Criminal Justice

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 2, 2025

SB 923: Controlled Substances - As introduced, decriminalizes the possession of less than one ounce of marijuana or less than five marijuana plants; authorizes municipalities and counties to impose civil penalties on the possession of marijuana in certain circumstances. - Amends TCA Title 16, Chapter 18, Part 3; Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 4 and Title 40.

SB 923 decriminalizes the possession of less than one ounce (28.35 grams) of marijuana or up to five marijuana plants in Tennessee, removing criminal penalties for these amounts. It directly affects individuals caught with these small quantities, while allowing municipalities and counties to impose civil penalties (up to $250) for public possession or casual sharing of small amounts. Key provisions include defining "casual exchange" as spontaneous sharing without money or payment methods, and specifying penalties calculated at $25 per 0.1 ounce or $50 per plant. The bill does not change laws regarding marijuana sales or larger quantities, and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeDecriminalizes minor marijuana possession, removing criminal penalties and shifting to civil penalties - directly reducing criminalization and advancing drug policy reform in criminal justice.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

Track

signed · Tennessee · House May 27, 2025

HB 1128: County Officers - As enacted, revises present law relative to constables. - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 10 and Title 38, Chapter 8.

HB 1128 revises Tennessee's laws governing county constables by establishing new training requirements and removing certain certification barriers. It requires all constables newly elected or appointed on or after July 1, 2025, to complete 128 hours of law enforcement training within their first year, with a pairing requirement with experienced officers during training unless they have prior POST-certified experience. The bill eliminates the requirement for constables to be certified by the POST commission to perform their duties and removes any mandated work-hour minimums for maintaining certification. This directly affects county constables in Tennessee, changing how they qualify and train for their roles.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires enhanced law enforcement training for constables, improving officer competence and accountability within the criminal justice system.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

in committee · Tennessee · Senate May 15, 2026

SB 1467: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, enacts "The Memphis Safe Task Force Accountability Act." - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 7 and Title 39.

SB 1467, the "Memphis Safe Task Force Accountability Act," requires Tennessee district attorneys general to submit a 24-hour report to state and federal officials whenever they make specific decisions about felony cases tied to two federal law enforcement operations: the Memphis Safe Task Force or Operation Viper. The report must be filed if the district attorney enters a plea agreement, reduces charges, dismisses a case, or declines to prosecute. This applies only to cases originating from these operations, which are defined as federal efforts focused on combating violent crime in Memphis through aggressive policing and prosecution. The bill aims to increase transparency around prosecutorial decisions in these specific cases without altering the legal standards for handling them.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates 24-hour reporting for DA decisions on felony cases tied to federal task forces, enhancing prosecutorial oversight and accountability per bill's 'Accountability Act' title.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Violent Crime

Track

died · Tennessee · Senate Feb 4, 2025

SB 613: Expunction - As introduced, allows an eligible petitioner to have the records of a conviction for driving under the influence of an intoxicant expunged if the person has no other criminal convictions and 20 years have elapsed since the completion of the sentence imposed; requires the petitioner to pay an additional $50.00 fee to be used by the county for certain alcohol, drug, and mental health treatment purposes. - Amends TCA Title 40, Chapter 32 and Title 55, Chapter 10, Part 4.

SB 613, a proposed Tennessee bill, would have allowed individuals convicted of driving under the influence (DUI) to have their criminal records expunged after 20 years from completing their sentence, provided they had no other criminal convictions. It required petitioners to pay a $50 fee, with the funds directed to county alcohol, drug, and mental health treatment programs. The bill amended Tennessee expungement law (TCA Title 40, Chapter 32) to extend the waiting period for DUI convictions from 10 to 20 years and added the fee requirement. The bill was introduced on January 31, 2025, but was withdrawn on February 4, 2025, and did not become law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enables expungement of DUI records after 20 years, reducing barriers to reintegration, and directs $50 fees to alcohol/drug treatment programs - core criminal justice reform elements.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill directs $50 expungement fees to county alcohol, drug, and mental health treatment programs, explicitly funding healthcare services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

Track

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 12, 2025

SB 1174: Law Enforcement - As introduced, requires a law enforcement agency that uses body cameras to adopt a written policy for the use of the cameras by its law enforcement officers; establishes certain requirements for the policies. - Amends TCA Title 38, Chapter 1.

SB 1174 requires Tennessee law enforcement agencies using body cameras to adopt written policies governing their use. These policies must mandate that officers activate cameras during all public encounters (except immediate safety threats), wear them properly to capture footage, and notify people they're being recorded. The bill also specifies exceptions: officers must ask residents before entering homes without a warrant, victims of domestic violence or rape, and anonymous crime reporters if they want the camera turned off. These policies must include training for officers and cover how recordings are handled. The law directly affects all state and local law enforcement agencies that use body cameras and the public they interact with during patrols and investigations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires body camera policies with activation mandates and notifications, enhancing officer accountability and transparency in law enforcement encounters.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates notification before recording and proper data handling for body cameras, advancing data privacy protections in law enforcement technology use.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Law Enforcement Policing

Track

in committee · Tennessee · Senate May 27, 2025

SB 963: Criminal Procedure - As enacted, increases from 11 months and 29 days to two years from the date of arrest the time within which misdemeanor charges against a defendant who has been found incompetent must be retired unless the defendant is restored to competency; adds to present law that, when a defendant whose misdemeanor charges were retired due to a finding of incompetency is released into the community, the chief officer is required to notify the court of the defendant's discharge and provide the court and the sheriff with an outpatient treatment plan that accounts for the safety of the community. - Amends TCA Title 33; Title 40 and Title 52.

SB 963 extends the deadline for filing misdemeanor charges against defendants found incompetent to stand trial from 11 months and 29 days to two years after arrest. If charges are dismissed due to ongoing incompetence, the chief officer must notify the court of the defendant's release and provide an outpatient treatment plan addressing community safety. The bill directly affects misdemeanor defendants declared incompetent, requiring courts and sheriffs to receive updated discharge and treatment information. These changes amend Tennessee law in Titles 33, 40, and 52 to improve coordination during the competency process.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill extends time for misdemeanor charges against incompetent defendants and mandates outpatient treatment plans for community safety, promoting reform by balancing defendant rights and public safety.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement

Track

in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 30, 2025

HB 1315: DUI Offenses - As enacted, requires an ignition interlock provider to permit a person to appear for calibration, monitoring, or inspection of the device at any time within a two-week period; authorizes a court to order reinstatement of a person’s driver license if the person has no other revocations or suspensions on the person’s driving record and the person’s only noncompliance with ignition interlock requirements has been with regard to the required calibration, monitoring, or inspection of the ignition interlock device; makes various other changes in regard to ignition interlock devices and the ignition interlock usage period. - Amends TCA Section 55-10-417 and Section 55-10-425.

HB 1315 modifies Tennessee's ignition interlock device laws to provide flexibility for drivers. It allows people with ignition interlock requirements to attend device calibration, monitoring, or inspection at any time within a 14-day window (7 days before or after their scheduled appointment) without penalty. The bill also creates a new provision for active-duty military members deployed outside Tennessee for over 30 days, enabling them to temporarily pause their ignition interlock period by submitting military orders. Courts can reinstate driver licenses if the only noncompliance was with device appointments and the driver has no other license restrictions. These changes apply to all drivers required to use ignition interlock devices under Tennessee law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill provides flexibility for DUI offenders to comply with ignition interlock requirements without penalty, reducing unnecessary license suspensions and supporting rehabilitation-focused criminal justice reform.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

Track

signed · Tennessee · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 1166: DUI Offenses - As enacted, requires the Tennessee bureau of investigation to provide a report to the speakers of the senate and the house of representatives on or before January 1 each year, until July 1, 2029, detailing the instances in the most recent year for which complete data is available in which a person was arrested for driving under the influence but where no alcohol or other intoxicants are detected in the person's blood or breath. - Amends TCA Title 6; Title 7; Title 8 and Title 38.

SB 1166 requires the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) to annually report to legislative leaders on DUI arrests where no alcohol or intoxicants were detected in the person's blood or breath. Specifically, the TBI must submit a report by January 1 each year (starting in 2026) detailing these cases from the most recent complete data year, including the arresting law enforcement agency. The bill affects the TBI (as the reporting entity) and the Tennessee General Assembly (as the recipient of the data). This provision amends Tennessee law to create a new annual reporting requirement under Title 38, focusing solely on data collection without changing DUI penalties or procedures.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires annual reporting on DUI arrests without intoxicant evidence, promoting law enforcement transparency and accountability in criminal justice practices.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

signed · Tennessee · House May 27, 2025

HB 1200: 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.

HB 1200, known as "Savanna's Law," creates a public online registry for "persistent domestic violence offenders" in Tennessee. This applies to individuals convicted of domestic violence offenses with at least one prior conviction against a domestic abuse victim, as defined in the bill. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) must maintain the registry using court-provided data (name, date of birth, conviction details, and photos), excluding sensitive information like addresses. The registry becomes accessible online after January 1, 2026, with names automatically removed 2-10 years after the most recent conviction based on prior offense counts.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates public registry for persistent domestic violence offenders, enhancing public safety and law enforcement tracking to prevent recidivism, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence

signed · Tennessee · Senate May 15, 2025

SB 1089: Courts, Municipal - As enacted, increases from $1.00 to $2.00 the amount of funds from the court costs collected in municipal court cases that must be forwarded by the municipal court clerk to the state treasurer for deposit and credited to the account for the administrative office of the courts for the sole purpose of defraying the administrative director's expenses in providing training and continuing education courses for municipal court judges and municipal court clerks. - Amends TCA Title 16, Chapter 18 and Title 17, Chapter 3.

SB 1089 increases the mandatory court fee amount from $1.00 to $2.00 per municipal court case that must be forwarded by municipal court clerks to the state treasurer. The funds are specifically designated to cover administrative costs for training and continuing education programs for municipal court judges and clerks. This change, effective July 1, 2025, modifies Tennessee law (TCA Titles 16 and 17) to provide additional funding for judicial and clerical professional development. The bill directly affects municipal court operations and the administrative office of the courts, with no changes to the fee structure for case participants.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds judicial training for municipal court staff, enhancing court operations within criminal justice system per bill's explicit purpose.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts