Criminal Justice

failed · Tennessee · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 1721: Criminal Procedure - As introduced, prohibits a court from assessing court costs against a defendant in a criminal proceeding if the defendant is found not guilty by a jury or by a judge following a bench trial on all charges for which the defendant was accused, the prosecution is dismissed or a nolle prosequi is entered by the state, or the charges against the defendant are dismissed by the court. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 40.

HB 1721 would prevent courts from charging defendants with court costs in Tennessee criminal cases under three specific circumstances: when a defendant is found not guilty (by jury or judge on all charges), when the state dismisses charges or enters a "nolle prosequi" (a formal decision not to prosecute), or when a court dismisses the charges. This directly affects individuals who are acquitted or have their criminal cases dropped without conviction. The bill amends Tennessee law to require courts to waive all court costs in these situations, eliminating financial penalties for cleared defendants. It takes effect on July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticePrevents court costs for acquitted defendants, aligning with civil rights protection and reducing financial burdens in criminal justice system.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Judges

Track

in committee · Tennessee · Senate May 15, 2026

SB 1633: Sentencing - As enacted, requires a sentencing court to order the sentences for two or more offenses involving more than one minor victim to run consecutively unless the court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the facts of the case do not warrant the imposition of consecutive sentences and the imposition of consecutive sentences would not be in the best interest of justice. - Amends TCA Title 40.

SB 1633 requires Tennessee courts to impose consecutive sentences for defendants convicted of two or more offenses involving more than one minor victim, unless the court finds by a preponderance of evidence that consecutive sentences aren't warranted and wouldn't harm justice. This applies to all cases with multiple minor victims, regardless of whether the offenses occurred together. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, for offenses committed on or after that date. It directly affects defendants convicted of multiple crimes against minors and sentencing courts, changing how they handle sentencing for these cases. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 40, Section 40-35-115.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill mandates consecutive sentences for multiple minor victim offenses, increasing sentencing severity and opposing criminal justice reform trends that reduce mandatory harsh penalties.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Sentencing

Track

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 2, 2026

SB 1862: Correction, Dept. of - As introduced, increases from 90 to 100 days of receiving a valid judgment of conviction for when the department has to notify the victim witness coordinator of the scheduled parole hearing date when the inmate will be eligible for parole consideration. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 40.

SB 1862 amends Tennessee law to extend the timeframe for the Department of Correction to notify victims about parole hearings. Specifically, it increases the deadline from 90 to 100 days after receiving a valid conviction judgment for notifying victim witness coordinators of an inmate's scheduled parole hearing date. This change directly affects crime victims and their designated coordinators by providing an additional 10 days to prepare for parole proceedings. The amendment applies to inmates eligible for parole consideration and takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExtends victim notification window for parole hearings, enhancing victim rights and participation in criminal justice process85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole

Track

signed · Tennessee · Senate Apr 6, 2026

SB 1635: Motor Vehicles, Titling and Registration - As enacted, clarifies that stuttering and other types of communication disorders are qualifying medical conditions for purposes of the "2021 Precious Cargo Act," which authorizes drivers who have certain medical conditions to apply for a designation in the Tennessee Vehicle Title and Registration System (VTRS) database of a need for assistance in communicating with first responders during traffic stops. - Amends TCA Title 55, Chapter 21, Part 3.

SB 1635 expands the definition of "medical condition" under Tennessee's 2021 Precious Cargo Act to include communication disorders like stuttering, speech issues, and language disorders. This change allows drivers with these conditions to qualify for a special designation in the state's Vehicle Title and Registration System (VTRS), alerting first responders during traffic stops that the driver may need communication assistance. The bill amends Tennessee Code §55-21-303(a)(2) to explicitly list these disorders as qualifying medical conditions. The provision will take effect on July 1, 2026, directly benefiting eligible drivers in traffic interactions with law enforcement.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands medical condition definitions to include communication disorders, enabling special VTRS designations to alert officers during traffic stops, improving communication and reducing potential escalation in law enforcement interactions.85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationExpands vehicle registration safety measures for drivers with communication disorders, enhancing traffic stop communication protocols under transportation safety framework.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Freight Vehicle Registration

signed · Tennessee · House May 26, 2026

HB 2081: Children - As enacted, adds the commissioner of mental health and substance abuse services, and one at large member with experience advocating for children, to the Tennessee second look commission; revises certain severe and aggravated child abuse offenses to include offenses involving strangulation; authorizes a court to order a child's custodian to submit certain documentation of compliance with preventative pediatric care consistent with the periodicity schedule of the American Academy of Pediatrics in certain situations; authorizes the department of children's services to initiate a visit to ascertain the wellbeing of a child if such documentation contains allegations of abuse or neglect. - Amends TCA Title 37; Title 38; Title 39 and Title 40.

HB 2081 amends Tennessee laws related to child abuse and sexual abuse by adding the commissioner of mental health and substance abuse services to the Second Look Commission (Section 1). It updates legal definitions to include "strangulation" in abuse statutes (Sections 7, 8) and requires law enforcement officers to refer victims of child sexual abuse to child advocacy centers for forensic interviews (Section 9). The bill also expands the commission’s access to state agency records for its work (Section 6). These changes directly affect child protective teams, law enforcement, and child advocacy centers handling abuse cases. Most provisions take effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAdds mental health commissioner to Second Look Commission (criminal justice reform body) to improve juvenile offender reviews, aligning with rehabilitation-focused reform goals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 1895: DUI Offenses - As introduced, allows a person convicted of driving under the influence of an intoxicant involving alcohol or opioids to agree to receive naltrexone injections at the person's own expense for a period of 12 continuous months in lieu of being required to operate only a motor vehicle equipped with an ignition interlock device. - Amends TCA Title 39; Title 40 and Title 55, Chapter 10.

SB 1895 allows individuals convicted of DUI involving alcohol or opioids to choose receiving naltrexone injections (paid for by the individual) for 12 months instead of being required to use an ignition interlock device on their vehicle. This option is available at the court's discretion during sentencing for DUI offenses under Tennessee law. The court must include reporting requirements for the naltrexone treatment as a probation condition, and failure to comply could lead to probation revocation. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 55-10-401 and 55-10-409 to implement this alternative sentencing mechanism. It takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeOffers addiction treatment (naltrexone) as alternative sentencing for DUI, promoting rehabilitation over punitive measures and addressing root causes of offenses.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill provides naltrexone treatment (for opioid/alcohol addiction) as an alternative to ignition interlock devices for DUI offenders, facilitating access to substance use disorder healthcare within sentencing.90% confidence ✗ TransportationOpposes TransportationReplaces mandatory ignition interlock (vehicle safety device) with medical treatment, reducing enforcement of transportation safety standards.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Drug Policy Probation & Parole Traffic Safety Vehicle Registration

Track

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1851: 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.

SB 1851 removes three specific criminal prohibitions related to firearm possession in Tennessee. It eliminates penalties for carrying a firearm with intent to go armed if someone has certain stalking or DUI convictions under defined circumstances. It also removes the ban on firearm possession for people under 25 who were adjudicated delinquent for specific juvenile offenses. Additionally, the bill repeals the prohibition against carrying weapons in public parks, playgrounds, and other recreational areas. These changes amend multiple sections of Tennessee's firearm laws (TCA Titles 16, 36-40, 49, and 65).

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves firearm possession prohibitions for specific offenses, reducing criminalization and aligning with criminal justice reform goals by expanding rights for certain individuals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Drug Policy Firearms

Track

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 20, 2026

SB 1928: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, adds "a victim" to the definition of an individual involved in the judicial process for purposes of the criminal offense of harming or threatening to harm an individual involved in the judicial process; makes various other changes regarding victims of crime. - Amends TCA Title 29; Title 39 and Title 40.

SB 1928 updates Tennessee law to clarify who qualifies as a "victim" in criminal cases. It adds victims and their representatives to court procedures (e.g., allowing a victim’s designated representative to attend proceedings), expands the definition to include entities like insurance companies that compensated victims, and specifies protections for victims in cases involving vehicular homicide or evading arrest that caused injury. This directly affects crime victims seeking legal protections during court proceedings. The bill makes these definitions more explicit to ensure victims’ voices are heard in the judicial process.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands victim protections by clarifying definitions, allowing representatives to attend proceedings, and including entities like insurance companies, directly strengthening victim-centered criminal justice95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Victims' Rights Violent Crime

Track

in committee · Tennessee · House Feb 2, 2026

HB 1819: Sentencing - As introduced, increases the penalty for failing to stop at the scene of an accident when the person knew or should reasonably have known that death resulted from the accident by requiring a mandatory period of confinement of not less than one year and a minimum fine of $10,000. - Amends TCA Title 39; Title 40 and Title 55.

HB 1819 increases penalties for hit-and-run accidents resulting in death by making it a Class E felony. Drivers who fail to stop after causing a fatal accident - when they knew or should have known death occurred - face a mandatory minimum of one year in jail and a $10,000 fine. The bill amends Tennessee laws in Titles 39 (criminal procedure), 40 (transportation), and 55 (vehicle regulations) to implement these stricter penalties. It will take effect on July 1, 2026, applying to offenses committed on or after that date.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases mandatory minimum sentencing for hit-and-run fatalities, expanding criminal penalties under criminal justice framework.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Sentencing

Track

signed · Tennessee · House Mar 30, 2026

HB 1748: Clerks, Court - As enacted, requires a person ordered to use an ignition interlock device to provide the clerk of the court with documentation showing qualifications for certain assistance on the date the person was ordered to use the device to show need to participate in the electronic monitoring indigency fund. - Amends TCA Section 55-10-419.

HB 1748 requires individuals ordered to use an ignition interlock device (typically for DUI offenses) to provide the court clerk with documentation proving they qualify for financial assistance (like Medicaid or food stamps) on the date they were ordered to use the device. The bill amends Tennessee law to mandate this documentation and authorizes the state treasurer to verify eligibility through agreements with state agencies. It directly affects DUI offenders who may qualify for reduced costs on ignition interlock devices through the electronic monitoring indigency fund. The key mechanism is creating a verification process to determine eligibility for cost assistance, replacing previous requirements with a standardized documentation and state agency cooperation system.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires financial documentation for DUI offenders to access reduced ignition interlock costs, reducing barriers for indigent defendants and promoting compliance without undue hardship, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts