Criminal Justice

in committee · Tennessee · House May 13, 2025

HB 1229: Forfeiture of Assets - As enacted, removes the requirement for a claimant to post a bond when filing a claim to seized property. - Amends TCA Title 40, Chapter 33.

HB 1229 modifies Tennessee's asset forfeiture laws by removing the requirement for claimants to post a bond when filing claims for seized property. This change directly affects individuals or businesses seeking to recover property seized by law enforcement under forfeiture proceedings. The bill deletes language requiring a "cost bond or" in Tennessee Code Annotated §40-33-205(a) and removes subsection (b) from §40-33-206, streamlining the claim process. The law will take effect July 1, 2025, applying to all seizures occurring on or after that date.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves bond requirement for property claimants, reducing barriers to reclaim seized assets and protecting civil rights in forfeiture proceedings.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

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signed · Tennessee · Senate May 15, 2025

SB 932: DUI Offenses - As enacted, creates a distance to drive program study committee to help determine the feasibility of implementing a distance to drive program that would facilitate reinstatement of suspended and revoked driver licenses for criminal defendants based on meeting the objectives set by the court and completing all the requirements set by the department of safety. - Amends TCA Title 16; Title 39; Title 40 and Title 55.

SB 932 creates a study committee to evaluate the feasibility of implementing a "distance to drive" program for individuals with suspended or revoked driver licenses due to DUI offenses. The program would allow license reinstatement if participants meet court-mandated objectives and complete all requirements set by the Department of Safety. This bill does not create the program itself but establishes a committee to study its potential implementation, directly affecting people convicted of DUI with license suspensions. The committee’s findings would inform future legislative decisions about the program, with no immediate policy changes enacted by this bill.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates study committee for DUI license reinstatement program, promoting rehabilitation and reducing barriers to reintegration for criminal defendants, aligning with criminal justice reform indicators.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

in committee · Tennessee · Senate May 15, 2026

SB 846: Courts - As enacted, enacts the "Violent Criminal Court Act." - Amends TCA Title 8; Title 10; Title 16; Title 37; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40; Title 41 and Title 55.

SB 846 requires the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) to submit its annual report on narcotics investigations to the House criminal justice committee and Senate judiciary committee by February 15 each year, instead of the previous annual deadline. The bill amends specific Tennessee Code sections to update the submission timeline and committee references. This change affects the TBI’s narcotics division and the legislative committees overseeing criminal justice oversight. The bill focuses solely on adjusting the reporting schedule, with no new policy requirements or funding impacts.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates timely legislative oversight of TBI narcotics investigations, enhancing transparency and accountability in criminal justice operations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 12, 2025

SB 1103: Correction, Dept. of - As introduced, enacts "The Parole Advancement and Reintegration Act," which requires the department to develop an early parole termination program for parolees meeting certain requirements. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 40 and Title 41.

SB 1103, "The Parole Advancement and Reintegration Act," requires Tennessee's Department of Correction to create a program allowing eligible parolees to potentially end their parole supervision early. To qualify, parolees must maintain stable employment for six consecutive months, remain law-abiding with no violations or arrests, and complete all required rehabilitation programs. The program would use an earned time credit system similar to inmate sentence reductions, gradually reducing supervision over five years with biannual eligibility reviews. Parolees meeting all criteria could achieve early termination and full discharge from parole under guidelines set by the director of probation and parole.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires rehabilitation completion and stable employment for early parole, reducing recidivism through earned time credits.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole

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in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 15, 2026

HB 473: Criminal Procedure - As introduced, requires a person arrested for a felony offense to have a biological specimen taken by the arresting authority for the purpose of DNA analysis to determine identification characteristics specific to the person. - Amends TCA Title 18; Title 38, Chapter 6; Title 39 and Title 40, Chapter 35.

HB 473 requires law enforcement in Tennessee to collect a mouth swab DNA sample from anyone arrested for a felony offense on or after July 1, 2025. The sample must be taken before the person is released from custody and sent to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for analysis. If charges are dismissed or the person is acquitted, the DNA sample and records must be destroyed, unless other felony charges are pending. This law directly affects all individuals arrested for felonies in Tennessee after the effective date.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires DNA collection for identification with destruction clause if charges dismissed, protecting civil rights within criminal procedure.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate May 27, 2025

SB 445: Public Defenders - As enacted, creates five additional assistant district public defender positions effective July 1, 2025. - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 14 and Title 9, Chapter 4.

SB 445 adds five new assistant district public defender positions in Tennessee, effective July 1, 2025. This bill directly affects public defender offices by increasing staffing capacity to handle caseloads for indigent defendants. The key provision amends Tennessee law to create these positions, aiming to improve resource allocation within public defense systems. The change applies statewide to district public defender offices under Titles 8 and 9 of the Tennessee Code.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAdds public defender staffing to improve resource allocation for indigent defendants, directly strengthening public defense within criminal justice system.92% confidence

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in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 14, 2026

HB 985: Firearms and Ammunition - As introduced, removes the criminal offense of possession of a weapon in a building or on property that is properly posted; removes the requirement that the department of safety suspend or revoke a handgun carry permit for a violation of that offense by a handgun permit holder. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13.

HB 985 modifies Tennessee's firearm laws by removing the criminal offense for possessing a weapon in a properly posted building or property, and eliminating automatic permit suspensions for this violation. It requires property owners who restrict firearms to post clear signage, install metal detectors at all public entrances, and have trained security officers inspect all visitors and bags. This primarily affects businesses, venues, and property managers seeking to prohibit firearms, while exempting libraries, law enforcement buildings, Head Start facilities, and certain licensed properties. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and shifts enforcement focus to physical security measures rather than criminal penalties for non-compliance.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves criminal offense for weapon possession in properly posted areas, reducing unnecessary criminalization in firearm laws.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Firearms Law Enforcement

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in committee · Tennessee · House Feb 11, 2025

HB 1057: Correction, Dept. of - As introduced, enacts "The Parole Advancement and Reintegration Act," which requires the department to develop an early parole termination program for parolees meeting certain requirements. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 40 and Title 41.

HB 1057, "The Parole Advancement and Reintegration Act," would create a program allowing parolees in Tennessee to earn early termination of supervision. To qualify, parolees must have stable employment for six months, no violations or arrests while on parole, and complete all required rehabilitation programs. The program would use an earned time credit system (similar to credits for inmates) to gradually reduce supervision, aiming for full parole discharge after five years. It directly affects parolees meeting these criteria and requires the Department of Correction to develop the program with annual eligibility reviews.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates earned time credits for parolees meeting rehabilitation/employment criteria, reducing supervision duration to lower recidivism and promote reintegration per bill's stated goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole

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died · Tennessee · House Feb 6, 2025

HB 287: Correction, Dept. of - As introduced, reduces from 10 to five business days after a death, the time within which the commissioner must report the death of a person in custody to members of the general assembly representing the legislative districts where the deceased person resided; requires that the information contained in the report include the name of the department facility where the death occurred. - Amends TCA Title 4.

HB 287 would have required Tennessee's Department of Correction to report deaths of people in custody to local state legislators within five business days (down from 10 days), instead of the current timeline. The report must include the facility name and be sent to the senator and representative for the district where the deceased person lived, based on their last known address in Tennessee. It would not apply to deaths of people whose last address was outside Tennessee. The bill was introduced in January 2025 but withdrawn on February 6, 2025, and never became law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates faster reporting of custody deaths to legislators, enhancing oversight of correctional facilities per criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 31, 2025

SB 1234: Civil Procedure - As introduced, revives causes of action based on a sexual assault that occurred when the injured party was 18 years of age or older and are time-barred because the applicable statute of limitations has expired; allows such actions to be commenced within a certain time period. - Amends TCA Title 28, Chapter 3; Title 39 and Title 40.

SB 1234 revives civil lawsuits for sexual assault that were previously time-barred under Tennessee law because the statute of limitations expired. It allows survivors who were 18 or older at the time of the assault to file new lawsuits between July 1, 2025, and July 1, 2027. The bill defines "sexual assault" to include specific offenses like rape, sexual battery, and incest under Tennessee Code. This provision applies only to cases dismissed before July 1, 2025, due to the time limit, not to new claims.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRevives civil lawsuits for sexual assault (criminal offense) time-barred under statute, aligning with criminal justice reform by expanding victim access to justice.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Violent Crime

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