for affected individuals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Courts

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 10, 2025

SB 253: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, lessens, from 90 calendar days to 60 calendar days, the time within which a clerk of court must notify the health facilities commission of a conviction for certain offenses committed against elderly or vulnerable adults for inclusion on the registry of persons who have abused, neglected, misappropriated, or exploited the property of vulnerable individuals. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 15.

SB 253 shortens the deadline for clerks of court to notify the Health Facilities Commission about certain criminal convictions. It reduces the time from 90 to 60 calendar days after a conviction for offenses against elderly or vulnerable adults involving abuse, neglect, misappropriation, or exploitation of their property. This change directly affects clerks of court, requiring them to submit notifications faster to update the registry tracking individuals who have harmed vulnerable adults. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated § 39-15-506(a)(1) and has no other substantive policy changes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeShortens notification timeline to expedite registry updates for offenders against vulnerable adults, enhancing oversight and protection within criminal justice system.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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signed · Tennessee · Senate May 15, 2025

SB 1399: 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.

SB 1399 creates a new Class E felony offense in Tennessee for anyone who harms or threatens to harm a person involved in the judicial process (such as witnesses, judges, jurors, prosecutors, law enforcement, or court staff) or their family members. It specifically targets actions taken to impede, intimidate, interfere with, or retaliate against someone for participating in court proceedings. The bill defines "family member" broadly (including spouses, parents, children, and siblings) and lists all covered judicial participants. This law, effective July 1, 2025, aims to protect individuals who engage with the justice system from targeted threats or violence.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProtects judicial participants (witnesses, judges, etc.) from intimidation, strengthening court integrity and safety per bill's explicit intent to penalize interference with judicial process.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 8, 2025

SB 595: Bail, Bail Bonds - As introduced, requires a sheriff to accept the surrender of a criminal defendant on pretrial release by a bail bondsman or surety for good cause, pending a hearing by a court with jurisdiction to admit to bail to determine whether there is good cause for the surrender. - Amends TCA Title 40, Chapter 11.

SB 595 requires Tennessee sheriffs to accept surrender of defendants from bail bond companies when there's "good cause," pending a court hearing to determine if that cause is valid. This affects bail bond companies, sheriffs, and defendants on pretrial release by changing how surrenders are handled. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated (TCA 40-11-132) to mandate that sheriffs accept these surrenders immediately rather than rejecting them without court review. It establishes a clear process where a court - not the sheriff - decides if the surrender reason (e.g., defendant fleeing) is justified. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee as of April 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates court review for bail bond surrenders, adding judicial oversight to prevent arbitrary detention and aligns with bail reform goals protecting defendant rights in criminal justice process.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement

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