Criminal Justice (Domestic Violence)

in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 18, 2026

HB 1210: Firearms and Ammunition - As introduced, requires, if the respondent on an order of protection dispossesses firearms by transferring possession to a third party who is not prohibited from possessing firearms, the respondent to specify the third party and the physical address where all firearms are located on the affidavit of firearms dispossession form; requires the third party to sign the affidavit of firearms dispossession form to acknowledge receipt of the firearms. - Amends TCA Title 36, Chapter 3, Part 6.

This bill requires individuals under domestic violence protection orders who transfer firearms to a third party (not prohibited from owning guns) to list the third party's name and full address on the firearms dispossession form. It also mandates that the third party sign the form to confirm receipt of the firearms. The changes apply specifically to cases where firearms are transferred rather than surrendered to law enforcement. The bill aims to create a clear, documented record of firearm transfers in domestic violence cases to enhance safety transparency. (Amends TCA Title 36, Chapter 3, Part 6)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAdds accountability in firearm transfers under domestic violence orders, preventing prohibited access to firearms.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Drug Policy Firearms

Track

signed · Tennessee · Senate May 15, 2025

SB 28: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, expands the criminal offense of harassment to include harassment that occurs by communicating in the physical presence of the victim, in addition to in writing, by telephone, or electronically. - Amends TCA Title 39.

SB 28 expands Tennessee's harassment law to include face-to-face communication as a form of harassment, in addition to existing methods like text, phone, or online messages. This change directly affects individuals who engage in threatening or intimidating behavior while physically present with a victim, such as verbal threats during stalking or nonverbal intimidation in person. The bill amends the definition of "communicate" in state law to explicitly cover in-person contact, alongside written, electronic, or telephone interactions. The law will take effect on July 1, 2025, broadening the legal scope for prosecuting harassment cases that occur through physical presence.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization of harassment by adding in-person communication to prohibited acts, increasing potential prosecutions under criminal justice law.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence

signed · Tennessee · Senate Apr 29, 2025

SB 406: Orders of Protection - As enacted, expands the courts in Shelby County that can hear a petition for an order of protection to include a criminal court when the criminal court is hearing a criminal matter involving a domestic abuse victim, sexual assault victim, or stalking victim; makes related changes. - Amends TCA Title 16; Title 18 and Title 36.

SB 406 expands which Tennessee courts in Shelby County can handle petitions for orders of protection. It allows criminal courts to process these petitions when the same court is already hearing a related criminal case involving domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking victims. This change eliminates the need for victims to seek protection orders in a separate court, streamlining the process while the criminal case is active. The bill directly affects survivors of these specific crimes in Shelby County who are navigating both criminal and protection proceedings. The law took effect on April 24, 2025, after being signed by the Governor.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands court access for victims of domestic abuse/sexual assault/stalking, reducing bureaucratic barriers and improving victim access to protection orders within active criminal cases.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence Violent Crime

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 25, 2026

SB 833: Law Enforcement - As introduced, requires a law enforcement officer who becomes aware that an order of protection has been entered against a person in the officer’s presence but has not been served on the person to take appropriate steps to facilitate service of the order of protection, including notifying the sheriff’s department of the person’s immediate location; requires the curriculum of the Tennessee peace officer standards and training commission to include instruction on such requirements. - Amends TCA Title 36, Chapter 3, Part 6; Title 38 and Title 40.

SB 833 requires Tennessee law enforcement officers to help serve orders of protection when they witness one being entered but the person hasn't been served. Specifically, officers must notify the sheriff's department of the person's location and other helpful details to facilitate service. The bill also mandates that the state's peace officer training curriculum include instruction on these requirements. This applies directly to law enforcement officers and sheriff's departments, aiming to improve enforcement of existing protection orders under Tennessee law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires officers to facilitate service of protection orders, enhancing victim safety and officer accountability in enforcement procedures.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Law Enforcement

Track

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

Track

in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 12, 2025

HB 757: Landlord and Tenant - As introduced, increases, from 30 to 45, the number of days a tenant or household member and a landlord have to agree upon a date to terminate a residential rental or lease agreement, provided the tenant supplies written notice and documentation to the landlord that the tenant is a domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking victim. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 13; Title 20; Title 21; Title 25; Title 26; Title 28; Title 29; Title 40; Title 62; Title 66; and Title 68.

HB 757 extends the notice period for tenants fleeing domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking from 30 to 45 days to terminate a rental agreement. It requires tenants to provide written notice and documentation of their victim status to landlords to trigger this longer window. The bill directly affects tenants in these situations and their landlords by giving victims more time to safely vacate properties without immediate eviction risk. This change updates Tennessee's residential rental laws (affecting multiple code sections) to prioritize safety for vulnerable tenants.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExtends tenant protections for crime victims (domestic abuse/stalking), enabling safer exits from abusive situations without immediate eviction risk, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingExtends tenant notice period for domestic abuse victims, strengthening protections against immediate eviction per housing tenant rights indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Violent Crime Landlords Tenant Rights

Track

failed · Tennessee · Senate Mar 11, 2025

SB 959: Sentencing - As introduced, permits a person who is serving a sentence of incarceration of eight years or more for an offense committed prior to January 1, 2026, and who is a victim of domestic abuse subjected to substantial physical, sexual, or psychological abuse inflicted by a member of the same family or household as the person to submit to the sentencing court, a request to apply for resentencing. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 40.

SB 959 allows individuals serving 8+ years in prison for crimes committed before January 1, 2026, to request a new sentencing hearing if they were victims of domestic abuse (physical, sexual, or psychological) inflicted by a family or household member at the time of the offense. To apply, they must submit court records, police reports, or other verified evidence proving their abuse history and current sentence eligibility. Courts will review prison program participation (like domestic violence counseling) and abuse history but cannot reconsider the original conviction. If approved, the court may reduce the sentence while crediting time already served.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAllows resentencing for domestic abuse victims serving long sentences, reducing harsh penalties and aligning with criminal justice reform goals to address trauma-driven offenses.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Domestic Violence Sentencing

Track

in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 626: Law Enforcement - As introduced, requires a law enforcement officer who becomes aware that an order of protection has been entered against a person in the officer’s presence but has not been served on the person to take appropriate steps to facilitate service of the order of protection, including notifying the sheriff’s department of the person’s immediate location; requires the curriculum of the Tennessee peace officer standards and training commission to include instruction on such requirements. - Amends TCA Title 36, Chapter 3, Part 6; Title 38 and Title 40.

HB 626 requires Tennessee law enforcement officers to take specific action when they observe someone who has an active order of protection against them but hasn't been served the document. If an officer sees this situation in person, they must notify the sheriff's department of the person's location and other details to help serve the order. The bill also mandates that officer training programs include instruction on these requirements. This law directly affects police officers and sheriff's departments by changing how they handle unserved protection orders during encounters.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires officers to enforce protection orders, enhancing victim safety and procedural compliance in criminal justice.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Law Enforcement Policing

Track

signed · Tennessee · Senate May 27, 2026

SB 468: Safety - As enacted, enacts the "Riley Gaines Women's Safety and Protection Act." - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 37; Title 41; Title 49 and Title 68.

SB 468, the "Women's Safety and Protection Act," defines "female" and "male" biologically (based on reproductive systems at birth) for state law applications. It requires Tennessee state agencies to maintain separate facilities and accommodations for biological females in correctional facilities, juvenile detention centers, domestic violence shelters, restrooms, and dormitories to protect safety and privacy. The bill mandates that biological sex - not gender identity - determines eligibility for these spaces, prohibiting agencies from banning such distinctions in settings where safety or privacy is a concern. It applies directly to women, girls, and facilities serving them, with specific provisions for restrooms, sleeping quarters, and shelter access. The law overrides conflicting state laws to enforce these biological sex-based definitions.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandates biological sex over gender identity in correctional facilities, restricting transgender individuals' rights in custody settings per bill's facility separation requirements.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Juvenile Justice

signed · Tennessee · House May 27, 2025

HB 578: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, adds certain criminal offenses to the list of dangerous felonies for purposes of the offense of possessing a firearm or antique firearm during commission or attempt to commit a dangerous felony. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13.

HB 578 expands Tennessee's list of "dangerous felonies" to include new offenses like human trafficking, aggravated stalking, methamphetamine manufacturing, and drug trafficking. This change means that if someone possesses a firearm (including antique firearms) while committing or attempting any of these newly listed crimes, they face enhanced penalties. The bill directly affects individuals convicted of these specific offenses who own firearms, increasing legal consequences for firearm possession during such crimes. It amends Tennessee Code Annotated § 39-17-1324 to add 14 new offenses to the existing dangerous felony list, effective July 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands dangerous felonies to include human trafficking/drug trafficking, imposing harsher firearm possession penalties. Increases mandatory sentences and expands criminalization, opposing reform-focused criminal justice policies.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Drug Policy Firearms