HB 2374 changes Tennessee court procedures for handling bench warrants when defendants fail to appear. It removes the requirement for courts to enter certain misdemeanor (violent/sexual) or non-violent felony bench warrants into state/federal databases, extends the time for entering felony warrants from 3 to 10 business days, and makes it optional for courts to relieve bail bond sureties of liability if warrants aren't entered within that timeframe. The bill directly affects courts, bail bond companies, and defendants who skip court appearances. These changes modify administrative processes but do not alter criminal definitions or penalties.
HB 2309 requires courts to impose a fine of at least twice the actual property damage or restoration costs when vandalism occurs at a house of worship, in addition to any other sentence. This applies specifically to offenses committed at religious buildings, directly affecting houses of worship that suffer damage and the courts sentencing offenders. The law amends Tennessee sentencing guidelines (TCA Title 39) to mandate this automatic double-fine calculation based on verified costs, overriding standard sentencing discretion for these cases. The bill would take effect on July 1, 2026, if passed.
SB 2161 changes Tennessee's bail procedures for defendants who miss court appearances. It removes the requirement for courts to enter bench warrants into state/federal databases for misdemeanor failures involving violence or sex, or for non-violent/non-sexual felonies. The bill extends the deadline for entering felony failure-to-appear warrants from 3 to 10 business days and allows courts to optionally relieve bail bond sureties of liability if the defendant isn't listed in databases within that timeframe. These changes directly affect courts (in their database entry duties), defendants (in fugitive status), and bail bond sureties (in liability relief options).
HB 2296 would require Tennessee courts to impose GPS monitoring as a condition of release for defendants charged with specific offenses, including domestic assault, vehicle burglaries, and offenses involving firearms or violence, unless the court makes a written finding that the defendant does not pose a threat to victims or public safety. Courts must report monthly to the administrative office of the courts on the number of defendants under GPS monitoring, and this office would compile an annual report for the legislature. The bill applies to cases such as domestic assault (under § 39-13-111), vehicle burglaries (§ 39-13-1002), reckless driving (§ 55-10-205), and repeat offenses. This policy adds GPS monitoring as a standard requirement for these offenses, with a safeguard to avoid unnecessary monitoring.
SB 2396 creates new criminal offenses for employers who systematically evade federal employment verification rules (like I-9 forms) or exploit unauthorized workers. It targets employers - especially officers, managers, or general contractors - with repeated violations, making it a Class E felony. Key mechanisms include mandatory restitution for lost wages, unpaid taxes, and benefits, plus fines of $50,000-$500,000 for businesses. The bill directly affects employers who fail to comply with verification requirements across multiple workers, with penalties extending to business owners and contractors. It also requires future compliance monitoring for convicted entities.
HB 2355 increases penalties for businesses illegally disposing of sewage by upgrading violations from a Class C to Class B misdemeanor when committed during septic waste removal operations. It directly affects businesses permitted to remove accumulated wastes from septic systems. The bill requires courts to notify the environmental commissioner upon conviction, triggering automatic permit suspensions (30 days for first offense, 90 days for second, permanent revocation for third or subsequent violations). These changes apply to violations occurring on or after July 1, 2026.
HB 2369 increases the monthly supervision fee for defendants under court supervision from $10 to $15. It also requires municipalities to pay autopsy costs requested by local law enforcement, unless the state covers them. Additionally, the bill reclassifies illegal possession of communication devices in prisons as a Class E felony (previously a fine-only offense). These changes directly affect defendants paying fees, municipalities managing autopsy costs, and inmates facing new felony charges for prison device violations. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.
HB 2526 creates a new legal category called "child in need of heightened supervision" for children who exhibit violent behavior (including offenses like assault) without requiring formal charges or adjudication. It directly affects children in Tennessee's juvenile justice system who display violent tendencies, expanding the criteria for detention and shelter care. Key provisions include adding this category to court procedures, requiring longer supervision periods (up to six months) after a child assaults staff at residential facilities, and updating legal language to include this new category alongside "delinquent" or "unruly" designations. The bill aims to address safety concerns in residential placements while modifying existing legal processes for child commitment and detention.
HB 2504 requires courts to sentence defendants as "repeat violent offenders" to life imprisonment if they have three or more qualifying violent offenses committed on or after July 1, 2026. It directly affects individuals convicted of multiple serious violent crimes, including aggravated rape, kidnapping, child sexual abuse, or aggravated robbery. The bill establishes a "strikes" system where each qualifying offense counts toward the three required strikes, with at least two strikes needing to come from specific violent offenses listed in the bill (like aggravated rape or kidnapping). It applies only to offenses committed after July 1, 2026, and includes rules for counting prior convictions from other states or jurisdictions.
HB 2285 changes Tennessee sentencing rules for defendants receiving split sentences (part jail time, part probation). It increases the maximum continuous jail time from one year to three years for such sentences, while requiring the state to cover all incarceration costs after the first year. This directly affects criminal defendants sentenced under these terms, particularly those serving split sentences in local jails or workhouses. The law amends Tennessee Code Annotated Sections 40-35-306 and 40-35-314, effective July 1, 2026.
