SB 1705 requires Tennessee public schools to include unexcused absences from a student's previous school when they transfer to a new school or home school, using these combined absences to determine if a student meets habitual truancy thresholds. It mandates that school directors report students who were previously enrolled in public school (and received truancy interventions) but are now in home school to juvenile court if they accumulate 5+ unexcused absences. The bill also requires schools to apply progressive truancy plans and document interventions before reporting. This bill was filed for introduction in January 2026 but was withdrawn on January 20, 2026, and did not become law.
HB 1839 prevents Tennessee's Department of Correction from moving inmates from local jails to state facilities if they're in work release or re-entry programs. The bill specifically prohibits relocation unless an inmate fails to meet program requirements or has disciplinary issues that warrant removal. This directly affects inmates participating in these community-based programs, ensuring they can continue their supervision in local jails without unnecessary transfer. The law amends Tennessee statutes to enforce this restriction, focusing on maintaining program stability for eligible participants.
SB 1589 authorizes Tennessee’s Corrections Institute to establish certification requirements for corrections officers and inspect local correctional training academies serving jails and lock-ups. It changes how local facilities can avoid losing certification after inspections by requiring detailed plans of action for deficiencies, with strict time limits and safety safeguards. The bill also allows directors and full-time employees of the Corrections Institute to carry handguns while performing their duties. These provisions directly affect local correctional facilities, their staff, and training programs across Tennessee.
SJR 559 is a Tennessee legislative resolution urging the U.S. Congress to pass the ED ACCESS Act of 2022. This federal bill would remove a ban preventing students with felony drug convictions from accessing the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC), a key federal tax credit for college costs. The resolution cites research showing correctional education programs reduce recidivism and argues that denying the AOTC makes college less affordable for this group without deterring drug crime, noting similar restrictions don’t apply to other felonies. It does not change current law but formally supports federal action to address this policy.
HB 1769, "The Intercollegiate Student-Athlete Protection Act," creates new criminal offenses for harassment targeting student athletes in Tennessee. It defines "student athlete harassment" as threats or repeated bullying related to athletic performance that causes emotional distress, with first offenses classified as Class A misdemeanors (up to 11 months in jail) and repeat offenses as Class E felonies. The bill grants victims a private right to sue offenders for $75,000 per violation plus actual damages, punitive damages, and attorney fees. It also clarifies that electronic service providers are not liable for disclosing user data under valid warrants or court orders.
HB 1647, known as "Matthew Davenport's Law," creates new criminal penalties for Kratom: possessing it becomes a Class D felony, while manufacturing, delivering, or selling it becomes a Class B felony (Class A if sold to a minor). The bill also requires medical examiners to test for Kratom in overdose deaths and physicians to include Kratom in toxicology tests for suspected overdoses or neonatal abstinence syndrome. Additionally, it mandates adding Kratom to the definition of a drug for workers' compensation claims, requiring the labor commissioner to update regulations. The law will take effect on July 1, 2026.
SB 1938 increases the penalty for violating a lifetime order of protection from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony under specific circumstances. This applies when the violation occurs after a conviction for an offense involving force against a victim (such as assault) that led to the lifetime order. The bill also requires prison sentences for such violations to be served consecutively to other sentences for the same incident, though judges may allow concurrent sentences in some cases. The law would take effect on July 1, 2026, and affects individuals convicted of violent offenses who later violate lifetime protective orders.
HB 1706 would make it a serious misdemeanor for someone without legal immigration status to operate a commercial motor vehicle in Tennessee. It also requires law enforcement to notify federal immigration authorities when arresting such individuals and holds employers strictly liable for injuries caused by undocumented drivers operating commercial vehicles. The bill creates civil penalties of at least $1 million for employers or state officials who knowingly allow or issue licenses to undocumented drivers, and allows private citizens to file lawsuits on behalf of the state (known as "qui tam" actions). This bill directly affects undocumented immigrants working in commercial driving, employers, and state licensing officials, with no provisions for enforcement or implementation details yet.
SB 1535 extends the operation of Tennessee's Post-Conviction Defender Oversight Commission until June 30, 2032, by amending two sections of the Tennessee Code (Title 4, Chapter 29 and Title 40, Chapter 30, Part 2). The bill updates legal references to clarify the commission's structure and ongoing authority, ensuring its continued oversight of post-conviction defense services. This extension directly affects the commission itself and the public defenders it monitors, who provide legal representation to individuals convicted of crimes seeking post-conviction relief. The change is procedural, maintaining the commission's role without altering substantive legal standards.
SB 1629 removes criminal penalties for carrying a firearm with intent to go armed in public places, including public parks, by deleting related offenses in Tennessee law. It updates definitions to use "firearm" instead of "handgun" in multiple sections and creates specific exceptions allowing juveniles to carry firearms under limited circumstances, such as protecting livestock or transporting unloaded firearms in vehicles with safety measures. The bill also clarifies that schools may restrict firearm access in certain areas while permitting authorized individuals to carry firearms in state parks and recreational areas. This legislation directly affects the general public, juveniles, and educational institutions by modifying firearm possession rules and penalties. The changes take effect July 1, 2026.
