SJR 52 is a Senate Joint Resolution that formally reaffirms the Tennessee General Assembly's intent to prevent the criminalization of pregnancy outcomes. It states the legislature opposes using state laws to prosecute pregnant people, their friends, or family members for pregnancy loss, miscarriage, stillbirth, or abortion. The resolution highlights that Tennessee has the third-highest number of such criminal cases in the U.S. and notes that current laws disproportionately impact low-income residents and people of color. As a non-binding statement of legislative intent, it does not change existing laws but expresses the Assembly's position on this issue.
SB 581 requires Tennessee law enforcement officers to inform individuals they stop (for traffic or pedestrian reasons) of the specific reason for the stop before questioning them about possible crimes or violations. This rule takes effect January 1, 2026, and applies to all officers making such stops. Officers may withhold the reason only if they believe it is necessary to protect life or property from an immediate threat. The bill amends Tennessee Code sections related to law enforcement procedures (Titles 38, 39, and 40).
HB 764 requires that certain physical searches of students, locker searches, and property searches (like vehicles) on school grounds must be conducted solely by a school resource officer acting as a school official. It specifically mandates that schools must obtain parental consent before physically searching any student under 18 years old. The bill also explicitly states that all searches under this law must comply with the Fourth Amendment and Tennessee's constitutional protections against unreasonable searches. This bill directly affects school staff, students (especially minors), and parents/guardians by setting clear limits on who can conduct searches and when parental involvement is required.
HB 674, the "Proximity Placement and Family Visitation Incentive Act," would allow eligible incarcerated individuals in Tennessee correctional facilities to request a transfer to a facility closer to their home county if they maintain good behavior for at least 12 months and participate in rehabilitation programs. Priority for transfers would go to inmates with families that regularly visit them (verified by records) or face financial hardship from travel costs. The Tennessee Department of Correction would track and report annually on visitation patterns, eligible inmates, and transfer numbers to monitor the program’s implementation. This bill directly affects incarcerated people seeking closer family visits and the state’s correctional system.
HB 854 allows Tennessee magistrates to consider reliable hearsay evidence, such as computer printouts of state and federal criminal records from the TBI and FBI, when deciding whether to release a defendant on bail and setting the bail amount. Defendants must be given a fair opportunity to challenge any such evidence used against them. This law directly affects individuals facing pretrial release decisions in Tennessee courts, changing how magistrates assess risk and public safety concerns during bail hearings. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 40-11-115(b) and 40-11-118(b) to implement these changes.
HB 450 shortens the waiting period for expunging certain criminal records in Tennessee from 15 to 10 years after completing a sentence for illegal voting or registration offenses. It directly affects individuals convicted of these specific offenses who seek to clear their records. The bill amends Tennessee law to reduce the required time from 15 years to 10 years before filing for expunction. The change would take effect on July 1, 2025, if enacted.
SB 804 creates a "crime stoppers trust fund" in Tennessee's state treasury by requiring an additional $10 fine on offenders convicted of felonies or misdemeanors. The collected funds (after a $3 service charge retained by courts) directly support local crime stoppers programs, which are nonprofit organizations that collect public tips about crimes and offer rewards for information leading to arrests or recoveries. The bill specifies that funds must be distributed to the primary crime stoppers organization in each county, with grants used for public awareness, rewards for specific crime-related tips (like solving homicides or recovering stolen property), and up to 25% for administrative costs.
HB 1053 would allow people in Tennessee who lost voting rights due to unpaid child support to temporarily regain voting rights by entering a payment plan for outstanding child support debts. It replaces a rule requiring full payment of all child support with a new option for provisional voting rights restoration through a court-approved payment plan. If someone fails to follow the payment plan, a court must provide legal counsel and allow them to present evidence of financial hardship before revoking voting rights. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, applying to new voter registration applications after that date.
HB 689 creates an automatic expungement program for eligible individuals in Tennessee counties with 366,200+ residents (per 2020 census). It allows court clerks in those counties to expunge qualifying criminal records without requiring the person to file a petition, obtain TBI certification, or get a court order. This applies to individuals who qualify for free expungement under specific legal categories (e.g., dismissed cases or certain convictions). The bill streamlines the process by having court clerks initiate expungements directly, with confidential record-keeping and no liability for clerks.
HB 1294 prohibits Tennessee's Department of Correction from blocking the distribution of books and educational materials donated by book vendors to state inmates, with specific exceptions. The bill directly affects incarcerated individuals, correctional facilities, and book vendors by requiring institutions to allow access to donated materials unless they meet strict security exceptions. Key provisions allow rejection only for materials that: (1) contain sexually explicit content or regular nudity (excluding medical/educational depictions), or (2) pose documented security risks like inciting violence, aiding escapes, or promoting contraband. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, and requires institutions to follow administrative procedures if inmates dispute denials.
