Criminal Justice

signed · Tennessee · Senate May 4, 2026

SB 1740: Courts, Juvenile - As enacted, expands the disposition allowed when a person under 21 is found to have unlawfully purchased, possessed, accepted receipt of, or presented fraudulent proof of age to purchase tobacco, smoking hemp, a vapor product, or a smokeless nicotine product to include requiring community service work, the successful completion of a prescribed court program, or placing the person on an informal adjustment for a period of 90 days for a first violation, and, for a second or subsequent violation, placing the person on probation for up to six months in addition to requiring community service and the successful completion of a prescribed court program focusing on the dangers of tobacco and vapor products. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 15.

SB 1740 changes penalties for individuals under 21 who illegally purchase or possess tobacco, vaping, or nicotine products. For a first violation, courts may now require community service (up to 50 hours), completion of a court program about product dangers, or a 90-day informal adjustment. For second or subsequent violations, courts must add up to six months of probation (along with community service and the program). Parents or guardians of minors may face a $10-$50 civil penalty, and the law takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeShifts penalties to rehabilitation-focused alternatives (community service, education programs) for juvenile tobacco offenses, reducing punitive measures and aligning with criminal justice reform principles.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Juvenile Justice Probation & Parole

in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 7, 2026

HB 1737: Firearms and Ammunition - As introduced, removes certain criminal offenses relative to the possession and carrying of firearms, including the offense of carrying a firearm with the intent to go armed if the person has been convicted of stalking or DUI in certain circumstances and the offense of possession of a firearm by a person under 25 if the person was adjudicated delinquent for certain offenses as a juvenile; removes the offense of possessing or carrying a weapon in a public park, playground, civic center, or other public recreational area; makes various other changes relative to the possession and carrying of firearms. - Amends TCA Title 16; Title 36; Title 37; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40; Title 49 and Title 65.

HB 1737 modifies Tennessee's firearm laws by removing specific criminal penalties related to firearm possession. It eliminates offenses for individuals convicted of stalking or DUI in certain circumstances (previously barred from carrying firearms), as well as for people under 25 who were adjudicated delinquent for certain juvenile offenses. The bill also removes the criminal prohibition against possessing or carrying weapons in public parks, playgrounds, and recreational areas. These changes amend multiple sections of Tennessee Code Annotated, including Title 39 (criminal procedure), Title 16 (criminal justice), and others, to update firearm possession restrictions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill removes criminal penalties for specific firearm offenses, reducing unnecessary criminalization and aligning with criminal justice reform goals by expanding rights for certain individuals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Drug Policy Firearms

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate May 15, 2026

SB 1737: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, creates the offense for a person to knowingly travel, with intent to commit theft of another person's cash, from a commercial business; a financial institution; or an automated teller machine, on the same path or route as another person without substantial deviation from that path or route while in possession of two or more criminal instruments. - Amends TCA Title 39.

SB 1737 creates a new criminal offense in Tennessee for knowingly traveling on the same path as another person (without substantial deviation) toward a business or financial institution, while carrying two or more "criminal instruments" with intent to steal cash. It directly affects individuals who attempt coordinated thefts by following others' routes while possessing tools like lockpicks or fake IDs designed for crime. The law classifies violations as a Class A misdemeanor, escalating to a Class D felony if the person commits additional crimes like burglary, or a Class B felony if they commit armed robbery. This bill defines "criminal instruments" as items not inherently illegal but used for offenses under specific Tennessee criminal codes.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new criminal offense for coordinated theft, expanding criminalization and increasing penalties for non-violent behavior.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Violent Crime

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in committee · Tennessee · House May 5, 2026

HB 2074: Employees, Employers - As enacted, requires a public safety employer to provide an employee or prospective employee with reasonable access to the employee's or prospective employee's full employment record, including the results of any mental health evaluation or screening; makes certain other changes relative to employment by a public safety employer. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 8; Title 38; Title 50; Title 62 and Title 68.

HB 2074 requires public safety employers (like police departments, fire departments, and emergency medical services) to provide employees or job applicants with reasonable access to their full employment records, including mental health evaluation results. If a job applicant is denied employment based on a mental health screening, they must be shown the results and can request a second evaluation at their own expense. The employer must then reevaluate the applicant using the new results. This bill directly affects public safety workers and applicants in Tennessee, creating a clear process for accessing sensitive employment information.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires public safety employers to provide mental health evaluation access and reevaluation rights for applicants, enhancing transparency and accountability in law enforcement hiring practices.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill mandates public safety employers to provide access to employment records including mental health evaluations, enabling workers to challenge denials and request reevaluation. Protects workers' rights to transparency and fair employment practices.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing Public Employees Tags Public Safety

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Jan 22, 2026

SB 1801: Election Laws - As introduced, restores a person's right of suffrage automatically upon the person's discharge from custody by reason of service or expiration of the maximum sentence imposed by the court for the infamous crime. - Amends TCA Title 2 and Title 40.

SB 1801 automatically restores voting rights for people released from prison after serving a sentence for a "serious crime" (as defined by Tennessee law), without requiring a pardon or special conditions. It directly affects individuals convicted of such crimes who have completed their sentences or been discharged from custody. The key provision requires county election commissions to accept prison discharge documents as proof of restored voting rights, replacing previous requirements for gubernatorial pardons or court orders. This change applies to people released after the bill takes effect, streamlining the process for rejoining the electorate.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestores voting rights automatically for formerly incarcerated individuals post-sentence, advancing reintegration and civil rights - core criminal justice reform principles.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Corrections Courts

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signed · Tennessee · Senate Apr 6, 2026

SB 1569: Correction, Dept. of - As enacted, requires the department to conduct an annual education assessment of each inmate who is serving a period of confinement for committing a felony offense to ascertain the inmate's highest grade or educational level attained, as well as their interest in continuing, completing, or advancing their education; requires the department to notify such inmates of the educational programming and opportunities available. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 41 and Title 49.

This bill requires Tennessee's Department of Correction to conduct annual education assessments for inmates serving felony sentences. The assessments determine each inmate's highest education level and interest in continuing or advancing their studies. The department must then provide written notice within 90 days of the assessment about available educational programs. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires inmate education assessments and program access to promote rehabilitation and reduce recidivism - core criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 15, 2026

HB 1765: Orders of Protection - As introduced, increases from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony the penalty for the criminal offense of violation of an order of protection if the order violated was a lifetime order of protection and the conviction that the lifetime order of protection was based on involved the use of force against a victim. - Amends TCA Title 36 and Title 39.

HB 1765 upgrades penalties for violating lifetime protection orders from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony under specific conditions. It applies only when the violation involves a lifetime order (issued under TCA §36-3-627) and the original order was based on a conviction involving force against a victim. The law requires consecutive prison sentences for these violations unless a judge orders concurrent terms. This change affects individuals who breach such orders after a force-based conviction, increasing criminal penalties for repeat or severe violations.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeUpgrades violation penalties to felony, increasing mandatory sentences and expanding criminalization under specific conditions, aligning with 'oppose' indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Domestic Violence Judges

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 2, 2026

SB 2098: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, creates an offense for a vape shop retailer, or a distributor, wholesaler, or importer, who sells or offers for sale a vapor product for retail sale in this state to sell nitrous oxides. - Amends TCA Title 39; Title 57, Chapter 7 and Title 67.

SB 2098 prohibits vape shop retailers, distributors, wholesalers, and importers from selling or offering nitrous oxide (laughing gas) for retail sale in Tennessee. It directly affects businesses operating vape shops or handling vape products, imposing fines starting at $500 per violation for first offenses, increasing to $1,000-$1,500 for third violations within a year, and adding license suspensions or revocations for repeat offenses. Manufacturers causing nitrous oxide to be sold through these channels face $10,000 fines per product. The law creates civil penalties (not criminal charges) and treats repeated violations as deceptive trade practices, effective July 2026.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new criminal offense for nitrous oxide sales, expanding criminalization rather than advancing reform or reducing penalties.90% confidence

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 2043: Sheriffs - As introduced, prohibits the county legislative body of a county with a charter form of government from adopting a budget that reduces the budget for the sheriff below the budgeted amount for the previous fiscal year unless the reduction is approved in writing by the sheriff; authorizes a sheriff to approve or disapprove a budget amendment that would reduce personnel, operational, or capital expenditures below the level proposed by the sheriff; authorizes the county legislative body to override the sheriff's disapproval by a two-thirds vote. - Amends TCA Title 5, Chapter 1, Part 2; Title 5, Chapter 9, Part 4 and Title 8, Chapter 20, Part 1.

This bill prevents Tennessee counties with charter governments from reducing a sheriff's budget below the previous year's level for essential services (like personnel salaries, benefits, and operations) without the sheriff's written approval. Sheriffs gain the authority to disapprove any budget changes that would cut personnel, operations, or capital spending below their proposed level. County legislative bodies can override a sheriff's disapproval only with a two-thirds vote. It directly affects sheriffs and county councils in charter counties regarding budget decisions for core sheriff functions.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesPrevents county budget cuts to sheriff's essential services (personnel, operations) without sheriff's approval, protecting existing funding levels and preventing defunding.92% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticePrevents county budget cuts to sheriff's personnel, operations, and capital spending without sheriff approval, maintaining law enforcement funding essential to criminal justice operations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Law Enforcement

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in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 8, 2026

HB 1961: Veterans - As introduced, enacts the “Tennessee Veteran Protection and Due Process Act.” - Amends TCA Title 7; Title 8; Title 38 and Title 58.

HB 1961, the "Tennessee Veteran Protection and Due Process Act," prohibits Tennessee state and local law enforcement from assisting federal immigration authorities in detaining or transferring veterans without specific safeguards. It requires police to screen individuals for military service and verify veteran status using documents like a DD-214 before honoring federal immigration requests. The law mandates that federal authorities must provide written certification confirming non-veteran status or VA verification, and transfers require a judicial warrant and proof that veterans' immigration options were considered. Veterans in state custody must also be informed of their right to military-experienced legal counsel and maintain access to benefits during proceedings.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires law enforcement to verify veteran status before detaining, protecting civil rights in law enforcement interactions per bill's due process safeguards.90% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationLimits state cooperation with federal immigration enforcement by requiring veteran status verification before detaining, protecting veterans from immigration enforcement without due process.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill protects veterans from wrongful immigration detention by requiring verification of veteran status and mandating federal certification for non-veterans, directly advancing veteran rights and due process.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing Memorials & Recognition Veteran Benefits Veteran Mental Health

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