Criminal Justice (Corrections)

SB 829 creates a new Class B misdemeanor offense for drivers who intentionally refuse to exit their vehicle when lawfully stopped by police. It directly affects individuals stopped during traffic stops who ignore an officer's request to leave their vehicle. The bill amends Tennessee law to define this refusal as a punishable offense, with penalties including fines or up to 60 days in jail. The law will take effect on July 1, 2025, and applies only during lawful traffic stops where the officer has a valid reason to stop the vehicle.

SB 924 adds 10 new assistant district attorney general positions and 10 new criminal investigator positions in Tennessee judicial districts that include state correctional facilities. These roles are specifically designated for handling criminal cases related to offenses occurring within state prisons, including violations of specific prison-related laws. The bill requires prison staff to provide full access to evidence and cooperation for these prosecutors and investigators. The positions will be funded at specified pay levels and take effect on July 1, 2025, for districts including the first, ninth, twelfth, fifteenth, twentieth, twenty-second, twenty-fifth, twenty-ninth, thirtieth, and thirty-second judicial districts.

HB 308 would allow counties in Tennessee with over 900,000 residents (based on the 2020 census) to raise their local sales tax rate from a maximum of 2.75% to 3.75%. The revenue from this tax increase must be used exclusively for building a new county jail or paying off debt related to jail construction, including principal, interest, and expenses. The higher tax rate would apply for up to eight years or until the jail debt is paid off, whichever comes first. If the debt is paid early, the county must notify the state within 10 days. After the eight-year period or debt payoff, the tax rate would revert to 2.75%.

HB 36 modifies Tennessee's parole and furlough rules for state inmates. It removes the requirement that an inmate must be "chronically debilitated or incapacitated" for the corrections commissioner to certify them as parole-eligible, expanding eligibility to inmates meeting age (55+), time served (10+ years), and non-violent offense criteria. The bill also changes furlough rules, allowing the commissioner to grant furloughs if an inmate cannot perform at least one basic daily activity in prison due to a medical condition causing debilitation or incapacity. These changes apply to inmates not convicted of violent sexual offenses or multiple murders. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 40-35-501 and 41-21-227.