Criminal Justice

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 1994: Prisons and Reformatory Institutions - As introduced, prohibits this state or a local government from entering into a new contract or renewing an existing contract for the provision of correctional services for an inmate under the custody and care of the department of correction or the local government. - Amends TCA Title 41, Chapter 24.

SB 1994 prohibits Tennessee state agencies and local governments (counties, cities, or metropolitan governments) from entering new contracts or renewing existing contracts for private prison services. It directly affects private companies currently providing correctional services for inmates under the Tennessee Department of Correction or local government custody. The bill amends Tennessee law to ban all new or renewed contracts for these specific correctional services after the bill's effective date. This is a direct policy change banning future private prison contracts within the state's correctional system.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBans private prison contracts, aligning with criminal justice reform by reducing for-profit corrections and promoting public oversight of inmate care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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died · Tennessee · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 2127: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, creates the criminal offense of intentionally communicating a threat of harm to a public official or a member of the public official's immediate family; punishes a violation as a Class E felony. - Amends TCA Title 39.

SB 2127 would have created a new Class E felony offense for intentionally threatening a public official or their immediate family member (including spouses, parents, siblings, or children) due to the official’s role. The bill required that the threat be perceived as harmful by a reasonable person and made because of the official’s position. It defined "immediate family" broadly to include stepparents, stepchildren, and adoptive relationships. The bill was introduced in the Tennessee Senate in early 2026 but was withdrawn before passing.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new Class E felony for threatening officials, expanding criminalization and increasing penalties beyond existing laws.95% confidence

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in committee · Tennessee · House Feb 4, 2026

HB 1953: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, removes from the offense of violation of a protective order or restraining order the requirement that the person violating the order must have had an opportunity to appear and be heard in connection with the order of protection or restraining order and that the court must have made specific findings of fact in the order that the person committed a certain offense. - Amends TCA Title 36 and Title 39.

HB 1953 modifies Tennessee's legal standards for violations of protective or restraining orders. It removes two specific requirements: that the person violating the order must have had a prior court hearing opportunity, and that the court must have made detailed factual findings about the violation in the original order. This change simplifies the legal process for prosecuting violations, directly affecting individuals accused of breaching such orders and the courts enforcing them. The bill amends Tennessee Code sections 39-13-113 and 39-17-1316, taking effect July 1, 2026. It focuses on procedural adjustments to enforcement, not substantive policy changes.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRemoves procedural safeguards (prior hearing requirement, factual findings) for protective order violations, reducing defendant due process and expanding prosecutorial authority, aligning with 'oppose' indicators.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 24, 2026

SB 1724: Jails, Local Lock-ups - As enacted, authorizes a sheriff, jail administrator, or deputy jailer to refuse or delay acceptance into the jail of an arrestee if the arrestee has not received medical treatment for obvious serious physical injuries or conditions of an emergency nature; makes other related changes. - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 8; Title 29; Title 40 and Title 41.

SB 1724 allows jails in Tennessee to refuse accepting arrestees who require medical attention and were arrested for a non-violent misdemeanor (not a crime against a person). The arresting agency must arrange for a healthcare provider to evaluate the arrestee and obtain a release form confirming the person no longer needs medical care or can be confined. This applies specifically to misdemeanor offenses under Title 39, Chapter 13 (e.g., minor property offenses, non-violent violations). The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and amends Tennessee Code Sections 41-4-145 and related provisions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires healthcare evaluation before jail intake for non-violent misdemeanors, protecting arrestees' medical rights and preventing unnecessary incarceration.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires healthcare evaluation for arrestees needing medical attention before jail intake, improving access to medical care for vulnerable individuals during arrest processing.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement

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in committee · Tennessee · House May 18, 2026

HB 1922: Sexual Offenders - As enacted, requires sexual offenders and violent sexual offenders to notify the owner or operator of any campground on which the offender intends to stay overnight of the offender's status as a sexual offender or violent sexual offender prior to beginning the stay; creates the offense of knowingly staying overnight at a campground without providing the required notice, which is punished as a Class E felony. - Amends TCA Title 40, Chapter 39, Part 2.

HB 1922 requires sexual offenders and violent sexual offenders in Tennessee to notify a campground owner or operator in advance if they plan to stay overnight at that campground. This applies specifically to individuals required to register under state law who intend to use campground facilities. Failing to provide this notice before staying overnight would be a Class E felony offense. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 40, Chapter 39, Part 2, to establish this requirement and penalty.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new Class E felony for non-notification, expanding criminalization of sexual offenders' campground stays without reform benefits.90% confidence

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 20, 2026

SB 1929: Criminal Procedure - As introduced, adds to the list of certain offenses required to be served at 100 percent of the sentence imposed by the court undiminished by any sentence reduction credits, the attempt, conspiracy, or solicitation to commit those offenses. - Amends TCA Section 40-35-501.

SB 1929 requires individuals convicted of conspiracy, attempt, or solicitation to commit certain serious offenses to serve 100% of their sentence without reduction credits (like good time). It expands the existing list of offenses subject to this rule to include these preparatory acts for the same crimes already mandated to have full sentences. The law applies only to offenses committed on or after July 1, 2026, and does not change the underlying offenses that trigger the rule. This policy change affects people convicted of these specific preparatory acts for the designated crimes.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands mandatory 100% sentencing without credits for conspiracy/attempt, restricting defendant rights and increasing punishment for preparatory acts.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Sentencing

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate May 15, 2026

SB 1708: Bail, Bail Bonds - As enacted, makes various changes related to entities seeking to secure the release of a defendant. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 40.

SB 1708 restricts third-party bail posting in Tennessee by prohibiting entities (other than defendants, family members, legal guardians, employers, or licensed bondsmen) from securing a defendant's release more than three times per year or for the same defendant more than once annually. The bill requires such entities to obtain prior approval for each bond they seek to post and defines "family" broadly to include third-degree relatives or household members. It directly affects community groups, nonprofits, or businesses that previously posted bail for others, limiting their ability to do so frequently. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and amends Tennessee Code Sections 39-11-715 and 40-11-123.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestricts third-party bail exploitation, aligning with reform goals to protect defendants and regulate bail system.85% confidence

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in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 8, 2026

HB 1947: Correction, Dept. of - As introduced, enacts the "Tennessee Women's Childbirth Alternatives, Resources, and Education Act." - Amends TCA Title 24; Title 33; Title 39; Title 40; Title 41; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71.

This bill, known as the "Tennessee Women's Childbirth Alternatives, Resources, and Education Act" (or "Trixtian's Law"), protects pregnant and postpartum individuals in Tennessee's criminal justice system by prohibiting the use of their pregnancy-related health information as evidence in criminal cases. It bans criminal charges based on pregnancy outcomes like miscarriage, stillbirth, or drug exposure during pregnancy, and requires correctional facilities to provide pregnancy testing within 72 hours. Facilities must also report annual data on incarcerated pregnant individuals and birth outcomes (without personal identifiers) to the Department of Health, while expediting transfers of pregnant people to state custody. These provisions directly affect incarcerated women, correctional facilities, and health data reporting practices across Tennessee.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProtects pregnant individuals from criminal charges based on pregnancy outcomes, preventing misuse of criminal justice system against health conditions.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProtects pregnancy health information from criminal use and mandates timely pregnancy testing in correctional facilities, advancing patient access to healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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died · Tennessee · House Feb 2, 2026

HB 1545: Criminal Procedure - As introduced, allows certain felony offenders to petition to have the offender's criminal history records sealed after completion of all requirements of sentencing and at least five years without being convicted of a new offense. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 40.

HB 1545 would have allowed certain felony offenders in Tennessee to apply to seal their criminal records after completing all sentencing requirements and avoiding new convictions for five years. Eligible individuals (excluding those convicted of specific violent or serious offenses listed in the bill) would have paid a $500 fee to petition courts, with records sealed from public access except for limited uses by law enforcement, the Department of Health, and peace officer training agencies. The bill applied only to 43 specified offenses, such as theft, fraud, vandalism, and non-violent property crimes - not all felonies. However, the bill was withdrawn on February 2, 2026, and never became law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enables sealing of felony records after 5 years without new offenses, promoting rehabilitation and reducing barriers to reintegration for eligible offenders, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Sentencing

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 2, 2026

SB 1941: 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.

SB 1941 increases penalties for assaulting firefighters, emergency responders, and others providing emergency assistance while they are responding to calls. It changes the offense from a Class A misdemeanor (30-day minimum jail term and $5,000 fine) to a Class E felony (60-day minimum jail term and $10,000 fine). The bill amends Tennessee law to require these mandatory sentences and fines for such assaults, applying directly to anyone who physically harms emergency personnel during their duties. This change specifically targets violent acts against those on the front lines of emergencies.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases mandatory sentences for assaults on emergency responders, aligning with 'oppose' indicators of harsher penalties and expanded criminalization.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Sentencing Violent Crime

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