Criminal Justice

in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 26, 2025

HB 1190: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, creates a Class E felony that is committed when a person exercises control over a motor vehicle knowing that the person does not have the permission of the owner of the motor vehicle; creates a Class A misdemeanor of possessing a firearm that the person knows or reasonably should know has been stolen. - Amends TCA Title 39.

HB 1190 creates two new criminal offenses in Tennessee. It makes it a Class E felony to control a motor vehicle without the owner's permission (knowing they lack authorization), and a Class A misdemeanor to possess a firearm the person knows or should know was stolen. The bill specifies that vehicle control without permission will be punished as theft under existing law, while the firearm provision allows standard defenses for possession. These changes directly affect individuals who commit vehicle control without consent or possess stolen firearms, with penalties defined by the bill's new sections in Tennessee Code Annotated Title 39. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new felony/misdemeanor offenses for vehicle control without permission and stolen firearm possession, expanding criminalization and increasing penalties without reform elements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Firearms

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 25, 2026

SB 1187: 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.

SB 1187 requires courts to mandate GPS monitoring for defendants released on bail in specific cases, including those accused of firearm offenses, domestic assault, vehicle burglary, reckless driving, drag racing, or repeat crimes under certain statutes. It directly affects defendants charged with these offenses who are granted bail, unless a court determines they no longer pose a threat to victims or public safety. The bill adds reporting requirements for courts to track monthly GPS usage and submit annual county-level data to legislative committees. Key provisions include mandating GPS as a bail condition for listed offenses and requiring courts to document factors for release decisions. The law amends multiple Tennessee Code sections to implement these changes.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandates GPS monitoring for specific offenses, restricting defendant rights without reform language or rehabilitation focus.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Firearms Violent Crime

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 27, 2026

SB 1210: Law Enforcement - As enacted, requires a prosecuting agency that maintains a Brady list to adopt a policy that meets certain requirements. - Amends TCA Title 38, Chapter 8.

SB 1210 requires state or local law enforcement officers in Tennessee to receive written notice detailing the specific allegations before being placed on a "Brady list" (a list tracking officers with misconduct allegations), and mandates at least 10 business days for the officer to respond before the placement is finalized. This bill directly affects law enforcement officers who might face placement on such a list due to misconduct allegations. The key mechanism is the procedural safeguard of prior written notice and a response period, amending Tennessee Code Annotated Title 38, Chapter 8. The bill focuses on due process for officers during the listing process, without changing the criteria for listing.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill weakens law enforcement oversight by requiring notice and response time before placing officers on Brady list, reducing swift accountability for misconduct allegations.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

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in committee · Tennessee · House May 15, 2025

HB 34: Juvenile Offenders - As enacted, permits a court to use juvenile court records, including the disposition and evidence, in pretrial reports used to set bond for certain criminal offenses; requires the magistrate to consider the defendant's prior juvenile record in determining the defendant's risk of danger to the community. - Amends TCA Title 37 and Title 40.

HB 34 (Tennessee) changes how juvenile court records can be used in adult criminal cases. It permits courts to include juvenile records (like case outcomes and evidence) in pretrial reports used to set bond for certain criminal offenses. The bill also requires judges to consider a defendant's prior juvenile record when assessing their risk of harming the community. This directly affects individuals with past juvenile court involvement who face adult criminal charges, altering how their history influences bond decisions.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill permits juvenile records to be used in adult bond hearings and risk assessment, potentially increasing pretrial detention and punitive outcomes. This expands criminalization of past behavior and reduces defendant rights.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Judges Juvenile Justice

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in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 1, 2025

HB 167: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, enacts "MaKayla's Law," which amends the offense of reckless endangerment to specifically include a person's reckless failure to render inoperable or safely secure or lock a firearm, resulting in a child under 13 gaining possession of the firearm and injuring or killing the child or another. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 13.

HB 167, known as "MaKayla's Law," amends Tennessee's reckless endangerment law to specifically address firearm safety. It makes it a felony for an adult who fails to lock, secure, or store a firearm safely, resulting in a child under 13 gaining access, discharging it, and causing injury or death. The law creates two new felony charges: a Class E felony for bodily injury and a Class C felony for death. This directly affects firearm owners in households with children under 13, imposing criminal penalties for negligent storage that leads to harm. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new felony charges for firearm negligence, expanding criminalization and increasing penalties, opposing criminal justice reform efforts by adding stricter sentencing.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Firearms

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died · Tennessee · House Feb 5, 2025

HB 159: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, increases the penalty for reckless endangerment committed by discharging a firearm or antique firearm into a motor vehicle from a Class E felony to a Class C felony, unless the motor vehicle was unoccupied at the time of the offense, in which event it is a Class D felony. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 13, Part 1.

HB 159, introduced in Tennessee but withdrawn on February 5, 2025, would have increased penalties for reckless endangerment involving firearms. Specifically, it proposed raising the penalty for discharging a firearm (including antique firearms) into an *occupied* motor vehicle from a Class E felony to a Class C felony. If the vehicle was unoccupied at the time, the offense would have remained a Class D felony. The bill directly affected individuals who recklessly fire into vehicles, aiming to strengthen criminal penalties for this specific dangerous act.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases penalties for firearm-related reckless endangerment, raising felony class from E to C for occupied vehicles, making punishment harsher per sentencing indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms

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passed both · Tennessee · Senate Apr 30, 2025

SJR 25: Constitutional Amendments - Proposes an amendment to Article I, Section 15 of the Constitution of Tennessee to remove the right to bail for the following offenses when the proof is evident or the presumption great: act of terrorism; second degree murder; aggravated rape of a child; aggravated rape; grave torture; and any other offense, as of November 3, 2026, for which a defendant, if convicted, could not be released prior to the expiration of at least 85 percent of the entire sentence imposed. -

Tennessee Senate Joint Resolution 25 proposes a constitutional amendment that would remove the right to bail for specific serious offenses when evidence is strong. It targets charges including terrorism, second-degree murder, aggravated rape of a child, aggravated rape, grave torture, and any other offense where a conviction would require serving at least 85% of the sentence before release. Judges would be required to document their bail decisions for these cases, and the amendment would take effect on November 3, 2026. The proposal must be approved by voters in the 2026 general election to become part of Tennessee's constitution.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRemoves bail rights for severe crimes, restricting defendant liberties and increasing mandatory detention - directly opposes bail reform trends.95% confidence

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in committee · Tennessee · House Feb 11, 2025

HB 143: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, expands the Class C felony offense of aggravated assault against a first responder to include knowingly possessing fentanyl, carfentanil, remifentanil, alfentanil, thiafentanil, or a fentanyl analogue in a manner that would be reasonably foreseen to expose a first responder to the substance while the first responder is discharging or attempting to discharge the first responder's official duties and the first responder is exposed resulting in the serious bodily injury or death of the first responder. - Amends TCA Title 39.

HB 143 expands Tennessee's Class C felony charge for aggravated assault against first responders to include knowingly possessing specific fentanyl-related substances (fentanyl, carfentanil, remifentanil, alfentanil, thiafentanil, or analogues) in a way that reasonably exposes first responders to those substances during official duties. This directly affects individuals who possess these drugs in circumstances where exposure could cause serious injury or death to a first responder. The bill defines "expose" as direct contact via touch, ingestion, or inhalation and sets a mandatory $15,000 fine plus a 90-day minimum jail term with no early release. It takes effect July 1, 2025, and applies to cases where the first responder suffers serious injury or death due to the exposure.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by adding fentanyl possession as aggravated assault against first responders, increasing penalties for drug-related offenses targeting public safety.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Drug Policy Violent Crime

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vetoed · Tennessee · Senate May 5, 2025

SB 455: Probation and Parole - As introduced, removes the limitations on the board of parole's authority to deny parole based solely on the seriousness of the offense for certain offenses to allow denial based on the seriousness of the offense for any offense. - Amends TCA Title 40, Chapter 35, Part 5.

SB 455 would have removed a restriction on Tennessee's parole board, allowing it to deny parole based solely on the seriousness of an offense for *any* crime - not just specific offenses previously covered. This change would directly affect incarcerated individuals in Tennessee whose parole eligibility is reviewed by the board. The bill amended Tennessee Code Annotated § 40-35-503(b)(2)(A) to remove the phrase requiring parole denial to "depreciate the seriousness of the crime," broadening the board's authority. The bill was signed by legislative leaders but vetoed by the Governor on May 5, 2025, so it did not become law.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRemoves restriction on parole denial for any offense, increasing incarceration by allowing board to deny parole based solely on offense seriousness, reducing defendant rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole

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died · Tennessee · House Apr 29, 2025

HB 769: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, creates a criminal offense of possessing, distributing, or producing technology, software, or digital tools designed for the purpose of creating material that includes a minor engaged in sexual activity or simulated sexual activity that is patently offensive; establishes relevant factors to be considered in determining whether artificial technology, software, or digital tools are used or possessed with intent to create material that includes a minor engaged in sexual activity or simulated sexual activity that is patently offensive. - Amends TCA Title 39.

HB 769 makes it a crime to knowingly possess, distribute, or produce technology, software, or digital tools designed to create material featuring minors in sexual activity or extremely inappropriate simulated sexual activity. It directly affects individuals who use such tools, with penalties ranging from a Class E felony (possession) to a Class B felony (production). The law specifies that courts must consider factors like the defendant’s statements, existing material in their possession, advertising, and expert testimony to determine intent. This bill creates new criminal penalties for tools specifically intended to generate such material, not for general technology use.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new criminal offense for possessing tools to create CSAM, expanding criminalization with felony penalties - directly increases legal restrictions on technology use.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

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