Criminal Justice

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 25, 2026

SB 1830: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, enacts "The Intercollegiate Student-Athlete Protection Act," which creates a criminal offense of student athlete harassment; punishes the first offense as a Class A misdemeanor and a second or subsequent offense as a Class E felony; and specifies that a student athlete who is the victim of student athlete harassment has a private right of action against a person convicted of the offense. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 49; Title 39 and Title 49.

SB 1830, the Intercollegiate Student-Athlete Protection Act, creates a new criminal offense for harassment targeting student athletes in Tennessee. It specifically prohibits threats related to athletic performance or repeated sports-related bullying (including cyberbullying) that causes emotional distress. A first offense is punishable as a Class A misdemeanor, while second or subsequent offenses are Class E felonies. The bill also grants victims a private right to sue convicted perpetrators, allowing recovery of at least $75,000 per violation plus actual damages, attorney fees, and other remedies. The law applies to all student athletes at Tennessee colleges participating in intercollegiate sports and takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new criminal offense for student athlete harassment, expanding criminalization per bill's explicit language.95% confidence

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in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 1812: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, adds the advisement or encouragement to commit suicide to the offense of assisted suicide under certain circumstances. - Amends TCA Title 39.

HB 1812 expands Tennessee's assisted suicide law to include intentionally advising or encouraging someone to commit suicide within an imminent timeframe, provided the person knows the other has communicated suicidal intent. This directly affects individuals who provide verbal encouragement or advice to someone actively considering suicide. The bill adds a new provision defining this specific conduct as a criminal offense, while maintaining that general assisted suicide remains a Class D felony (Class C if the victim is a minor). The law would take effect July 1, 2026, applying to acts committed after that date.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by adding verbal encouragement of imminent suicide as offense, increasing scope of criminal law without reform elements.90% confidence

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signed · Tennessee · House May 18, 2026

HB 1787: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, increases the penalty for patronizing prostitution from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class B or Class A felony under certain circumstances that are currently punished as trafficking for a commercial sex act. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 13.

HB 1787 (Criminal Offenses) increases penalties for patronizing prostitution when the victim is in specific vulnerable categories. It raises the offense to a Class B felony if the victim is a law enforcement officer posing as a minor or a person with an intellectual disability, and to a Class A felony if the victim is under 18. The bill also mandates at least 7 days in jail and a $1,000 fine for patronizing prostitution within 1.5 miles of a school. These changes apply to cases currently treated as trafficking for commercial sex acts under Tennessee law. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases penalties for patronizing prostitution to felony levels in specific cases, expanding criminalization and mandating jail time/fines, aligning with 'increases mandatory sentences' indicator.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Human Trafficking Law Enforcement

signed · Tennessee · Senate May 27, 2026

SB 1602: Sentencing - As enacted, enacts the "James Bardsley, Jr. Life Protection Act." - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 13 and Title 55, Chapter 10.

SB 1602 increases penalties for drivers who leave the scene of an accident. If an accident causes injury, the penalty rises from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony. If the driver knew or should have known death resulted, the penalty increases from a Class E felony to a Class D felony. This bill directly affects drivers involved in accidents where they fail to stop, amending Tennessee law to impose stricter criminal penalties for these actions. The changes will take effect on July 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases felony classifications for hit-and-run offenses, expanding criminalization and raising penalties per 'oppose' indicators of stricter sentencing.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sentencing

died · Tennessee · House Apr 14, 2026

HB 2064: Firearms and Ammunition - As introduced, repeals the criminal offenses of unlawfully carrying a firearm or club with the intent to go armed and carrying or possessing a weapon in or on public parks, playgrounds, civic centers, and other public recreational buildings and grounds; allows persons convicted of stalking or a misdemeanor domestic violence offense to possess a firearm after five years from the date of conviction. - Amends TCA Title 16; Title 36; Title 37; Title 39; Title 40; Title 49 and Title 65.

HB 2064 changes Tennessee's firearm laws by repealing criminal penalties for carrying a firearm in public parks, playgrounds, and recreational areas. It modifies restrictions for people convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence or stalking, allowing firearm possession after five years from conviction (unless rights remain restricted). The bill also removes bans on carrying firearms in public recreational spaces and updates misdemeanor penalties for carrying while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. These changes directly affect individuals with certain past convictions and those who carry firearms in public recreational areas. The bill does not alter federal gun laws or create new restrictions.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill repeals criminal penalties for firearm carrying in public parks and relaxes firearm restrictions for domestic violence/stalking offenders after 5 years, weakening existing protections in criminal justice.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Drug Policy Firearms

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signed · Tennessee · House Mar 23, 2026

HB 1489: Firefighters - As enacted, expands the applicability of the presumption that a firefighter's cancer was caused by the firefighter's employment to include arson investigators. - Amends TCA Title 7; Title 8; Title 50 and Title 56.

HB 1489 would expand Tennessee's cancer presumption law for firefighters to include arson investigators. The bill amends state law to define "firefighter" as specifically covering full-time arson investigators employed by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation or county sheriff's departments. This change means these investigators would automatically qualify for disability benefits if they develop cancer, as their job-related exposure would be presumed to cause it - similar to current firefighter protections. The bill directly affects arson investigators working in these specific state and local law enforcement roles.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands cancer presumption benefits to arson investigators (TBI/sheriff's personnel), supporting law enforcement personnel within criminal justice framework.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands disability benefits eligibility for cancer treatment via occupational presumption, improving access to healthcare for arson investigators.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands cancer presumption for arson investigators, granting automatic disability benefits for job-related cancer, strengthening workplace safety protections and worker benefits.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

in committee · Tennessee · House Jan 15, 2026

HB 1554: Criminal Procedure - As introduced, removes the requirement for a petitioner for restoration of citizenship or an applicant for a certificate of employability to pay the costs of the proceedings; makes other changes to the process for restoration of citizenship. - Amends TCA Title 40, Chapter 29.

HB 1554 eliminates fees for individuals seeking to restore citizenship rights or obtain a certificate of employability in Tennessee. Specifically, it removes the requirement for petitioners to pay court costs related to citizenship restoration proceedings and employability applications under Tennessee law. The bill amends multiple sections of state code (40-29-103 and 40-29-107) to delete cost-related provisions and redundant language like "certified." This change directly affects people, including formerly incarcerated individuals seeking voting rights or employment clearances, by reducing financial barriers to these processes. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves financial barriers for citizenship restoration and employability, aiding reintegration and reducing recidivism per criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationRemoves fees for citizenship restoration and employability certificates, reducing financial barriers for immigrants seeking legal status and rights.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Courts Citizenship & Naturalization

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passed · Tennessee · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SB 1660: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, increases the penalty for arson committed at a pregnancy resource center from a Class C felony to a Class B felony; defines "pregnancy resource center" as a nonprofit organization that provides care and resources to assist women and families facing difficult or unexpected pregnancies, including providing counseling, financial assistance, food, clothing, and medical assistance to pregnant women and reimbursing social service providers who prepare adoptions throughout the state for services and programs targeting at-risk women and families with immediate and ongoing needs related to unexpected pregnancy. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 14, Part 3.

SB 1660 raises the penalty for arson committed at a pregnancy resource center from a Class C to a Class B felony. It defines "pregnancy resource center" as a nonprofit organization providing counseling, financial aid, food, clothing, medical assistance, and adoption-related services to women and families facing unexpected pregnancies. The bill directly affects individuals who commit arson at these specific facilities by increasing potential criminal penalties. The key change is both the enhanced sentencing and the legally defined scope of the centers protected under this provision.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases arson penalty at pregnancy resource centers from Class C to Class B felony, directly increasing mandatory sentences per 'oppose' indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sentencing

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signed · Tennessee · Senate May 5, 2026

SB 1968: Local Education Agencies - As enacted, requires a director of schools to refer to juvenile court certain students who were formerly enrolled in the LEA, who were receiving certain truancy interventions, who withdrew from the LEA, and who did not transfer to another LEA; makes related changes. - Amends TCA Title 37, Chapter 1, Part 1; Title 49, Chapter 1; Title 49, Chapter 2 and Title 49, Chapter 6.

SB 1968 requires Tennessee school districts to count unexcused absences from a student's previous school when they transfer to a new district, so those absences contribute to truancy determinations at the new school. It also mandates that school directors refer students who withdrew without transferring to juvenile court if they had received truancy interventions and accumulated unexcused absences. The bill directly affects students, school districts, and juvenile courts by changing how attendance records are handled across school transfers. Key provisions include carrying forward prior absences to the new school and requiring documentation for juvenile court referrals.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill mandates juvenile court referrals for truancy, expanding criminalization of school absences and increasing criminal justice system involvement in education matters, contrary to reform goals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Juvenile Justice

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 20, 2026

SB 2144: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, increases the penalties for a violation of the offense of introduction or possession of contraband into a penal institution from a Class C felony to a Class B felony for certain acts and certain types of contraband, from a Class D felony to a Class C felony for certain acts and certain types of contraband, and from a Class E felony to a Class D felony for certain acts involving a telecommunication device if the violation resulted in the death of another person. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 40.

SB 2144 increases penalties for introducing or possessing contraband in Tennessee prisons. It raises certain violations from a Class C to Class B felony (if the act caused death), Class D to Class C (for specific contraband), and Class E to Class D (for telecommunication devices if death occurred). The bill directly affects individuals who bring prohibited items into correctional facilities, with higher penalties applying specifically when the violation results in another person's death. The changes amend Tennessee Code Sections 39-16-201 and 40 regarding prison contraband offenses. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases felony classifications for prison contraband violations, raising penalties for acts causing death or involving specific items, directly expanding criminalization in corrections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Drug Policy

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