Criminal Justice

in committee · Tennessee · House May 15, 2025

HB 1353: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, creates an offense for a person who harms or threatens to harm an individual involved in the judicial process or a family member of such person with the intent to impede, intimidate, interfere with, or retaliate against the justice system participant in connection with their participation in the judicial process, punishable as a Class E felony. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 16.

HB 1353 creates a new Class E felony offense for threatening or harming individuals involved in the judicial process (such as witnesses, judges, court staff, prosecutors, public defenders, or jurors) or their family members, specifically when done to interfere with, intimidate, or retaliate against their participation in court proceedings. It directly affects anyone who targets these judicial participants with threatening or harmful acts to disrupt their work. The law defines "family member" broadly (including spouses, parents, children, and siblings) and "judicial participant" to cover key court personnel and legal professionals. This bill amends Tennessee law to strengthen protections for those supporting the justice system, effective July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProtects judicial participants from intimidation, strengthening court integrity and system functionality per bill's intent to deter interference with proceedings.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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died · Tennessee · House Feb 6, 2025

HB 451: Expunction - As introduced, reduces the time period following completion of the sentence imposed before which a person may file a petition for expunction from five years for a misdemeanor or Class E felony and 10 years for a Class C or D felony to one year since completion of the sentence imposed for the offense the person is seeking to have expunged. - Amends TCA Section 40-32-101.

HB 451 would change Tennessee's expunction law by shortening the waiting period to clear certain criminal records. Currently, people convicted of misdemeanors or Class E felonies must wait 5 years after finishing their sentence before petitioning to expunge the record, and 10 years for Class C or D felonies. This bill would reduce that waiting period to just one year for all these offenses, making it easier for affected individuals to seek record clearance. The change applies to anyone seeking expunction under Tennessee Code §40-32-101.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeReduces waiting periods for expungement (1 year vs 5-10 years), aiding record clearance and rehabilitation - key criminal justice reform indicator.95% confidence

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 291: Medical Occupations - As introduced, extends from 30 business days to 60 business days the period of time an individual, applicant, licensee, certificate holder, or registrant has to file a petition in Davidson County chancery court following receipt of a notice from a health-related licensing authority that the authority is denying an application for or refusing to renew a license, certificate, or registration on the basis of a prior criminal conviction. - Amends TCA Title 39; Title 40; Title 63 and Title 68.

SB 291 extends the deadline for healthcare license applicants or holders facing denial due to a prior criminal conviction to file a court challenge in Davidson County. It changes the timeframe from 30 to 60 business days after receiving a denial notice from a licensing authority. This procedural bill affects individuals seeking or renewing licenses in Tennessee’s healthcare professions (like nurses or doctors) who must challenge denials based on past criminal records. The change applies to cases filed in Davidson County chancery court under Tennessee law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExtends deadline for challenging healthcare license denials based on prior criminal convictions, reducing barriers to professional reentry and aligning with criminal justice reform goals of reducing recidivism.80% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends deadline for healthcare license challenges, improving access to medical professions by reducing procedural barriers for applicants with prior convictions.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 1, 2025

SB 914: 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.

SB 914 extends the timeframe for individuals whose handgun carry permits have been suspended or revoked to challenge that decision in court. Specifically, it changes the deadline from 30 to 45 days to petition a chancery court for review of the state safety department's final determination. The bill directly affects permit holders facing suspension or revocation, giving them more time to seek judicial review. This is a procedural change to Tennessee law (TCA Title 39) with no other substantive policy shifts. The amendment takes effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExtends due process for permit holders, aligning with procedural fairness in criminal justice by increasing judicial review window.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Firearms

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introduced · Tennessee · House Feb 10, 2025

HB 1029: Correction, Dept. of - As introduced, adds the availability of services relating to housing as an issue that must be addressed in the orientation that the department is required to conduct before an inmate is released from confinement. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 40.

HB 1029 amends Tennessee law to require correctional departments to address housing services during mandatory pre-release orientation for inmates. The bill changes the existing requirement from covering "education, employment" to including "housing, employment" as essential topics. This policy directly affects inmates transitioning from confinement by ensuring they receive information about housing resources before release. The change applies to Section 40-35-505 of Tennessee Code Annotated, which governs inmate orientation protocols. The bill does not alter other aspects of correctional services or funding.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAdds housing services to pre-release orientation, addressing a key reentry barrier to reduce recidivism and support rehabilitation efforts per bill's explicit mandate.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingExplicitly adds housing services information to mandatory pre-release orientation for inmates, aiding housing transition for formerly incarcerated individuals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 24, 2025

SB 99: Sunset Laws - As enacted, extends the Tennessee peace officer standards and training commission to June 30, 2031. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 29 and Title 38, Chapter 8, Part 1.

SB 99 extends the Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission's operational authority until June 30, 2031, preventing its automatic expiration. This bill amends Tennessee Code sections governing the commission's structure (TCA Title 4, Chapter 29 and Title 38, Chapter 8, Part 1) to remove an outdated reference and clarify its ongoing role. The commission directly affects peace officers and law enforcement training programs across Tennessee by overseeing standards and certification. This is a procedural extension of an existing agency, not a new policy change, ensuring continuity in officer training oversight.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExtends commission overseeing peace officer training standards, ensuring consistent law enforcement oversight and preventing operational gaps in criminal justice system administration.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

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failed · Tennessee · House Apr 1, 2025

HB 1222: Orders of Protection - As introduced, allows a court to issue an emergency protection order upon a finding that a person poses an imminent risk of harm to the person or others if allowed to purchase or possess a firearm; authorizes a family member, household member, intimate partner, or law enforcement officer to petition for such an order. - Amends TCA Title 36 and Title 39.

HB 1222 would allow courts in Tennessee to issue emergency orders restricting a person’s access to firearms if a family member, household member, intimate partner, or law enforcement officer files a petition alleging the person poses an imminent risk of harm. The bill requires courts to issue these orders immediately if harm is imminent, prohibits the petitioner from paying court costs (shifting costs to the respondent), and mandates a hearing within 30 days to extend the order for up to one year. It specifically defines "family member," "household member," and "intimate partner" to clarify who can petition and ensures law enforcement receives copies to enforce the order. The bill, which amends Tennessee Code Titles 36 and 39, is currently pending (it failed in the Criminal Justice Subcommittee in April 2025).

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestricts firearm access for imminent harm risk via court orders, enhancing public safety within criminal justice framework per protection order reforms.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence Firearms

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 10, 2025

SB 271: Bonding, Surety and Professional - As introduced, prohibits a person from acting as a professional bondsman, directly or indirectly, while owning, operating, or being employed by a qualified contract service provider that supervises persons who have been released prior to trial with conditions of release that include using an electronic monitoring device. - Amends TCA Title 40.

SB 271 prohibits professional bondsmen from owning, operating, or working for companies that supervise people released before trial with electronic monitoring conditions. This directly affects bondsmen who currently have financial or employment ties to electronic monitoring service providers. The law amends Tennessee Code § 40-11-313 to ban these dual roles, ensuring bondsmen cannot profit from both bail services and the monitoring of pre-trial clients. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticePrevents bondsmen from profiting from both bail services and electronic monitoring, reducing conflicts of interest in pretrial release and promoting fairer processes.85% confidence

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate May 8, 2025

SB 1314: Criminal Procedure - As enacted, establishes a permanent criminal proceedings notification system, rather than a pilot project; removes the July 1, 2025, termination date for the criminal proceedings notification system. - Amends TCA Section 40-38-507.

SB 1314 makes Tennessee's criminal proceedings notification system permanent by removing its temporary "pilot program" status and eliminating the July 1, 2025, expiration date. This change, effective upon enactment (as reflected in Public Chapter 354), directly affects criminal defendants who receive court notifications under Tennessee Code Annotated Section 40-38-507. The bill amends the statute by deleting "as a pilot program" from subsection (a) and removing subsection (d) entirely. The policy change ensures the notification system will operate indefinitely without requiring future legislative renewal.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMakes criminal notification system permanent, strengthening defendant rights and procedural fairness under TCA 40-38-507 without restricting access.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 20, 2026

SB 15: State Inmates - As introduced, requires the state to pay for autopsies of deceased inmates and for any transportation associated with the autopsy. - Amends TCA Title 38, Chapter 7; Title 41, Chapter 21 and Title 68, Chapter 4.

SB 15 requires the Tennessee state government to cover the costs of autopsies for inmates who die while in state custody, as well as any necessary transportation related to those autopsies. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 41, Chapter 21, by adding a new provision mandating state payment for these examinations and associated transportation expenses. This change directly affects state correctional facilities and the state budget, as it establishes a new financial obligation for the government. The law takes effect upon becoming law, shifting responsibility for these costs from families or other entities to the state.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates state funding for inmate autopsy costs, creating a new budgetary obligation. Directly increases state spending under fiscal management.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates state payment for inmate autopsies, enhancing oversight of deaths in custody to ensure transparency and accountability in corrections.85% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

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