Criminal Justice (Violent Crime)

in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 11, 2026

HB 2618: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, increases the penalty for assault against a first responder from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony with a mandatory fine of $10,000 and a mandatory minimum sentence of 60 days. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 13.

HB 2618 increases penalties for assaulting first responders (like police and EMTs) in Tennessee, reclassifying it from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony. The bill mandates a $10,000 fine and a 60-day minimum jail sentence with no early release for these offenses, effective July 1, 2026. It also separately increases penalties for assaults against nurses to a Class A misdemeanor with a $5,000 fine and 30-day minimum sentence. The bill directly affects individuals convicted of assaulting these specific professions by imposing stricter financial and incarceration requirements.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandates felony penalties with mandatory minimums for assaulting first responders, increasing criminalization and restricting defendant rights through no early release.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Policing Violent Crime

Track

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 20, 2026

SB 2649: Tennessee Bureau of Investigation - As introduced, requires the TBI to establish a cold case division, to be divided into three geographic regions, each staffed by a regional director and no fewer than five cold case detectives; requires each local law enforcement agency to submit unsolved missing person or homicide cases to the cold case division following the passage of 10 years without resolution. - Amends TCA Title 38; Title 39 and Title 40.

SB 2649 creates a statewide cold case division within the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), organized into three geographic regions with each region requiring a regional director and at least five dedicated cold case detectives. It mandates that local law enforcement agencies submit unsolved missing person or homicide cases to this division after 10 years without resolution. Family members of victims may request access to their case files after 10 years if they have no criminal record, a prior statement in the file, and are not suspects. The bill directly affects victims' families, local police departments, and the TBI by establishing new investigative protocols for long-standing cases.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates TBI cold case division to solve unsolved homicides/missing persons after 10 years, requiring local agency submissions and family access, promoting criminal justice reform.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing Violent Crime

Track

in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 2266: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, increases the penalty for vehicular homicide from a Class C felony to a Class B felony if the offense occurred as the proximate result of the driver's extreme and excessive rate of speed; defines "extreme and excessive rate of speed" as traveling at more than 20 miles per hour over the posted speed limit. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 55.

HB 2266 amends Tennessee law to increase the penalty for vehicular homicide from a Class C felony to a Class B felony when the death results from a driver traveling more than 20 miles per hour over the posted speed limit. The bill directly affects drivers whose extreme speeding (defined as exceeding the speed limit by 20+ mph) causes a fatal crash. It creates a specific speed threshold ("extreme and excessive rate of speed") and upgrades the felony classification for such cases. This change applies to prosecutions under Tennessee Code Annotated Sections 39-13-213(a)(5) and (b)(4), effective July 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases vehicular homicide penalty from Class C to Class B felony for excessive speeding, strengthening punitive sentencing per bill's explicit penalty upgrade.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationIncreases penalties for dangerous speeding (20+ mph over limit) causing death, directly enhancing road safety through stricter vehicle regulation enforcement.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime Traffic Safety Vehicle Registration

Track

in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 23, 2026

HB 2153: Domestic Violence - As introduced, enacts "Katherine's Law"; creates the offense of aggravated domestic assault, which is a Class B felony. - Amends TCA Title 39.

HB 2153, known as "Katherine's Law," creates a new offense called "aggravated domestic assault" under Tennessee law. This offense applies when someone intentionally or knowingly assaults a domestic abuse victim (as defined in existing law) using a deadly weapon, strangulation, or causing serious injury or death. Aggravated domestic assault is classified as a Class B felony, making it a more serious criminal charge than standard domestic assault. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and will apply to offenses occurring on or after that date.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates Class B felony for aggravated domestic assault (deadly weapon/strangulation), strengthening penalties for severe cases per TCA amendments.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Violent Crime

Track

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 25, 2026

SB 2665: 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 and Title 55.

SB 2665 requires Tennessee courts to mandate GPS monitoring as a bail condition for defendants charged with specific serious offenses - including those involving firearms, violence, domestic assault, vehicle burglary, reckless driving, drag racing, or repeat crimes - unless the court documents in writing that the defendant poses no threat to victims or public safety. It applies to cases where the defendant was arrested for one of these listed offenses. Courts must report monthly data on defendants under GPS monitoring to the Administrative Office of the Courts, which will compile an annual statewide report for legislative committees. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandates GPS monitoring for specific offenses, restricting defendant freedom and reducing pretrial release options, aligning with 'oppose' indicators of limiting rights.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Judges Violent Crime

Track

in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 29, 2026

HB 2432: Statutes of Limitations and Repose - As enacted, requires prosecution for vehicular homicide committed on or after July 1, 2026, to commence within 10 years from the date the offense occurs. - Amends TCA Title 28; Title 39 and Title 40.

HB 2432, known as "Quinton's Law," amends Tennessee's statutes of limitations for wrongful death claims and other civil actions. It extends the deadline for filing wrongful death lawsuits to three years if criminal charges are filed against the alleged perpetrator within two years of the incident, covering cases involving law enforcement, district attorneys, or grand jury prosecutions. For other civil claims like libel, false imprisonment, or civil rights cases, it shortens the filing deadline from two years to one year. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, applying to cases accruing on or after that date.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExtends wrongful death lawsuit deadline (3 years) for law enforcement cases when criminal charges filed, enhancing victim accountability in criminal justice contexts. Shortening other claims is secondary.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Law Enforcement Violent Crime

Track

in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 15, 2026

HB 2367: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, adds "a victim" to the definition of an individual involved in the judicial process for purposes of the criminal offense of harming or threatening to harm an individual involved in the judicial process; makes various other changes regarding victims of crime. - Amends TCA Title 29; Title 39 and Title 40.

HB 2367 expands the legal definition of "victim" in Tennessee criminal law to include insurance companies that compensated victims and law enforcement agencies that spent funds on investigations. It also explicitly allows victims (or their representatives) to attend court proceedings related to their case, beyond the state's designated witness. The bill specifically adds certain offenses - like evading arrest causing serious injury/death and vehicular homicide - to the list where victim impact is considered during sentencing. These changes directly affect crime victims, their representatives, insurance providers, and law enforcement agencies involved in criminal cases. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands victim definition to include insurers/law enforcement and mandates victim participation in court, enhancing victim protections in criminal proceedings.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Sentencing Victims' Rights Violent Crime

Track

signed · Tennessee · Senate May 27, 2026

SB 1868: Children's Services, Dept. of - As enacted, requires a child placed in the custody of the department to remain in custody so long as necessary to complete treatment or services, which must be evidence-based and provided by a qualified provider; makes other changes to child custody law; creates a juvenile commitment review task force to examine system issues and service gaps for certain children committed to the custody of the department. - Amends TCA Title 37, Chapter 1, Part 1.

SB 1868 defines a new category called "child in need of heightened supervision" for children who exhibit or threaten violent behavior consistent with specific offenses (like assault), regardless of formal charges or prior adjudication. This bill directly affects children who display violent conduct in schools or communities, expanding when authorities can detain or commit them to residential care. Key provisions include updating detention criteria to include this new category, requiring notification to children about assault consequences in residential facilities, and adding a six-month extension to indefinite custody if a child assaults staff. The bill amends multiple sections of Tennessee’s child welfare laws to implement these changes, effective July 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands juvenile detention without formal charges, increasing criminalization and reducing due process for children in violent behavior cases.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice Violent Crime

signed · Tennessee · Senate May 27, 2026

SB 1909: Courts - As enacted, removes a conviction for domestic assault from the definition of a violent offender for purposes of drug treatment courts; changes the definition of a violent offender for purposes of drug treatment courts from an offender with a conviction for an offense involving certain acts to an offender with a conviction for a felony offense involving certain acts within the previous 10 years. - Amends TCA Title 16, Chapter 22.

SB 1909 changes eligibility rules for Tennessee's drug treatment courts by revising the definition of a "violent offender." It removes convictions for domestic assault from being considered a violent offense that disqualifies someone from these courts, while requiring that a disqualifying violent offense must now be a felony committed within the past 10 years. This means individuals previously barred due to a domestic assault conviction (but without a recent felony violent offense) may now qualify for drug treatment court instead of standard criminal sentencing. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated § 16-22-103 and takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves domestic assault convictions from violent offender definition for drug treatment courts, expanding eligibility for rehabilitation programs and aligning with criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves domestic assault conviction barrier for drug treatment courts, improving access to substance abuse healthcare services.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Sentencing Violent Crime

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1955: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, defines "criminally negligent conduct,” as used in the offense of criminally negligent homicide, to include failing or refusing to render aid to another person who is unconscious or in need of medical care and the person failing to act knows or reasonably should know that the unconsciousness or need for medical care occurred after the consumption of any controlled substance. - Amends TCA Title 39.

SB 1955 amends Tennessee's criminally negligent homicide law to define "criminally negligent conduct" as including failing to render aid to someone unconscious or needing medical care after controlled substance use, when the bystander knows or should know about the substance connection. It directly affects individuals who witness medical emergencies involving drugs but choose not to assist. The key provision expands the criminal definition to cover such inaction, making it a specific element of the offense. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and applies to cases involving controlled substances as defined in Tennessee law.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by making bystander inaction in drug-related medical emergencies a criminally negligent offense, increasing liability under negligent homicide law.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Violent Crime

Track