Criminal Justice

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 20, 2026

SB 1474: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, restates the criminal offense of drag racing as street drag racing; expands the offense to include acts committed on commercial property; authorizes a vehicle used in the commission of the offense or to flee after commission of the offense to be impounded for the purpose of collecting evidence; makes various other changes regarding the offense of street drag racing. - Amends TCA Title 7; Title 39; Title 40; Title 55 and Title 68.

SB 1474 redefines "drag racing" as "street drag racing" throughout Tennessee law and expands the offense to include reckless driving or drifting stunts on commercial properties (like shopping centers), not just public roads. It defines "drifting" as steering to lose traction for skidding, allows police to impound vehicles used in the offense or to flee, and makes reckless endangerment from street drag racing a Class E felony. The bill directly affects drivers engaging in street racing or drifting, property owners on commercial sites where such activities occur, and law enforcement handling related arrests. Key changes include requiring arrests to be taken before a magistrate (not issued a citation) and mandating vehicle impoundment for evidence collection.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization of street drag racing to commercial properties, elevates to Class E felony, increasing penalties and restricting driver activities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Judges Policing

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in committee · Tennessee · House Sep 11, 2025

HB 883: Handgun Permits - As introduced, extends the time, from 30 to 45 days, within which a person whose handgun carry permit has been suspended or revoked may petition the chancery court for judicial review of the department of safety's final determination. - Amends TCA Title 39.

HB 883 changes Tennessee law to extend the timeframe for handgun permit holders to seek court review after their permit is suspended or revoked. Specifically, it increases the window from 30 to 45 days to petition a chancery court regarding the Tennessee Department of Safety's decision. This directly affects individuals whose carry permits have been suspended or revoked under state law. The amendment applies to Tennessee Code Annotated Title 39, Section 39-17-1354(a), and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExtends judicial review window for permit holders, protecting due process rights in criminal justice context per TCA 39-17-1354(a).90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Firearms

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in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 9, 2025

HB 629: Children - As introduced, authorizes a juvenile court to order a child who is accused of being delinquent or unruly and released prior to a hearing to wear a global positioning monitoring system device; if the court issues such an order, requires the entity operating the global positioning monitoring system to notify the probation officer or other entity ordered to take charge of the child if the child violates the instructions issued by the court upon release; requires students who are expelled for committing a zero tolerance offense for threatening mass violence on school property or at a school-related activity to undergo counseling and a mental health evaluation before returning to school. - Amends TCA Title 37; Title 39; Title 40, Chapter 11 and Title 49.

HB 629 modifies Tennessee law regarding juvenile justice and school discipline. It allows juvenile courts to order GPS tracking devices for youth accused of delinquency or unruliness who are released before a hearing, requiring monitoring providers to alert probation officers if rules are violated. Additionally, it mandates that students expelled for threatening mass violence at school must complete counseling and a mental health evaluation before returning to school, with costs borne by parents or the student (if 18+), and evaluation results kept confidential. These changes apply to cases occurring on or after July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates mental health evaluations for juveniles expelled for threats, promoting rehabilitation over punitive measures in school discipline, aligning with criminal justice reform indicators.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Juvenile Justice Probation & Parole

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signed · Tennessee · House May 27, 2025

HB 524: Montgomery County - As enacted, permits a court to transfer, upon motion by the defendant, a criminal case to the veterans treatment court program in Montgomery County if the veterans treatment court program would have jurisdiction over the case if the offense had been committed in Montgomery County, the defendant files with the court a written waiver of the right to be tried by an impartial jury of the county in which the crime was committed, and the district attorney general for Montgomery County agrees to accept transfer of the case. - Amends TCA Title 16 and Title 40.

HB 524 allows eligible veterans facing criminal charges in Tennessee to request transferring their case to Montgomery County's veterans treatment court program under specific conditions. The bill affects veterans who meet the program's jurisdictional criteria (as if the crime occurred in Montgomery County), require a written waiver of their right to a jury trial in their home county, and have the Montgomery County District Attorney General agree to the transfer. Key provisions amend Tennessee law to permit this transfer process for contiguous counties with populations between 220,000-220,100 (based on 2020 census data), which Montgomery County satisfies. This creates a new procedural pathway for veterans to access specialized treatment courts instead of standard criminal proceedings. The bill became effective May 21, 2025, after Governor's approval.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEnables veterans' access to treatment courts, a rehabilitation-focused criminal justice reform aimed at reducing recidivism through specialized programming rather than traditional punishment.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransHB 524 creates a pathway for veterans to access specialized treatment court instead of standard criminal proceedings, promoting rehabilitation and support services for veterans facing charges.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

signed · Tennessee · House Apr 4, 2025

HB 72: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, establishes mandatory minimum penalties of 48 hours in jail and a $500 fine for a person convicted of knowingly selling or distributing a product containing a hemp-derived cannabinoid to a person who is under 21; prohibits a retailer from knowingly allowing an employee younger than 21 to access, handle, or sell any product containing a hemp-derived cannabinoid on the premises of the retail establishment. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17; Title 43, Chapter 27 and Title 49, Chapter 6.

HB 72 establishes mandatory penalties for selling hemp-derived cannabinoid products to people under 21 in Tennessee. It requires a minimum 48-hour jail sentence and $500 fine for anyone convicted of knowingly selling such products to minors. The bill also prohibits retailers from allowing employees under 21 to access, handle, or sell these products on store premises. These rules directly affect retailers and their underage employees handling hemp-derived cannabinoid products, effective July 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandatory 48-hour jail term and $500 fine for selling hemp products to minors increases criminal penalties, expanding criminalization under criminal justice.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Sentencing

signed · Tennessee · House Apr 28, 2025

HB 749: Driver Licenses - As enacted, creates the Class B misdemeanor offense of operating a motor vehicle in this state with an invalid driver license; designates out-of-state driver licenses issued exclusively to illegal aliens as invalid driver licenses in this state. - Amends TCA Title 55, Chapter 50.

HB 749 creates a Class B misdemeanor offense for operating a vehicle in Tennessee with an out-of-state driver license issued exclusively to individuals without lawful immigration status. The bill specifically targets licenses marked or designed to distinguish undocumented immigrants from other license holders, defining them as "invalid" in Tennessee. It requires the state to publish and maintain a list of such invalid license types by December 2025. This law directly affects non-residents holding these specific out-of-state licenses, making their use a punishable offense. The policy change takes effect January 1, 2026, with related administrative provisions effective immediately upon enactment.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill creates Class B misdemeanor for driving with licenses marked for undocumented immigrants, expanding criminalization of immigration status and opposing criminal justice reform by targeting vulnerable populations.90% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationRestricts undocumented immigrants' access to driver's licenses by invalidating out-of-state licenses issued exclusively to illegal aliens, directly limiting mobility and services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Driver Licenses & IDs

signed · Tennessee · House May 27, 2025

HB 1093: Firearms and Ammunition - As enacted, expands the definition of "machine gun" to include any part, or combination of parts, designed and intended solely for use in converting a firearm into a machine gun; increases the classification for the intentional or knowing possession, manufacture, transport, repair, or sale of a machine gun from a Class E to a Class C felony; reclassifies certain other offenses involving the possession of firearm or handgun ammunition; makes a defendant ineligible for parole if convicted of aggravated assault that involved the use of a firearm from within a motor vehicle. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 40.

HB 1093 amends Tennessee law to strengthen firearm regulations. It expands the definition of "machine gun" to include parts designed solely to convert a firearm into a machine gun, and increases penalties for possessing, making, or selling such devices from a Class E to a Class C felony. The bill also changes penalties for other gun-related offenses and makes defendants ineligible for parole if convicted of aggravated assault involving a firearm used from within a vehicle. These changes apply to Tennessee residents and anyone violating these provisions within the state. The law took effect on July 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands machine gun definition, increases felony penalties, and removes parole eligibility for firearm-related aggravated assault - harsher sentencing aligns with opposition to criminal justice reform.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Firearms Probation & Parole

in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 1449: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, restates the criminal offense of drag racing as street drag racing; expands the offense to include acts committed on commercial property; authorizes a vehicle used in the commission of the offense or to flee after commission of the offense to be impounded for the purpose of collecting evidence; makes various other changes regarding the offense of street drag racing. - Amends TCA Title 7; Title 39; Title 40; Title 55 and Title 68.

HB 1449 redefines "drag racing" as "street drag racing" and expands the offense to include reckless driving for spectators and events on commercial property (like shopping centers or retail lots). It defines "drifting" as intentionally skidding a vehicle and broadens the term "participant" to cover organizers, promoters, and anyone facilitating street drag racing. The bill allows police to impound vehicles used in the offense or to flee (with the charged person paying fees) and authorizes vehicle forfeiture upon conviction. Additionally, reckless endangerment through street drag racing is now classified as a Class E felony.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization of street drag racing, broadens offenses to commercial property, and increases enforcement powers without reform elements.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

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in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 8, 2025

HB 602: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, enacts the "Voyeurism Victims Act." - Amends TCA Title 28; Title 29; Title 36, Chapter 3, Part 6; Title 39 and Title 40, Chapter 2.

HB 602, the "Voyeurism Victims Act," creates a specific criminal offense for non-consensual photography of intimate areas (unlawful photography) and expands victim protections. It defines the crime to include photos taken for sexual gratification, using hidden cameras, or involving multiple victims, and extends the statute of limitations for prosecution until the victim discovers the act. The bill also adds "unlawful photography victim" to Tennessee’s domestic violence and stalking protection orders, allowing affected individuals to seek legal relief through existing court processes. This law directly affects people who experience non-consensual intimate photo sharing, providing clearer legal pathways for accountability and support. It takes effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates specific offense for voyeurism, extends statute of limitations for victims, and adds victim protection to domestic violence laws - directly strengthens victim safeguards in criminal justice.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate May 27, 2025

SB 1075: Firearms and Ammunition - As enacted, expands the definition of "machine gun" to include any part, or combination of parts, designed and intended solely for use in converting a firearm into a machine gun; increases the classification for the intentional or knowing possession, manufacture, transport, repair, or sale of a machine gun from a Class E to a Class C felony; reclassifies certain other offenses involving the possession of firearm or handgun ammunition; makes a defendant ineligible for parole if convicted of aggravated assault that involved the use of a firearm from within a motor vehicle. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 40.

SB 1075 (enacted as Public Chapter 513) amends Tennessee law to expand the definition of "machine gun" to include parts designed solely for converting firearms into machine guns. It upgrades the felony classification for machine gun possession, manufacture, or sale from Class E to Class C and reclassifies certain firearm ammunition offenses. The bill also makes defendants ineligible for parole if convicted of aggravated assault involving a firearm used from a motor vehicle. These changes directly affect individuals possessing machine guns or specific firearm-related offenses in Tennessee, with the law taking effect upon enactment.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization of firearm offenses, upgrades felony classifications, and removes parole eligibility for firearm-related aggravated assault, increasing penalties and restricting defendant rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Firearms Probation & Parole

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