Criminal Justice

in committee · Tennessee · House Feb 4, 2026

HB 650: Bail, Bail Bonds - As introduced, requires a sheriff to accept the surrender of a criminal defendant on pretrial release by a bail bondsman or surety for good cause, pending a hearing by a court with jurisdiction to admit to bail to determine whether there is good cause for the surrender. - Amends TCA Title 40, Chapter 11.

HB 650 requires Tennessee sheriffs to accept surrenders of criminal defendants on pretrial release from bail bondsmen or sureties, rather than allowing sheriffs to refuse such surrenders without explanation. The bill mandates this acceptance pending a court hearing to determine if the bail company had "good cause" for the surrender. This directly affects bail bondsmen, sheriffs, and defendants who are out on pretrial release. The key provision replaces the current discretion of sheriffs with a requirement for mandatory acceptance before a court evaluates the reasonableness of the surrender.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires sheriffs to accept defendant surrenders from bondsmen with court oversight, protecting defendants' rights and reducing arbitrary detention per criminal justice reform principles.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement

Track

in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 29, 2025

HB 797: Courts, Juvenile - As enacted, requires a juvenile court conducting a child custody, detention, or adjudicatory proceeding to conduct the proceeding in a dedicated courtroom provided by the county that is closest in proximity to an approved detention center. - Amends TCA Title 37.

HB 797 requires Tennessee juvenile courts to hold child custody, detention, and court hearings in a dedicated courtroom located as close as possible to an approved juvenile detention facility in the same county. This applies to counties that operate an approved detention center for juveniles under court jurisdiction. The law aims to reduce humiliation for children by minimizing unnecessary transportation, which can involve public exposure and restraints during court transfers. It does not change existing rules about confidentiality or the use of audio-visual technology in juvenile proceedings.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires juvenile court hearings near detention centers to minimize child humiliation during transport, reducing trauma and promoting humane treatment in juvenile justice system.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Juvenile Justice

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate May 27, 2025

SB 324: Tennessee Bureau of Investigation - As enacted, enacts "Savanna's Law," which creates a registry of persistent domestic violence offenders; requires the bureau to maintain the registry. - Amends TCA Title 18; Section 38-6-103; Title 39 and Title 40.

SB 324, known as "Savanna's Law," creates a public online registry maintained by Tennessee's Bureau of Investigation (TBI) for individuals convicted of two or more domestic violence offenses against the same victim. It requires courts to forward qualifying conviction details to the TBI within seven days, listing offenders' names, dates of birth, conviction dates, and counties - while excluding sensitive information like addresses or Social Security numbers. Offenders must pay a $150 registration fee ($50 to the court, $100 to the TBI), and names are removed from the registry after 2-10 years based on prior offenses. The law applies to offenses occurring on or after January 1, 2026, and aims to enhance public awareness of repeat domestic violence offenders.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates public registry for repeat domestic violence offenders, enabling tracking to prevent future incidents and reduce recidivism, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence

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signed · Tennessee · House Apr 28, 2025

HB 1239: Opioids - As enacted, clarifies that a physician licensed in this state is the only healthcare provider authorized to prescribe a buprenorphine product for a FDA-approved use in recovery or medication-assisted treatment; revises criteria for providers not licensed in this state to prescribe a buprenorphine product for the treatment of opioid use disorder. - Amends TCA Title 33; Title 41; Title 53 and Title 63.

HB 1239 clarifies that only physicians licensed in Tennessee may prescribe buprenorphine for FDA-approved uses in opioid recovery or medication-assisted treatment. It also establishes new requirements for non-Tennessee-licensed healthcare providers (such as those working in correctional facilities) to prescribe buprenorphine for opioid use disorder: they must hold a federal DEA registration, be employed by or contract with a correctional facility or jail, and have clinical protocols for medication-assisted treatment. The bill revises existing law to limit prescribing authority while creating specific pathways for correctional healthcare providers. It takes effect on July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEnables medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder in correctional facilities, supporting rehabilitation within criminal justice system90% confidence ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareRestricts prescribing authority to Tennessee-licensed physicians only, adding barriers for non-physician providers in correctional settings, limiting access to medication-assisted treatment.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Drug Policy Substance Abuse

introduced · Tennessee · House Feb 12, 2025

HB 1251: Criminal Procedure - As introduced, exempts an applicant seeking to restore the applicant's rights of citizenship from having to pay for the cost of the application if a court orders otherwise. - Amends TCA Title 2; Title 8; Title 39 and Title 40.

HB 1251 amends Tennessee law to allow courts to waive application fees for individuals seeking to restore their citizenship rights after a criminal conviction. Currently, applicants must pay these costs unless a court specifically orders otherwise; this bill changes the default rule to explicitly permit courts to exempt applicants from fees. The bill directly affects people with past convictions who are working to regain full citizenship rights through court processes. It modifies Tennessee Code Sections 40-29-104 (and related sections) to clarify that courts may order fee waivers as part of the application procedure. The change applies to court orders issued after the bill's effective date.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill removes financial barriers for restoring citizenship rights post-conviction, aligning with criminal justice reform goals to aid reintegration and protect civil rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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signed · Tennessee · Senate May 27, 2026

SB 1232: Courts - As enacted, enacts the "Recovery Court Renewal Act." - Amends TCA Title 40, Chapter 32, Part 1.

SB 1232 allows individuals convicted of driving under the influence (DUI) in Tennessee to petition for the removal of their conviction from their criminal record after meeting specific conditions. To qualify, a person must have completed all sentence requirements (including fines, probation, and restitution) for the DUI offense, not have received prior expunctions, and not have been convicted of DUI more than once. The bill creates a new eligibility pathway for DUI expunctions, requiring the offense to be at least 10 years old from the date of conviction and limiting petitions to one per person. It takes effect July 1, 2025, and applies only to DUI convictions under Tennessee law § 55-10-401.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAllows DUI expunction after 10 years with conditions, reducing barriers to rehabilitation and aiding reintegration, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Probation & Parole Victims' Rights

in committee · Tennessee · Senate May 27, 2025

SB 1065: County Officers - As enacted, revises present law relative to constables. - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 10 and Title 38, Chapter 8.

SB 1065 requires new Tennessee county constables (elected or appointed after July 1, 2025) to complete 128 hours of law enforcement training within their first year. Until training is finished, new constables must work under a trained constable or a POST-certified officer, unless they previously served as a full-time POST-certified officer within the last five years. The bill clarifies that constables do not need POST certification to perform their duties and prohibits the POST Commission from mandating minimum work hours to maintain certification.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEnforces 128-hour training for new constables, promoting law enforcement competency and accountability in criminal justice operations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

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signed · Tennessee · Senate Apr 8, 2025

SB 335: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, enacts the "Voyeurism Victims Act." - Amends TCA Title 28; Title 29; Title 36, Chapter 3, Part 6; Title 39 and Title 40, Chapter 2.

SB 335, the "Voyeurism Victims Act," amends Tennessee law to specifically address unauthorized photography (voyeurism) by defining "unlawful photography" and expanding legal protections for victims. It adds new provisions to criminalize hidden-camera photography, multiple-victim cases, and extends the statute of limitations for prosecution by tolling it during the defendant's concealment of the crime. The bill also integrates "unlawful photography" into existing domestic violence, stalking, and human trafficking protections, allowing victims to seek relief through related legal pathways. This law directly affects individuals who experience unauthorized photography, providing clearer legal recourse and updated penalties. It takes effect July 1, 2025, after being signed by the Governor on March 25, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens victim protections in criminal justice by defining voyeurism, criminalizing hidden cameras, and extending statute of limitations for prosecution.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Human Trafficking

in committee · Tennessee · House May 15, 2025

HB 1371: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, clarifies that a person commits the offense of unlawful exposure by distributing a private, intimate image of another identifiable person with intent to cause emotional distress, regardless of whether the person who distributes the image was a party to the original agreement or understanding that the image would remain private. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17.

HB 1371 clarifies that distributing a private, intimate image of another identifiable person with intent to cause emotional distress constitutes unlawful exposure, regardless of whether the distributor was part of the original private agreement. This bill directly affects individuals who share such images without consent, including those who obtained them through private arrangements. The key change removes the previous requirement that the distributor must have been a party to the original private understanding, making it a crime to distribute these images whenever the intent is to cause emotional distress. The law amends Tennessee Code § 39-17-318(a)(1) and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeClarifies unlawful exposure to include non-consensual distribution of intimate images with intent to cause distress, strengthening victim protection and closing a legal loophole in criminal justice.90% confidence

Track

signed · Tennessee · House Apr 28, 2025

HB 973: Statutes of Limitations and Repose - As enacted, extends the statute of limitations for criminal prosecution of certain child sexual abuse felonies from 25 years from the child's eighteenth birthday to 30 years from the child's eighteenth birthday; extends the statute of limitations for a civil action based on child sexual abuse from 15 years from the child's eighteenth birthday to 30 years from the child's eighteenth birthday. - Amends TCA Title 28 and Title 40, Chapter 2.

HB 973 extends time limits for legal action related to child sexual abuse in Tennessee. It increases the criminal prosecution window from 25 to 30 years after the victim turns 18, and the civil lawsuit window from 15 to 30 years after the victim turns 18. The law directly affects victims of child sexual abuse who wish to pursue legal action later in life. This change takes effect July 1, 2025, and applies to offenses occurring on or after July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExtends statute of limitations for child sexual abuse prosecutions and civil cases, advancing victims' access to justice and aligning with criminal justice reform goals.90% confidence