HB 1820 requires any person elected or appointed as a Tennessee constable on or after August 1, 2030, to graduate from a Tennessee POST-approved law enforcement training academy. This requirement does not apply to individuals who have already served one full term as constable and are re-elected to the position after that date. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 8-10-102(a)(1)(F) and related titles to establish this training standard for new constables. It directly affects future constable candidates in Tennessee, excluding re-elected incumbents with prior service. The law takes effect upon becoming law.
HB 1931 prevents county legislative bodies in Tennessee counties with charters from reducing a sheriff's budget below the previous year's level for personnel, benefits, or essential operations without the sheriff's written approval. It gives sheriffs the authority to approve or reject budget amendments that would cut these areas, and allows county legislatures to override a sheriff's disapproval with a two-thirds vote. The bill directly affects sheriffs and county lawmakers in charter counties, specifically protecting budget allocations for core sheriff duties. Key provisions include requiring written sheriff consent for cuts and establishing a formal override process for budget disputes. (HB 1931, Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 5, Chapters 1, 9, and 8)
HB 1787 (Criminal Offenses) increases penalties for patronizing prostitution when the victim is in specific vulnerable categories. It raises the offense to a Class B felony if the victim is a law enforcement officer posing as a minor or a person with an intellectual disability, and to a Class A felony if the victim is under 18. The bill also mandates at least 7 days in jail and a $1,000 fine for patronizing prostitution within 1.5 miles of a school. These changes apply to cases currently treated as trafficking for commercial sex acts under Tennessee law. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.
HB 1489 would expand Tennessee's cancer presumption law for firefighters to include arson investigators. The bill amends state law to define "firefighter" as specifically covering full-time arson investigators employed by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation or county sheriff's departments. This change means these investigators would automatically qualify for disability benefits if they develop cancer, as their job-related exposure would be presumed to cause it - similar to current firefighter protections. The bill directly affects arson investigators working in these specific state and local law enforcement roles.
This bill prohibits Tennessee law enforcement from detaining individuals based solely on an ICE immigration request (detainer) or immigration status. It requires any detention or transfer to ICE to be based on a valid judicial warrant signed by a judge, showing probable cause for the specific person. Individuals unlawfully detained under this law may sue for damages of at least $1,000 per day, plus attorney fees. The law states ICE detainers have no legal effect in Tennessee and explicitly prohibits state officers from claiming federal policy as a defense for violating these rules.
HB 1706 would make it a serious misdemeanor for someone without legal immigration status to operate a commercial motor vehicle in Tennessee. It also requires law enforcement to notify federal immigration authorities when arresting such individuals and holds employers strictly liable for injuries caused by undocumented drivers operating commercial vehicles. The bill creates civil penalties of at least $1 million for employers or state officials who knowingly allow or issue licenses to undocumented drivers, and allows private citizens to file lawsuits on behalf of the state (known as "qui tam" actions). This bill directly affects undocumented immigrants working in commercial driving, employers, and state licensing officials, with no provisions for enforcement or implementation details yet.
SB 1840, known as "Quinton's Law," extends the statute of limitations for wrongful death lawsuits in Tennessee under specific conditions. It adds a three-year deadline for filing such claims if criminal charges are filed within two years by law enforcement, a district attorney, or a grand jury related to the same incident. This change directly affects families seeking civil remedies when criminal proceedings are active for the death. The law applies to causes of action accruing on or after July 1, 2026, and modifies existing time limits for other civil actions in Titles 28, 39, and 40 of Tennessee Code.
HB 1816, "The Isbill Act," requires Tennessee law enforcement officers and correctional staff to undergo annual training on the criteria for involuntary hospitalization for mental health treatment. Specifically, it mandates the POST Commission and Tennessee Corrections Institute to create and adopt guidelines explaining when emergency and non-emergency involuntary admissions to inpatient care are appropriate. These guidelines will directly affect all law enforcement officers and correctional personnel in the state. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 33, 38, and 41 to implement these training requirements, effective July 1, 2027.
HB 1502 authorizes the Tennessee Corrections Institute to set training standards and certify local corrections officers and training academies for jails and lock-ups. It requires local facilities to submit plans of action within 90 days after inspections to address non-safety issues, with limits on plan duration. The bill also allows the Institute's director and full-time staff to carry firearms while performing official duties. This directly affects corrections officers, local correctional facilities, and the Tennessee Corrections Institute staff.
SB 1970 allows non-citizens in Tennessee to access their own law enforcement records, such as arrest reports or incident reports, which previously were restricted to state citizens. To obtain these records, non-citizens must submit a written request, valid photo ID, and a signed affidavit confirming the record pertains solely to them. The bill amends Tennessee’s public records law (TCA Title 10, Chapter 7) to override a prior citizenship restriction for this specific purpose. It does not affect confidential records or grant access to records about others. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.
