Criminal Justice

failed · Tennessee · House Feb 18, 2026

HB 1745: Election Laws - As introduced, restores a person's right of suffrage automatically upon the person's discharge from custody by reason of service or expiration of the maximum sentence imposed by the court for the infamous crime. - Amends TCA Title 2 and Title 40.

HB 1745 automatically restores voting rights for Tennessee residents convicted of an "infamous crime" upon their release from prison or when their maximum sentence expires. It directly affects individuals who have completed sentences for such convictions, eliminating the need for a governor's pardon or special conditions to regain voting eligibility. The bill amends Tennessee law to remove current disqualifications for those no longer incarcerated for these crimes, requiring county election commissions to accept prison discharge documentation as proof of restored rights. This change applies to both state and federal convictions that would qualify as infamous crimes under Tennessee law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestores voting rights for formerly incarcerated individuals post-sentence, advancing criminal justice reform by promoting reintegration and civil rights without requiring gubernatorial action.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Corrections Courts

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died · Tennessee · House May 4, 2026

HB 2078: Courts - As enacted, enacts the "Parental Rights Protection Act." - Amends TCA Title 36, Chapter 8 and Title 40, Chapter 11.

HB 2078, the "Parental Rights Protection Act," requires courts to hold a quick court review within 15 days if a criminal defendant's bond restricts their contact with, custody of, or visitation with a minor child (who isn't a victim of the crime). The government must prove, with clear evidence, that a serious threat to the child exists, less restrictive options won't work, and the restriction is truly in the child's best interest. If the court doesn't hold the review on time, the bond condition automatically cancels. The bill also presumes that parental contact is generally in a child's best interest. This directly affects criminal defendants in Tennessee facing bond conditions involving their children.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires courts to justify bond restrictions on parental contact with evidence, protecting defendants' rights and ensuring due process per criminal justice reform principles.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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introduced · Tennessee · House Jan 21, 2026

HB 1638: Correction, Dept. of - As introduced, increases from 90 to 100 days of receiving a valid judgment of conviction for when the department has to notify the victim witness coordinator of the scheduled parole hearing date when the inmate will be eligible for parole consideration. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 40.

HB 1638 extends the timeframe for the Tennessee Department of Correction to notify victims about parole hearings. It changes the deadline from 90 to 100 days after a court conviction for inmates eligible for parole consideration. This affects the Department of Correction (which must send notifications) and victim witness coordinators (who receive them). The bill amends Tennessee law to give the Department an extra 10 days for this notification process, effective July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExtends victim notification timeline for parole hearings, enhancing victim rights and procedural transparency in criminal justice85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Probation & Parole

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 25, 2026

SB 1976: Law Enforcement - As introduced, requires a law enforcement agency that uses body cameras to adopt a written policy for the use of the cameras by its law enforcement officers; establishes certain requirements for the policies. - Amends TCA Title 38, Chapter 1.

SB 1976 requires Tennessee law enforcement agencies using body cameras to create written policies governing their use. The policies must mandate officers activate cameras during calls for service and public encounters (except during immediate threats), keep them on until the interaction ends, and notify people being recorded. Exceptions include asking occupants before entering homes without a warrant, victims of domestic abuse or sexual assault, and anonymous crime reporters if they request the camera be turned off. The bill directly affects all Tennessee police departments and officers using body cameras, ensuring consistent recording practices while protecting privacy in specific sensitive situations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires body camera policies mandating activation during interactions, enhancing officer accountability and transparency in law enforcement, directly aligning with criminal justice reform indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Law Enforcement Policing

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 1994: Prisons and Reformatory Institutions - As introduced, prohibits this state or a local government from entering into a new contract or renewing an existing contract for the provision of correctional services for an inmate under the custody and care of the department of correction or the local government. - Amends TCA Title 41, Chapter 24.

SB 1994 prohibits Tennessee state agencies and local governments (counties, cities, or metropolitan governments) from entering new contracts or renewing existing contracts for private prison services. It directly affects private companies currently providing correctional services for inmates under the Tennessee Department of Correction or local government custody. The bill amends Tennessee law to ban all new or renewed contracts for these specific correctional services after the bill's effective date. This is a direct policy change banning future private prison contracts within the state's correctional system.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBans private prison contracts, aligning with criminal justice reform by reducing for-profit corrections and promoting public oversight of inmate care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 24, 2026

SB 1724: Jails, Local Lock-ups - As enacted, authorizes a sheriff, jail administrator, or deputy jailer to refuse or delay acceptance into the jail of an arrestee if the arrestee has not received medical treatment for obvious serious physical injuries or conditions of an emergency nature; makes other related changes. - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 8; Title 29; Title 40 and Title 41.

SB 1724 allows jails in Tennessee to refuse accepting arrestees who require medical attention and were arrested for a non-violent misdemeanor (not a crime against a person). The arresting agency must arrange for a healthcare provider to evaluate the arrestee and obtain a release form confirming the person no longer needs medical care or can be confined. This applies specifically to misdemeanor offenses under Title 39, Chapter 13 (e.g., minor property offenses, non-violent violations). The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and amends Tennessee Code Sections 41-4-145 and related provisions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires healthcare evaluation before jail intake for non-violent misdemeanors, protecting arrestees' medical rights and preventing unnecessary incarceration.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires healthcare evaluation for arrestees needing medical attention before jail intake, improving access to medical care for vulnerable individuals during arrest processing.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate May 15, 2026

SB 1708: Bail, Bail Bonds - As enacted, makes various changes related to entities seeking to secure the release of a defendant. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 40.

SB 1708 restricts third-party bail posting in Tennessee by prohibiting entities (other than defendants, family members, legal guardians, employers, or licensed bondsmen) from securing a defendant's release more than three times per year or for the same defendant more than once annually. The bill requires such entities to obtain prior approval for each bond they seek to post and defines "family" broadly to include third-degree relatives or household members. It directly affects community groups, nonprofits, or businesses that previously posted bail for others, limiting their ability to do so frequently. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and amends Tennessee Code Sections 39-11-715 and 40-11-123.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestricts third-party bail exploitation, aligning with reform goals to protect defendants and regulate bail system.85% confidence

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in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 8, 2026

HB 1947: Correction, Dept. of - As introduced, enacts the "Tennessee Women's Childbirth Alternatives, Resources, and Education Act." - Amends TCA Title 24; Title 33; Title 39; Title 40; Title 41; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71.

This bill, known as the "Tennessee Women's Childbirth Alternatives, Resources, and Education Act" (or "Trixtian's Law"), protects pregnant and postpartum individuals in Tennessee's criminal justice system by prohibiting the use of their pregnancy-related health information as evidence in criminal cases. It bans criminal charges based on pregnancy outcomes like miscarriage, stillbirth, or drug exposure during pregnancy, and requires correctional facilities to provide pregnancy testing within 72 hours. Facilities must also report annual data on incarcerated pregnant individuals and birth outcomes (without personal identifiers) to the Department of Health, while expediting transfers of pregnant people to state custody. These provisions directly affect incarcerated women, correctional facilities, and health data reporting practices across Tennessee.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProtects pregnant individuals from criminal charges based on pregnancy outcomes, preventing misuse of criminal justice system against health conditions.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProtects pregnancy health information from criminal use and mandates timely pregnancy testing in correctional facilities, advancing patient access to healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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died · Tennessee · House Feb 2, 2026

HB 1545: Criminal Procedure - As introduced, allows certain felony offenders to petition to have the offender's criminal history records sealed after completion of all requirements of sentencing and at least five years without being convicted of a new offense. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 40.

HB 1545 would have allowed certain felony offenders in Tennessee to apply to seal their criminal records after completing all sentencing requirements and avoiding new convictions for five years. Eligible individuals (excluding those convicted of specific violent or serious offenses listed in the bill) would have paid a $500 fee to petition courts, with records sealed from public access except for limited uses by law enforcement, the Department of Health, and peace officer training agencies. The bill applied only to 43 specified offenses, such as theft, fraud, vandalism, and non-violent property crimes - not all felonies. However, the bill was withdrawn on February 2, 2026, and never became law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enables sealing of felony records after 5 years without new offenses, promoting rehabilitation and reducing barriers to reintegration for eligible offenders, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Sentencing

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signed · Tennessee · Senate May 27, 2026

SB 2085: Victims' Rights - As enacted, authorizes a court clerk to increase the victims assistance assessment from $45 to $125, with the first $15 of each assessment being paid to the court clerk for processing and handling and the remaining amount being transmitted to the county in which the offense occurred for the exclusive use of the victims assistance program previously designated by the county legislative body. - Amends TCA Section 40-24-109.

SB 2085 (Tennessee Code Annotated § 40-24-109) increases the victims' assistance assessment fee from $45 to $125 for individuals convicted of certain crimes, including those who plead guilty, are found guilty, or enter diversion programs. The fee applies to criminal cases in Tennessee courts and directly affects convicted defendants. The bill specifies that $15 of each assessment goes to the court clerk for processing, while the remaining $110 must be sent to the county’s designated victim assistance program. This change redirects funding to support local victim services under existing state law.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases fee revenue ($110/case) directly funding county victim assistance programs, advancing public service funding under budget/tax framework.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeIncreases funding for victim assistance programs via higher fees on convicted defendants, directly supporting victims within the criminal justice system.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Victims' Rights