Criminal Justice

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 14, 2026

SB 477: Public Funds and Financing - As introduced, requires the board of claims to hear claims for compensation by persons wrongfully imprisoned whose charges are dismissed and sentences vacated; authorizes persons whose charges were dismissed and sentences vacated prior to enactment of this legislation to file a claim within one year; authorizes surviving spouse and children the right to file a claim with the board of claims on behalf of a person who was wrongfully imprisoned and died prior to filing a claim; grants surviving adult children the same right as surviving minor children to receive payments from an award. - Amends TCA Section 9-8-108.

SB 477 expands Tennessee's compensation program to cover individuals wrongfully imprisoned whose charges were dismissed after sentences were vacated under specific statutes (such as §40-30-102 or §40-26-105), not just those exonerated through traditional means. It allows these individuals to file claims with the Board of Claims within one year of dismissal, including those affected before the law's enactment. Surviving spouses and children can now file claims on behalf of deceased wrongfully imprisoned people, with payments distributed equally among surviving family members according to specified rules. The bill amends Tennessee Code §9-8-108 to implement these changes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands compensation for wrongfully imprisoned individuals, aligning with criminal justice reform by providing redress for wrongful convictions and enhancing accountability.95% confidence

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signed · Tennessee · Senate Apr 30, 2025

SB 1299: DUI Offenses - As enacted, requires an ignition interlock provider to permit a person to appear for calibration, monitoring, or inspection of the device at any time within a two-week period; authorizes a court to order reinstatement of a person’s driver license if the person has no other revocations or suspensions on the person’s driving record and the person’s only noncompliance with ignition interlock requirements has been with regard to the required calibration, monitoring, or inspection of the ignition interlock device; makes various other changes in regard to ignition interlock devices and the ignition interlock usage period. - Amends TCA Section 55-10-417 and Section 55-10-425.

SB 1299, now law in Tennessee, modifies ignition interlock device requirements for drivers convicted of DUI offenses. It allows individuals to schedule calibration, monitoring, or inspection appointments within a two-week window before or after their original date (instead of strict on-time appointments), and permits courts to reinstate driver’s licenses if the sole noncompliance was missing a calibration appointment and no other license suspensions exist. The bill also adds provisions for military service members deployed outside Tennessee for over 30 days, enabling temporary tolling of ignition interlock usage periods with proof of deployment. These changes take effect April 11, 2025, and apply directly to drivers required to use ignition interlock devices.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAllows flexible scheduling for DUI ignition interlock compliance, reducing barriers to license reinstatement and promoting offender rehabilitation through practical policy adjustments.85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationEnhances road safety by facilitating ignition interlock compliance, reducing DUI recidivism and improving driver accountability within transportation safety framework.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Driver Licensing Traffic Safety

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1353: Criminal Procedure - As introduced, restores the right of suffrage for persons convicted of an infamous crime after expiration of the sentence imposed for the infamous crime; removes requirement that the person pay restitution and court costs and be current in all child support obligations before having the person's right of suffrage restored; permits a person to have the right of suffrage restored without having the person's full rights of citizenship restored. - Amends TCA Title 2 and Title 40.

SB 1353 restores voting rights for Tennessee residents convicted of "infamous crimes" after completing their sentence, removing previous barriers like unpaid restitution, court costs, or current child support obligations. It amends voting eligibility laws to allow this right to be restored without requiring full citizenship rights restoration. The bill updates voter registration forms to accept proof of sentence completion (via court documents or a voting rights certificate) instead of requiring pardons or full citizenship restoration. This directly affects individuals with past convictions who have finished their sentences but were previously barred from voting due to financial or support requirements. The changes apply to both state and federal convictions that qualify as infamous crimes under Tennessee law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestores voting rights for formerly incarcerated individuals post-sentence, removing financial barriers, aligning with criminal justice reform goals to reduce recidivism and promote reintegration.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Courts Victims' Rights

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 31, 2025

SB 389: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, creates a Class C felony of reckless endangerment involving community terrorism, which is committed against a population within a geographic territory by members of a criminal gang or within 1,000 feet of a school or park; requires the sentencing court to revoke or prohibit the issuance of a driver license to individuals convicted of such offense for a five-year period following conviction. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 13 and Title 40, Chapter 35.

SB 389 creates a new Class C felony for "reckless endangerment involving community terrorism," defined as gang-related acts endangering populations in specific geographic areas or within 1,000 feet of schools, parks, or other public facilities. It mandates that courts revoke or prohibit driver's licenses for five years following conviction, requires GPS monitoring to enforce geographic restrictions, and prohibits license reinstatement without court approval. Offenders may later apply for a restricted license for essential activities (work, medical care, school) after five years, subject to court approval, with full license reinstatement possible after demonstrating rehabilitation. The bill directly affects individuals convicted under this new felony, the Tennessee Department of Safety (handling license actions), and courts issuing sentencing orders. It applies specific penalties to offenses meeting the "community terrorism" definition outlined in the bill.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new felony, mandates 5-year license revocation, expands criminalization of gang acts near schools/parks, increasing penalties and restricting defendant rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Sentencing

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passed · Tennessee · Senate Apr 1, 2025

SJR 3: General Assembly, Statement of Intent or Position - Establishes a definition of antisemitism and encourages departments and agencies of state government to use such definition in determining discriminatory intent for any law or policy in this state that prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, or national origin. -

SJR 3 is a Senate Joint Resolution defining antisemitism and urging state agencies to use this definition when assessing discrimination under Tennessee law. It provides 11 specific examples of antisemitism, including denying the Holocaust, accusing Jews of controlling institutions, or comparing Israeli policy to Nazi actions. The resolution encourages state departments, district attorneys (to seek enhanced sentences for antisemitism-motivated crimes), and schools to consider this definition when evaluating discrimination claims based on religion or national origin. It does not create new laws but serves as a policy statement for state entities. This resolution applies directly to Tennessee state government agencies, schools, and law enforcement.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeEncourages district attorneys to seek enhanced sentences for antisemitism-motivated crimes, increasing penalties within criminal justice system.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Law Enforcement

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in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 9, 2025

HB 403: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, expands the offense of unlawful photography to include a photograph that the defendant knew would include the victim engaged in sexual activity; increases the penalty for the offense of unlawful photography from a Class A misdemeanor or a Class E felony to a Class D felony in certain circumstances; authorizes the issuance of an order of protection for a person who has been subjected to, threatened with, or placed in fear of unlawful photography. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 13 and Title 40.

HB 403 expands Tennessee's unlawful photography law to cover photos where the defendant knew the victim was engaged in sexual activity. It upgrades penalties for this offense to a felony (Class D) in specific cases, replacing previous misdemeanor or lower felony classifications. The bill also allows courts to issue protection orders for victims who have been subjected to, threatened with, or feared such non-consensual photography. This directly affects individuals who commit non-consensual photography and victims of such acts. The changes apply to offenses occurring on or after July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands unlawful photography law, increases penalties to felony, and authorizes protection orders for victims, strengthening victim protections in criminal justice.95% confidence

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 2, 2026

SB 235: Law Enforcement - As introduced, requires an employing law enforcement agency to contact any prior law enforcement agency that employed the agency's officer or special deputy as part of the thorough investigation into the person's good moral character. - Amends TCA Title 38, Chapter 8.

SB 235 requires Tennessee law enforcement agencies to contact an officer's previous employers as part of background checks when hiring new officers with prior law enforcement experience. This amendment to Tennessee law (TCA Title 38, Chapter 8) modifies the requirement for verifying "good moral character" by adding a specific step: agencies must reach out to prior law enforcement agencies that employed the candidate. The bill directly affects all Tennessee law enforcement agencies conducting background investigations for new hires. It makes no changes to the definition of "good moral character" but adds a procedural requirement for verifying an officer's history.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires prior employer contact for officer background checks, enhancing police accountability in hiring per TCA Title 38, Chapter 8.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

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in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 29, 2025

HB 580: Bail, Bail Bonds - As enacted, makes various changes regarding global positioning monitoring and the pretrial release of certain defendants. - Amends TCA Title 8; Title 39; Title 40 and Title 55, Chapter 10.

HB 580 updates Tennessee's pretrial release rules for defendants using GPS monitoring. It requires counties to contract with "qualified" GPS service providers that offer 24/7 monitoring, maintain written court protocols, and notify emergency services if a defendant violates bond conditions. The bill also clarifies that victims must receive emergency contact information, limits liability for service providers, and creates a process where courts must hold hearings within 10 days if defendants fail to pay monitoring costs. This directly affects defendants on monitored pretrial release, victims, law enforcement, and GPS service providers.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires 10-day court hearings for pretrial violations, enhancing oversight and defendant rights in bail process.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate May 5, 2026

SB 375: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, defines "seriously bodily injury" for the purposes of the present law offense of vehicular assault, which occurs when a person who, as the proximate result of the person's intoxication, recklessly causes serious bodily injury to another person by the operation of a motor vehicle or vessel subject to registration; makes related changes. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 55.

SB 375 increases penalties for driving without a valid license in Tennessee. A first offense becomes a Class B misdemeanor (up from Class C), and a second or subsequent offense within 10 years becomes a Class A misdemeanor. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 39-11-101 and 55-50-301 to implement these changes, effective July 1, 2025. It directly affects drivers convicted of operating a vehicle without a valid license.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for license violation by raising misdemeanor classifications, expanding criminalization and opposing reform-focused criminal justice policies.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationIncreases penalties for unlicensed driving, enhancing road safety as a vehicle regulation measure under Transportation policy.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime Driver Licensing Vehicle Registration

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in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 15, 2026

HB 447: Prisons and Reformatory Institutions - As introduced, requires the department of correction, in consultation with the inmate disciplinary oversight board, to compose a report detailing the number of inmates who earned sentence reduction credits, and to submit the report to legislative committees. - Amends TCA Title 3; Title 4; Title 40 and Title 41.

HB 447 requires Tennessee's Department of Correction to create an annual report tracking how many inmates earned sentence reduction credits (which shorten prison time). The report must detail these numbers and be submitted to the Senate Judiciary Committee and the relevant House committee on criminal sentencing. This bill amends specific sections of Tennessee law (Titles 3, 4, 40, and 41) to establish this reporting requirement. The change directly affects state corrections officials and provides lawmakers with data on sentence credit usage.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates annual reporting on inmate sentence reduction credits to improve transparency and oversight of rehabilitation-focused sentencing practices.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Sentencing

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