Criminal Justice

in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 8, 2026

HB 1521: Sentencing - As introduced, increases the penalty for leaving the scene of an accident resulting in injury from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony; increases the penalty for leaving the scene of an accident that the person knew or should reasonably have known resulted in death from a Class E felony to a Class D felony. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 13 and Title 55, Chapter 10.

HB 1521, titled the "James Bardsley Life Protection Act," increases penalties for drivers who leave the scene of an accident without stopping. It raises the penalty for leaving an accident causing injury from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony. For accidents where death occurs and the driver knew or should have known, the penalty increases from a Class E felony to a Class D felony. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 55-10-101 and 39-13-101, taking effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for hit-and-run offenses, expanding criminalization and raising mandatory sentences - contrary to reform efforts.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sentencing

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in committee · Tennessee · House Jan 21, 2026

HB 1656: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, increases the penalty for assault against a firefighter, emergency services personnel, or other person who responds to calls for emergency assistance from a Class A misdemeanor with a mandatory minimum 30-day sentence and $5,000 fine to a Class E felony with a mandatory minimum 60-day sentence and $10,000 fine. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 40.

HB 1656 increases penalties for assaulting firefighters, emergency services personnel, or other first responders who answer emergency calls. It changes the offense from a Class A misdemeanor (with a 30-day minimum jail term and $5,000 fine) to a Class E felony (with a 60-day minimum sentence and $10,000 fine). The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Titles 39 and 40 and will take effect on July 1, 2026. This change specifically targets individuals who commit violence against emergency personnel during their duties.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases mandatory sentences and fines for assaulting first responders, expanding criminalization of assault against emergency personnel per bill language.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Sentencing Violent Crime Tags Public Safety

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died · Tennessee · House Jan 22, 2026

HB 1728: 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 Kratom and nitrous oxides. - Amends TCA Title 39; Title 57, Chapter 7 and Title 67.

HB 1728 makes it illegal for vape shop retailers, distributors, wholesalers, or importers to sell Kratom or nitrous oxide in Tennessee. The bill directly affects businesses operating vape shops or selling vape-related products, prohibiting them from offering these specific items for retail sale. Violations carry civil penalties of up to $500 per product for first offenses, increasing to $1,500 per product for third violations within a year, with potential license suspension or revocation. Manufacturers causing Kratom or nitrous oxide to be sold face $10,000 penalties per product. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands criminalization by creating new offenses for selling Kratom/nitrous oxide, imposing fines and license penalties, directly increasing criminal penalties.90% confidence

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Jan 15, 2026

SB 1607: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, increases the penalty for assault against a first responder from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony with a mandatory fine of $10,000 and a mandatory minimum sentence of 60 days. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 13.

SB 1607 changes the penalty for assaulting a first responder or law enforcement officer from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony. It requires a mandatory $10,000 fine and a 60-day minimum jail sentence with no early release for such offenses. The bill also establishes a separate penalty for assaulting a nurse, which would be a Class A misdemeanor with a $5,000 fine and 30-day minimum sentence. The law is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for assaulting first responders to felony level with mandatory fines/sentences, expanding criminalization and reducing judicial discretion per indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement Sentencing

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Jan 22, 2026

SB 1764: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, removes the limitation on the penalty for illegally possessing a telecommunication device in a penal institution that required the Class E felony to be punished by a fine only. - Amends TCA Title 39.

SB 1764 amends Tennessee law to change the penalty for illegally possessing a telecommunication device (like a cell phone) in a prison or jail. Currently, this offense is classified as a Class E felony but must be punished by a fine only. The bill removes that restriction, allowing standard Class E felony penalties - including potential jail time - to apply. This change directly affects individuals convicted of this offense in Tennessee's penal institutions.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRemoves fine-only restriction for prison cell phone possession, enabling jail time and increasing penalties for a non-violent offense, expanding criminalization.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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in committee · Tennessee · House Jan 21, 2026

HB 1686: Correction, Dept. of - As introduced, requires the department to develop and implement a performance-based contracting program for each contractor with which it contracts to operate prison facilities; requires the program to make the payment of an amount equal to 25 percent of the total funds appropriated to the contractor during a fiscal year conditional upon yearly performance improvements based upon a set of performance measures. - Amends TCA Title 41.

HB 1686 requires Tennessee's Department of Correction to create a performance-based contracting program for private and public entities operating state prison facilities. The bill ties 25% of a contractor's annual funding to measurable improvements in 14 specific performance metrics, including staff turnover rates, inmate safety (like preventable deaths), participation in rehabilitation programs, and post-release employment or recidivism rates. Contractors must meet yearly targets for these metrics to receive the conditional funds, with failure to improve resulting in the funds returning to the state general fund. This directly affects prison contractors, not inmates or staff, by linking their payments to documented performance outcomes.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesTies 25% of contractor funding to performance metrics, promoting fiscal responsibility in government spending through performance-based budgeting.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill ties 25% of contractor funding to rehabilitation participation and recidivism reduction metrics, advancing criminal justice reform through performance-based accountability.90% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Corrections

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signed · Tennessee · Senate May 27, 2026

SB 1747: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, creates an offense of recklessly discharging a firearm into the air, ground, a body of water, or an object in close proximity to the person if the firearm is discharged at a place of public gathering or at a public event where there are at least 25 people in attendance at the time of the discharge; punishes the offense as a Class A misdemeanor; specifies certain exceptions to the offense. - Amends TCA Title 39.

SB 1747 creates a new Class A misdemeanor offense for recklessly firing a firearm into the air, ground, water, or nearby objects at public events with 25 or more people present. It directly affects individuals who engage in such reckless discharges in crowded public settings, such as concerts or festivals. Key exceptions include law enforcement officers acting in duty, wildlife officers, licensed hunters during open seasons, and defensive use against animal attacks. The law, effective July 1, 2026, aims to address public safety risks from negligent firearm discharge in crowded areas.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates new Class A misdemeanor offense for reckless firearm discharge at public gatherings (25+ people), enhancing public safety measures within criminal justice framework.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms Law Enforcement

in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 13, 2026

HB 1642: Public Records - As enacted, deletes expiration dates for certain public record exemptions. - Amends TCA Section 10-7-504.

HB 1642 removes expiration dates for specific public record exemptions in Tennessee law, amending TCA Section 10-7-504. The bill deletes five listed exemptions (including those related to law enforcement records and personnel files) that previously had set end dates. This change makes these exemptions permanent, meaning government agencies no longer need to re-evaluate their applicability after a certain period. The bill directly affects state and local government agencies that manage public records, as it alters how long certain information remains exempt from disclosure requests under the state’s open records law.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill makes law enforcement record exemptions permanent, reducing transparency and oversight of law enforcement, which weakens accountability in criminal justice.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Tags Government Transparency

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in committee · Tennessee · House Feb 2, 2026

HB 1860: Public Records - As introduced, requires the department of correction to disclose records and information to any member of the general assembly, upon written request, to enable the member to determine whether the laws of this state are being complied with regarding inmates in the department's custody. - Amends TCA Title 3; Title 4; Title 10, Chapter 7; Title 40 and Title 41.

HB 1860 requires Tennessee's Department of Correction to provide inmate-related records and information to any state legislator upon written request. This directly affects the Department of Correction (which must comply) and state legislators (who gain access to review compliance with correctional laws). The bill mandates that legislators submit specific written requests naming an inmate, sign confidentiality agreements, and keep all records on-site during review. It does not change correctional laws but creates a formal process for legislative oversight of inmate custody practices.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires correctional record disclosure for legislative oversight to verify law compliance, enhancing transparency in corrections and aligning with criminal justice reform indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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signed · Tennessee · Senate May 5, 2026

SB 1864: Private Protective Services - As enacted, adds stalking to the crimes for which an individual who has been convicted must have completed serving the individual's sentence or court-ordered probation at least five years prior to applying for a registration card to perform the duties of a security guard or officer; makes other changes related to security guards and officers. - Amends TCA Title 62, Chapter 35.

SB 1864 modifies Tennessee's security guard licensing rules by adding stalking to the list of crimes requiring a five-year waiting period after completing a sentence or probation before an applicant can register. It also disqualifies applicants from security guard registration if they are listed on a state or out-of-state abuse registry or have firearm prohibitions (like orders of protection). The bill updates requirements for security guards to report arrests or convictions related to specified offenses within 10 days. These changes directly affect individuals seeking security guard licenses who have certain criminal histories.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAdds stalking to disqualifying crimes for security guards, requiring 5-year waiting period to enhance public safety and restrict access for individuals with certain criminal histories.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence Firearms