HB 661, the "Comprehensive Assault Crime Intervention Act," requires judges to mandate counseling for individuals convicted of assault offenses. It specifies that defendants must complete certified batterer's intervention programs (minimum 26 weeks, 3 hours per session, with a 6:1 participant-to-counselor ratio) or substance abuse treatment as part of sentencing. The bill also mandates annual 12+ hour domestic violence training for judges and court staff. These provisions directly affect assault defendants and court personnel, focusing on rehabilitation and consistent judicial handling of domestic violence-related cases.
SB 547 requires Tennessee court clerks to add a $12.50 fee to every misdemeanor and felony cost bill, sending the collected funds to county governments (or district attorney offices in multi-county districts) for public safety support services. These funds must be used at the sole discretion of the district attorney general for public safety purposes, with no requirement for specific programs. Counties must approve the fee via a two-thirds vote of their legislative body, and district attorneys must submit annual reports detailing how the funds were spent. The fee does not apply to traffic violations or affect existing restitution or criminal injury compensation payments.
SB 300 requires individuals convicted of a Class A or Class B misdemeanor in Tennessee general sessions court to complete a cognitive behavioral training course. Offenders must pay for the course (capped at $100), provide proof of completion to the court within a court-specified timeframe, and face up to 10 days in jail for willful failure to comply. The course must be accessible online, multilingual, include human interaction, and provide a completion certificate within 72 hours. This bill directly affects misdemeanor offenders and takes effect July 1, 2025.
HB 1257 expands expungement eligibility in Tennessee to include individuals who facilitated, attempted, or solicited offenses that were already eligible for expungement under existing law. It modifies multiple criminal justice statutes (Tennessee Code Annotated Titles 7, 16, 38, 40, 55, and 57) to clarify this expanded eligibility, directly affecting people seeking to clear certain criminal records. The bill also requires expungement forms to be publicly accessible on court websites. This law took effect in April 2025 after becoming Public Chapter 268.
HB 1089 requires courts to order mental health evaluations for defendants convicted of specific abuse-related crimes - including domestic assault, child abuse, aggravated child abuse, or cruelty to animals - before sentencing. The law directs Tennessee's Department of Mental Health to create a process where community mental health centers or qualified professionals conduct these evaluations. It directly affects defendants in these cases and the state's mental health evaluation system, adding a pre-sentencing step to assess potential mental health factors. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 39-14-202 and related titles to implement this requirement, effective May 21, 2025.
HB 687 modifies Tennessee's voting rights laws by removing permanent disenfranchisement for individuals convicted of first-degree murder, aggravated rape, treason, or voter fraud. It replaces the requirement to pay all past court costs with a simpler standard: voters must be compliant with current child support orders (not fully paid arrears). The bill also establishes a three-year waiting period after sentence completion for those convicted of the listed crimes before they can regain voting rights, provided they meet other eligibility criteria. This directly affects Tennessee residents with these specific convictions who were previously barred from voting permanently or required to settle all financial obligations.
SB 993 extends the deadline for individuals with suspended or revoked handgun permits to request court review of the decision from 30 to 60 days. This change directly affects permit holders whose permits were suspended or revoked by the Tennessee Department of Safety. The bill amends multiple sections of Tennessee law (Titles 4, 8, 10, 29, 33, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 49, 50, and 70) to update this review period, providing more time for affected individuals to seek judicial review.
HB 1012 removes absolute immunity for Tennessee attorneys who commit specific criminal acts while representing a client or prospective client. It directly affects attorneys who engage in perjury, subornation of perjury, tampering with evidence, destruction of records, or coercing witnesses during legal proceedings. The bill amends state law to clarify that such conduct is not protected by litigation privilege, making attorneys subject to criminal prosecution for these offenses. This change ensures attorneys can be held accountable under criminal law for misconduct that undermines court integrity, aligning with professional conduct rules requiring candor and honesty. The bill does not alter existing criminal penalties but removes a legal barrier to prosecuting attorneys for these specific violations.
