Criminal Justice (Law Enforcement)

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 27, 2026

SB 1210: Law Enforcement - As enacted, requires a prosecuting agency that maintains a Brady list to adopt a policy that meets certain requirements. - Amends TCA Title 38, Chapter 8.

SB 1210 requires state or local law enforcement officers in Tennessee to receive written notice detailing the specific allegations before being placed on a "Brady list" (a list tracking officers with misconduct allegations), and mandates at least 10 business days for the officer to respond before the placement is finalized. This bill directly affects law enforcement officers who might face placement on such a list due to misconduct allegations. The key mechanism is the procedural safeguard of prior written notice and a response period, amending Tennessee Code Annotated Title 38, Chapter 8. The bill focuses on due process for officers during the listing process, without changing the criteria for listing.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill weakens law enforcement oversight by requiring notice and response time before placing officers on Brady list, reducing swift accountability for misconduct allegations.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

Track

in committee · Tennessee · House May 15, 2025

HB 55: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, creates new misdemeanor offenses, including intentionally giving a false or fictitious name to a law enforcement officer who has lawfully detained or arrested such person. - Amends TCA Title 39; Title 40; Title 54 and Title 55.

HB 55 creates new misdemeanor offenses in Tennessee for deliberately refusing to provide one's name to law enforcement during a lawful detention or arrest, or for intentionally giving a false name. It also establishes misdemeanor penalties for approaching within 25 feet of an officer who has ordered you to stop, and for riding in the cargo area of a box truck (defined as enclosed vehicles without passenger seats). The law directly affects individuals interacting with police, drivers using specific vehicle configurations, and those placing signs on public infrastructure without permission. Key provisions include classifying these violations as misdemeanors (Class B or C) and clarifying that failing to show ID isn't a violation if verbal identification is attempted. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new misdemeanor offenses for refusing to provide name to police and approaching officers, expanding criminalization without reform elements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

Track

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 24, 2025

SB 521: Criminal Procedure - As introduced, creates a law enforcement investigatory privilege; prohibits a subpoena from being issued for a civil or criminal proceeding for information protected by the law enforcement privilege. - Amends TCA Title 24, Chapter 1, Part 2 and Title 40, Chapter 17, Part 1.

SB 521 creates a new "law enforcement investigatory privilege" in Tennessee, protecting certain information gathered during active criminal investigations. It prohibits civil or criminal court subpoenas from demanding details covered by this privilege (such as evidence or witness statements) while an investigation is ongoing. The privilege applies until the case closes through dismissal, acquittal, or expiration of appeal deadlines. This directly affects law enforcement agencies (who gain protection for their investigative materials) and individuals or entities seeking such information through court subpoenas. The bill does not override constitutional rights or change standard subpoena procedures for law enforcement.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates law enforcement privilege shielding investigatory details from subpoenas, reducing judicial oversight during active cases.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement

Track

signed · Tennessee · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 1400: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, revises present law concerning driving under the influence. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 55.

SB 1400 revises Tennessee's driving under the influence (DUI) laws by two key changes: it permits law enforcement officers to assist medical professionals in obtaining blood samples from drivers using reasonable force during DUI investigations, and it increases the minimum jail sentence for a first-time DUI conviction from one year to one year and six months. These provisions directly affect drivers charged with DUI, law enforcement officers conducting blood tests, and medical personnel involved in the sampling process. The blood sample provision took effect immediately upon the governor's signature on May 5, 2025, while the sentence increase will apply starting January 1, 2026. The bill does not alter DUI testing standards or expand penalties beyond these specific changes.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases first-time DUI jail sentence from 1 to 1.5 years and permits force for blood samples, expanding criminalization and harshening penalties.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement

signed · Tennessee · Senate May 2, 2025

SB 280: Tort Liability and Reform - As enacted, specifies that a law enforcement officer who causes property damage to or inflicts personal injury upon a person during the course of the law enforcement officer's official duties is immune from civil liability if at the time the damage or injury occurred, the person suffering the injury or damage was engaged in conduct that resulted in the person being convicted of the offense of resisting a stop, frisk, halt, arrest, or search of the person. - Amends TCA Title 29 and Title 39.

SB 280 provides legal immunity to Tennessee law enforcement officers who cause property damage or personal injury during official duties, if the injured person was convicted of resisting arrest (under §39-16-602) at the time of the incident. The bill directly affects individuals convicted of resisting arrest, as it prevents them from filing civil lawsuits against officers for injuries or damage sustained during the arrest. Key provisions include exceptions for gross negligence or willful misconduct by officers, and the immunity does not apply to bystanders or others not convicted of resisting arrest. This law changes civil liability standards by shielding officers from lawsuits in specific cases where the injured party was engaged in conduct leading to a resisting arrest conviction.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticePrevents civil lawsuits against officers for injuries during arrests of those convicted of resisting arrest, reducing defendant rights and weakening accountability.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 14, 2025

HB 856: Firearms and Ammunition - As introduced, lowers the standard for the use of deadly force to protect property; specifies that deadly force does not include the display of a weapon, the brandishing of a weapon, or the use of force in circumstances that do not result in death or serious bodily injury. - Amends TCA Title 39.

HB 856 (Tennessee House Bill 856) would amend Tennessee law to lower the standard for using deadly force in property protection cases. It allows deadly force to prevent property crimes like trespass, theft, or burglary if a person reasonably believes other methods would fail or risk death/serious injury to themselves or others. The bill specifically defines "deadly force" to exclude merely displaying or brandishing a weapon, or using force that doesn’t cause death or serious injury. These changes directly affect property owners and law enforcement responding to property-related incidents under Tennessee Code Annotated Sections 39-11-614 and 39-11-106.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill explicitly lowers standard for deadly force in property cases, expanding circumstances where deadly force is permitted - contradicting criminal justice reform trends focused on limiting excessive force and protecting civil rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms Law Enforcement Policing

Track

signed · Tennessee · Senate May 15, 2025

SB 30: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, creates new misdemeanor offenses, including intentionally giving a false or fictitious name to a law enforcement officer who has lawfully detained or arrested such person. - Amends TCA Title 39; Title 40; Title 54 and Title 55.

SB 30 creates new misdemeanor offenses in Tennessee, primarily targeting individuals who intentionally provide false names to law enforcement during lawful detention or arrest (Section 4). It also prohibits transporting people in the enclosed cargo area of box trucks (defined as vehicles without passenger seats/safety belts) and restricts approaching within 25 feet of officers performing duties after being ordered to stop (Sections 5-6). Additionally, the bill bans unauthorized signage on bridges/highways without maintenance entity permission (Section 7) and amends procedures for police citations (Sections 8-9). These changes directly affect people detained by police, drivers using box trucks for passengers, and individuals placing signage on public infrastructure. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new misdemeanor for false names to police during detention, expanding criminalization and reducing defendant rights during lawful stops.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

died · Tennessee · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 1441: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, increases the penalty for criminal impersonation of a law enforcement officer from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony if the offense occurs while the defendant is committing or attempting to commit a crime of violence. - Amends TCA Title 38; Title 39 and Title 40.

HB 1441 raises the penalty for impersonating a law enforcement officer in Tennessee from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony when the impersonation occurs during the commission or attempt of a violent crime. It maintains the current misdemeanor penalty for impersonation while driving a vehicle (with a $5,000 fine maximum) and for other non-violent cases. The bill specifically targets individuals who use impersonation as part of violent criminal activity, making the offense a felony under those circumstances. The law is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalty for impersonating officers during violent crimes, expanding criminalization and harshening sentencing.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Violent Crime

Track

in committee · Tennessee · House May 13, 2025

HB 587: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, adds organized retail crime and possession or employment of a firearm during the commission of or attempt to commit a dangerous felony to the definition of racketeering activity; clarifies that carjacking is a racketeering activity. - Amends TCA Title 39.

This Tennessee bill (HB 587) expands the state's definition of racketeering activity to include organized retail crime (like large-scale shoplifting) and carrying a firearm during a dangerous felony. It also explicitly adds carjacking to the list of activities classified as racketeering. These changes will affect law enforcement investigations and prosecutions of these specific crimes. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by adding organized retail crime, firearm possession during felonies, and carjacking to racketeering definitions, increasing penalties for these offenses.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Firearms Law Enforcement

Track

signed · Tennessee · Senate Apr 29, 2025

SB 456: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, adds the offense of robbery to the definition of crime of violence. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13.

SB 456 amends Tennessee law to explicitly include robbery as a "crime of violence" within the state's criminal code. This change adds robbery to a list of offenses - including murder, rape, burglary, and aggravated assault - that are currently classified under this legal category. By doing so, the bill ensures robbery cases will be treated under the same sentencing and legal frameworks as other designated violent crimes. The amendment takes effect on July 1, 2025, impacting how Tennessee courts and law enforcement handle robbery prosecutions.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill adds robbery to 'crime of violence' category, subjecting it to harsher sentencing. Expands criminalization and increases penalties, aligning with 'oppose' indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Sentencing Violent Crime