Criminal Justice

signed · Tennessee · House May 27, 2025

HB 45: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, increases the penalty from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony for a person who commits child abuse by knowingly treating a child between 9 and 17 in such a manner as to inflict injury. - Amends TCA Title 36; Title 37; Title 39 and Title 40.

HB 45 increases the penalty for child abuse of children aged 9 to 17 from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Section 39-15-401(a) to impose this stricter penalty for knowingly causing injury to a child in this age group through abusive treatment. This change will take effect on July 1, 2025, applying to offenses committed on or after that date. The law directly affects individuals convicted of such child abuse by elevating their criminal penalties under Tennessee statute.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases penalties for child abuse from misdemeanor to felony, aligning with 'oppose' indicators of harsher sentencing and expanded criminalization.95% confidence

signed · Tennessee · House Apr 28, 2025

HB 501: Children and Youth, Commission on - As enacted, creates the Tennessee juvenile justice review commission to review an appropriate sampling of juvenile justice cases and any critical incidents involving juveniles in order to provide the general assembly with findings and legislative recommendations. - Amends TCA Title 4 and Title 37.

HB 501 creates the Tennessee Juvenile Justice Review Commission to examine juvenile justice cases and critical incidents involving youth in state custody. The commission will review specific cases (like repeat offenses or those with systemic issues such as extended detention or out-of-state placements) and incidents (like escapes, self-harm, or staff abuse allegations) to identify patterns and make legislative recommendations. It must report its findings annually to the Tennessee General Assembly starting in 2028. The commission includes members from child services, education, mental health, courts, public defense, law enforcement, and child development fields. This bill directly affects how Tennessee reviews and improves its juvenile justice system, focusing on policy changes based on case data rather than individual outcomes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates juvenile justice review commission to identify systemic issues and recommend reforms, directly advancing criminal justice reform through case review and legislative recommendations.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice Law Enforcement

in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 8, 2025

HB 122: Safety, Dept. of - As enacted, specifies that the Tennessee Advanced Communications Network is the division of the department of safety that operates, maintains, and oversees the statewide P25 interoperable communications system; authorizes the department to collect and use fees and assessments for the improvement of the system in addition to collection and use of such fees for the system's use and maintenance. - Amends TCA Section 4-3-2018.

HB 122 amends Tennessee law to designate the Tennessee Advanced Communications Network (TACN) as the specific division within the Department of Safety responsible for operating, maintaining, and overseeing the statewide P25 interoperable communications system. The bill authorizes the Department of Safety to collect fees and assessments for the system's maintenance, use, and improvement - beyond existing fees for system access. All collected funds must be used exclusively for the system's maintenance, use, and improvement, as specified by department rules. This change clarifies administrative responsibility and funding mechanisms for emergency communications infrastructure used by law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAuthorizes fees for law enforcement communications system maintenance, directly supporting operational capabilities within criminal justice infrastructure.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

Track

in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 21, 2025

HB 182: Tattoos and Piercings - As enacted, enacts "The Ink of Hope Act"; requires tattoo operators and tattoo artists to complete up to one hour of training on recognizing and reporting signs of human trafficking. - Amends TCA Title 62, Chapter 38.

HB 182, known as "The Ink of Hope Act," requires tattoo operators and artists in Tennessee to complete a one-hour training course on recognizing and reporting human trafficking signs before obtaining a permit or renewing a license. The training, provided at no cost by an approved nonprofit, covers identifying trafficking indicators, responding appropriately, referring clients to victim resources, and reporting to the Tennessee Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline. Existing license holders must complete this training by December 31, 2028, or risk license invalidation. The bill also protects licensed individuals from civil or criminal liability for good-faith actions related to human trafficking reporting.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires tattoo operators to train on recognizing/reporting human trafficking, enhancing victim protection and law enforcement response to a critical crime, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking

Track

signed · Tennessee · House Apr 4, 2025

HB 1095: Law Enforcement Training Academy - As enacted, requires the peace officer standards and training commission to issue a certificate of compliance to a person appointed as a private special deputy on or after January 1, 2026, if the person meets the qualifications for employment as a police officer and satisfactorily completes an approved recruit training program; requires annual in-service training sessions to retain such certification. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 8; Title 38 and Title 49.

HB 1095 requires Tennessee's Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission to issue a certification to private special deputies appointed on or after January 1, 2026, if they meet police officer qualifications and complete an approved recruit training program. To maintain this certification, special deputies must also complete annual in-service training sessions relevant to their duties. The bill directly affects private special deputies employed by entities like private security firms or businesses with law enforcement authority. It updates existing training requirements in Tennessee law (Titles 4, 8, 38, and 49) to standardize certification for this specific role, effective March 28, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires mandatory training for private special deputies, enhancing law enforcement standards and accountability within criminal justice framework.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

in committee · Tennessee · Senate May 8, 2025

SB 1133: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, revises provisions of present law relative to placing certain defendants on a fugitives list for failure to appear. - Amends TCA Title 8; Title 10; Title 33; Title 36; Title 37; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40; Title 41; Title 49; Title 50; Title 55 and Title 70.

SB 1133 shortens the timeframe for placing defendants on Tennessee's fugitives list after missing a court appearance, reducing it from five days to three days. This directly affects criminal defendants who fail to appear for court dates, accelerating law enforcement's ability to pursue them. The bill specifically amends Tennessee Code Annotated Section 39-16-202(a)(1) to implement this change, impacting how courts handle non-appearances. The law aims to improve efficiency in the criminal justice system by streamlining the fugitives list process.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill reduces defendant's window to address court absence from 5 to 3 days, tightening enforcement and limiting due process rights per TCA 39-16-202(a)(1).90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement

Track

signed · Tennessee · House May 27, 2025

HB 1177: Criminal Procedure - As enacted, increases from 11 months and 29 days to two years from the date of arrest the time within which misdemeanor charges against a defendant who has been found incompetent must be retired unless the defendant is restored to competency; adds to present law that, when a defendant whose misdemeanor charges were retired due to a finding of incompetency is released into the community, the chief officer is required to notify the court of the defendant's discharge and provide the court and the sheriff with an outpatient treatment plan that accounts for the safety of the community. - Amends TCA Title 33; Title 40 and Title 52.

HB 1177 extends the time limit for filing misdemeanor charges against defendants found incompetent to stand trial from 11 months and 29 days to two years after arrest, unless the defendant is restored to competency. It directly affects misdemeanor defendants declared incompetent by a court, requiring prosecutors to move faster or dismiss charges if competency isn't restored. The bill also mandates that when such a defendant is released into the community after charges are dismissed due to incompetence, the chief officer must notify the court, provide a discharge notice, and share an outpatient treatment plan designed to ensure community safety. These changes update Tennessee Code Sections 33-7-301 and 52-6-102.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates outpatient treatment plans for dismissed incompetent defendants, prioritizing community safety through rehabilitation over prolonged detention, aligning with reform indicators.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement

in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 1, 2025

HB 721: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, makes assault against school employees a Class E felony offense under certain circumstances. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 49, Chapter 6.

HB 721 makes assault against school employees a Class E felony when it occurs during their official duties at specific locations: school grounds, school-sponsored activities, school-provided transportation, or official school bus stops. It directly affects K-12 school employees (teachers, staff, and administrators) in both public and private schools across Tennessee. The bill defines "educational employee" broadly to cover all staff working in grades K-12, raising the legal penalty for harming them while they perform job-related tasks. This policy change, effective July 1, 2025, elevates assault offenses from lower-level charges to felony status under these defined circumstances.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeClassifies assault on school employees as Class E felony, increasing mandatory sentencing and criminalization per bill's penalty elevation for specific offenses.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProtects K-12 school employees by increasing penalties for assault during official duties, enhancing safety for educators in educational settings.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProtects school employees' workplace safety by elevating assault penalties during duties, advancing labor safety standards for K-12 staff across Tennessee.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime K-12 Education School Safety School Transportation

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signed · Tennessee · House May 27, 2025

HB 1409: Appropriations - As enacted, makes appropriations for the fiscal years beginning July 1, 2024, and July 1, 2025. -

HB 1409 is Tennessee's enacted state budget for fiscal years 2024 and 2025, authorizing funding for all state government operations. It allocates specific amounts to the legislative branch (including $33.6 million for the House of Representatives), judicial systems (covering courts, legal aid, and court services), and executive agencies (such as the Attorney General's office). The bill details funding for routine functions like salaries, court operations, and public services, without creating new policies or programs. It became law on May 21, 2025, and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates funding for legislative, judicial, and executive branch operations per enacted state budget, directly advancing fiscal management and public service funding.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAllocates funds to judicial systems including courts and legal aid, directly supporting criminal justice operations without restrictions.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Courts

signed · Tennessee · Senate May 15, 2025

SB 1115: Correction, Dept. of - As enacted, provides that in a facility operated pursuant to a contract to provide correctional services, or in a facility operated pursuant to a contract with a county to hold state inmates and that county has entered into a contract with a contractor to provide correctional services, if the death rate of inmates at the facility is twice the death rate of an equivalent state-operated facility, then the department must reduce the population at such facility by 10%. - Amends TCA Title 8; Title 12; Title 40 and Title 41.

SB 1115 (Tennessee) requires the Department of Correction to reduce inmate populations by 10% at privately operated correctional facilities if their death rate exceeds twice that of a comparable state-run facility. This applies to facilities under contract with the state or county for holding state inmates. The bill also mandates that required facility reports be posted on the Department of Correction website. It amends Tennessee Code sections related to correctional services (Titles 8, 12, 40, 41) and took effect May 9, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires population reduction at private facilities with excessive death rates and mandates transparency, enhancing oversight and safety in corrections.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections