Criminal Justice (Courts)

in committee · Tennessee · House May 15, 2025

HB 1353: 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.

HB 1353 creates a new Class E felony offense for threatening or harming individuals involved in the judicial process (such as witnesses, judges, court staff, prosecutors, public defenders, or jurors) or their family members, specifically when done to interfere with, intimidate, or retaliate against their participation in court proceedings. It directly affects anyone who targets these judicial participants with threatening or harmful acts to disrupt their work. The law defines "family member" broadly (including spouses, parents, children, and siblings) and "judicial participant" to cover key court personnel and legal professionals. This bill amends Tennessee law to strengthen protections for those supporting the justice system, effective July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProtects judicial participants from intimidation, strengthening court integrity and system functionality per bill's intent to deter interference with proceedings.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 291: Medical Occupations - As introduced, extends from 30 business days to 60 business days the period of time an individual, applicant, licensee, certificate holder, or registrant has to file a petition in Davidson County chancery court following receipt of a notice from a health-related licensing authority that the authority is denying an application for or refusing to renew a license, certificate, or registration on the basis of a prior criminal conviction. - Amends TCA Title 39; Title 40; Title 63 and Title 68.

SB 291 extends the deadline for healthcare license applicants or holders facing denial due to a prior criminal conviction to file a court challenge in Davidson County. It changes the timeframe from 30 to 60 business days after receiving a denial notice from a licensing authority. This procedural bill affects individuals seeking or renewing licenses in Tennessee’s healthcare professions (like nurses or doctors) who must challenge denials based on past criminal records. The change applies to cases filed in Davidson County chancery court under Tennessee law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExtends deadline for challenging healthcare license denials based on prior criminal convictions, reducing barriers to professional reentry and aligning with criminal justice reform goals of reducing recidivism.80% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends deadline for healthcare license challenges, improving access to medical professions by reducing procedural barriers for applicants with prior convictions.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 1, 2025

SB 914: Handgun Permits - As introduced, extends the time, from 30 to 45 days, within which a person whose handgun carry permit has been suspended or revoked may petition the chancery court for judicial review of the department of safety's final determination. - Amends TCA Title 39.

SB 914 extends the timeframe for individuals whose handgun carry permits have been suspended or revoked to challenge that decision in court. Specifically, it changes the deadline from 30 to 45 days to petition a chancery court for review of the state safety department's final determination. The bill directly affects permit holders facing suspension or revocation, giving them more time to seek judicial review. This is a procedural change to Tennessee law (TCA Title 39) with no other substantive policy shifts. The amendment takes effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExtends due process for permit holders, aligning with procedural fairness in criminal justice by increasing judicial review window.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Firearms

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failed · Tennessee · House Apr 1, 2025

HB 1222: Orders of Protection - As introduced, allows a court to issue an emergency protection order upon a finding that a person poses an imminent risk of harm to the person or others if allowed to purchase or possess a firearm; authorizes a family member, household member, intimate partner, or law enforcement officer to petition for such an order. - Amends TCA Title 36 and Title 39.

HB 1222 would allow courts in Tennessee to issue emergency orders restricting a person’s access to firearms if a family member, household member, intimate partner, or law enforcement officer files a petition alleging the person poses an imminent risk of harm. The bill requires courts to issue these orders immediately if harm is imminent, prohibits the petitioner from paying court costs (shifting costs to the respondent), and mandates a hearing within 30 days to extend the order for up to one year. It specifically defines "family member," "household member," and "intimate partner" to clarify who can petition and ensures law enforcement receives copies to enforce the order. The bill, which amends Tennessee Code Titles 36 and 39, is currently pending (it failed in the Criminal Justice Subcommittee in April 2025).

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestricts firearm access for imminent harm risk via court orders, enhancing public safety within criminal justice framework per protection order reforms.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence Firearms

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 12, 2025

SB 388: Bail, Bail Bonds - As introduced, requires a court or magistrate to impose global positioning monitoring as a condition of release for a defendant accused of certain offenses, unless the court or magistrate enters written findings that the defendant does not pose a threat to the victim or public safety; requires the administrative office of the courts to compile an annual report of the number of defendants subject to such an order. - Amends TCA Title 39; Title 40; Title 55; Chapter 969 of the Public Acts of 2024 and Chapter 1033 of the Public Acts of 2024.

SB 388 requires courts to mandate GPS tracking for defendants accused of specific offenses - such as firearm use, domestic assault, vehicle burglary, reckless driving, drag racing, or repeat crimes - during pretrial release, unless the court documents in writing that the defendant poses no threat to victims or public safety. It applies to defendants awaiting trial for these listed offenses, directly affecting their release conditions. Courts must report monthly data on GPS orders to the Administrative Office of the Courts, which will compile an annual report for legislative committees by July 1 each year. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, amending Tennessee Code sections related to criminal procedure and bail.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandates GPS monitoring for pretrial release in specific offenses, restricting defendant rights without clear reform intent; aligns with 'reduces defendant rights' indicator.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Firearms Judges

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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 Apr 7, 2026

HB 1064: Bail, Bail Bonds - As introduced, makes various changes to criminal law, including requiring defendants accused of certain offenses to be subject to a global positioning monitoring system as condition of bail. - Amends TCA Title 10; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40; Chapter 969 of the Public Acts of 2024 and Chapter 1033 of the Public Acts of 2024.

HB 1064 requires courts to order GPS monitoring for defendants accused of specific serious offenses as a condition of bail, including cases involving firearms, domestic assault, vehicle burglary, reckless driving, drag racing, or repeat offenses. It directly affects individuals charged with these offenses who are released before trial. Key provisions mandate GPS monitoring unless the court finds the defendant no longer poses a threat, require monthly court reporting on monitored defendants, and update bail condition procedures. The bill also modifies related laws to clarify victim protections and reporting requirements for violations.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRequires GPS monitoring for pretrial release on specific offenses, restricting defendant freedom and increasing surveillance, reducing pretrial rights90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Violent Crime

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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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