Criminal Justice (Law Enforcement)

in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 626: Law Enforcement - As introduced, requires a law enforcement officer who becomes aware that an order of protection has been entered against a person in the officer’s presence but has not been served on the person to take appropriate steps to facilitate service of the order of protection, including notifying the sheriff’s department of the person’s immediate location; requires the curriculum of the Tennessee peace officer standards and training commission to include instruction on such requirements. - Amends TCA Title 36, Chapter 3, Part 6; Title 38 and Title 40.

HB 626 requires Tennessee law enforcement officers to take specific action when they observe someone who has an active order of protection against them but hasn't been served the document. If an officer sees this situation in person, they must notify the sheriff's department of the person's location and other details to help serve the order. The bill also mandates that officer training programs include instruction on these requirements. This law directly affects police officers and sheriff's departments by changing how they handle unserved protection orders during encounters.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires officers to enforce protection orders, enhancing victim safety and procedural compliance in criminal justice.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Law Enforcement Policing

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died · Tennessee · House Feb 2, 2026

HB 1445: Finance and Administration, Dept. of - As introduced, creates a law enforcement officer recruitment fund and grant program administered by the department for the purpose of assisting eligible law enforcement agencies in officer recruitment. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 8; Title 9 and Title 38.

HB 1445 creates a state-funded grant program to help local law enforcement agencies recruit officers. It establishes a "law enforcement officer recruitment fund" within the state general fund, targeting cities, counties, or municipalities with 10% or more vacant officer positions. The Department of Finance and Administration will manage the fund, setting application rules, grant criteria, and reporting requirements for agencies seeking funds to cover recruitment costs only. Unspent funds will carry forward annually, but the program requires future legislative appropriations to activate, with the bill taking effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates state-funded grant program from general fund for law enforcement recruitment, increasing public safety spending within budget framework.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds law enforcement recruitment to address vacancies, strengthening agency capacity within criminal justice system.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Law Enforcement

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signed · Tennessee · Senate Apr 8, 2025

SB 1290: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, makes permanent the exclusion of narcotic testing equipment used to determine whether a controlled substance contains a synthetic opioid, unless the narcotic testing equipment is possessed for purposes of the commission of a drug offense, from the definition of drug paraphernalia; removes the July 1, 2025, repeal date for that exclusion. - Amends TCA Section 39-17-402.

SB 1290 permanently removes a temporary expiration date for a law that excludes certain testing equipment from being classified as drug paraphernalia. Specifically, it makes permanent the exclusion of equipment used to test for synthetic opioids (like fentanyl) unless the equipment is used to commit a drug crime. This change directly affects harm reduction organizations, public health workers, and law enforcement using such tools for legitimate testing purposes. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Section 39-17-402 by deleting the prior repeal date of July 1, 2025. The law is now permanent and took effect April 3, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill permanently removes restrictions on synthetic opioid testing equipment for harm reduction, supporting public health initiatives without criminalizing legitimate use. Aligns with criminal justice reform by reducing unnecessary criminalization ...90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves legal barrier for public health workers to use synthetic opioid testing equipment, enabling harm reduction programs that protect community health and prevent overdoses.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Law Enforcement Public Health Substance Abuse

signed · Tennessee · Senate Apr 29, 2025

SB 456: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, adds the offense of robbery to the definition of crime of violence. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13.

SB 456 amends Tennessee law to explicitly include robbery as a "crime of violence" within the state's criminal code. This change adds robbery to a list of offenses - including murder, rape, burglary, and aggravated assault - that are currently classified under this legal category. By doing so, the bill ensures robbery cases will be treated under the same sentencing and legal frameworks as other designated violent crimes. The amendment takes effect on July 1, 2025, impacting how Tennessee courts and law enforcement handle robbery prosecutions.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill adds robbery to 'crime of violence' category, subjecting it to harsher sentencing. Expands criminalization and increases penalties, aligning with 'oppose' indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Sentencing Violent Crime

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 12, 2025

SB 971: Jails, Local Lock-ups - As introduced, exempts a prisoner of a county workhouse or jail who is released from custody on work release from wearing an electronic monitoring device if the prisoner was convicted of a non-violent crime and the sheriff has determined that the prisoner poses a low risk to the public and for escape. - Amends TCA Title 41, Chapter 2.

Senate Bill 971 would exempt certain county jail or workhouse prisoners on work release from wearing electronic monitoring devices. Specifically, it applies to individuals convicted of non-violent crimes who are determined by the sheriff to pose a low risk to public safety and for escape. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 41, Chapter 2, to remove the current requirement for electronic monitoring under these conditions. This change would directly affect eligible inmates in Tennessee county correctional facilities participating in work release programs.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExempts low-risk non-violent offenders from electronic monitoring, reducing unnecessary restrictions and supporting rehabilitation-focused criminal justice reform.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement Violent Crime

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signed · Tennessee · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 591: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, clarifies, for purposes of criminal offenses relative to threats of mass violence on school property or at a school-related activity or failing to report such threats, that a threat of mass violence is credible if the threat causes another to reasonably expect the commission of an act of mass violence. - Amends TCA Title 39.

SB 591 creates two new offenses in Tennessee law: a Class E felony for recklessly threatening mass violence against child care agencies, preschools, or religious institutions via any communication method, and a Class B misdemeanor for failing to report such threats. The bill requires anyone who knows of such a threat to immediately report it to local law enforcement and the affected institution, including specific details like the threat's nature and the person making it. It also allows courts to order threat-related defendants to undergo evaluations for potential harm and mandates restitution for disruptions caused by threats. The law directly affects individuals making or ignoring threats to vulnerable institutions, with penalties taking effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new criminal offenses (Class E felony/misdemeanor) for threats against institutions, expanding criminalization and increasing penalties per 'oppose' indicators.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill strengthens school safety by criminalizing threats of mass violence and mandating reporting, directly protecting students and staff.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Victims' Rights

died · Tennessee · House Feb 12, 2025

HB 58: Law Enforcement - As introduced, requires an employing law enforcement agency to contact any prior law enforcement agency that employed the agency's officer or special deputy as part of the thorough investigation into the person's good moral character. - Amends TCA Title 38, Chapter 8.

HB 58 requires Tennessee law enforcement agencies to contact a job candidate's previous law enforcement employers as part of verifying their "good moral character" during hiring. This applies directly to police departments and sheriff's offices when vetting new officers or special deputies. The bill amends Tennessee law to mandate this specific step in the background check process. As a procedural change to hiring requirements, it does not alter substantive law or create new penalties.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires prior employer contact for officer vetting, enhancing accountability in law enforcement hiring per bill's procedural change to background checks.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms Law Enforcement Policing

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 12, 2025

SB 829: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, creates the Class B misdemeanor of intentionally refusing a law enforcement officer's request to exit from a motor vehicle during a lawful traffic stop. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 16.

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.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new Class B misdemeanor for refusing to exit vehicle during lawful stop, expanding criminalization without reform elements or accountability measures.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement Policing

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