HB 1116 creates a "crime stoppers trust fund" in Tennessee's state treasury by requiring a $10 additional fine on individuals convicted of felony or misdemeanor offenses. Courts collect this fine (keeping $3 per fine as a service charge) and send the remaining $7 monthly to the fund, which supports local crime stoppers programs. The fund provides grants to eligible 501(c)(3) crime stoppers organizations for public awareness, rewards for tips leading to arrests or recoveries (e.g., stolen property, weapons), and limited administrative costs (capped at 25% of grant funds). Funds are distributed based on where fines were collected, with one grant per county to support programs that aid law enforcement through public tip reporting.
HJR 48 proposes a constitutional amendment to expand rights for crime victims in Tennessee. If approved by voters, it would guarantee victims specific protections including the right to receive notice of court proceedings, be present at trials, provide input during sentencing, receive restitution from offenders, and be informed of parole decisions. The amendment would require voter approval at the 2026 general election, as directed in the resolution. This is a proposed change to the state constitution, not an immediate law, and would not alter existing legal processes or create new lawsuits against the government.
HB 1204 revises Tennessee's driving under the influence (DUI) laws. It allows law enforcement officers to assist qualified medical practitioners in using reasonable force to obtain blood samples from drivers suspected of DUI, and increases the maximum sentence for a first-time DUI conviction from one year to one year and six months. The blood sample provision takes effect immediately upon enactment, while the sentencing change will take effect on July 1, 2025. This bill directly affects drivers charged with DUI in Tennessee by altering evidence collection procedures and penalties.
SB 813 changes Tennessee's penalties for criminal exposure to HIV. It reduces the offense of exposure without HIV transmission from a Class C felony to a Class B misdemeanor. The bill also creates a new Class C felony for cases where HIV is transmitted to another person. These changes will directly affect individuals charged with HIV exposure crimes under Tennessee law, with effective dates starting July 1, 2025.
HB 1190 creates two new criminal offenses in Tennessee. It makes it a Class E felony to control a motor vehicle without the owner's permission (knowing they lack authorization), and a Class A misdemeanor to possess a firearm the person knows or should know was stolen. The bill specifies that vehicle control without permission will be punished as theft under existing law, while the firearm provision allows standard defenses for possession. These changes directly affect individuals who commit vehicle control without consent or possess stolen firearms, with penalties defined by the bill's new sections in Tennessee Code Annotated Title 39. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.
SB 1187 requires courts to mandate GPS monitoring for defendants released on bail in specific cases, including those accused of firearm offenses, domestic assault, vehicle burglary, reckless driving, drag racing, or repeat crimes under certain statutes. It directly affects defendants charged with these offenses who are granted bail, unless a court determines they no longer pose a threat to victims or public safety. The bill adds reporting requirements for courts to track monthly GPS usage and submit annual county-level data to legislative committees. Key provisions include mandating GPS as a bail condition for listed offenses and requiring courts to document factors for release decisions. The law amends multiple Tennessee Code sections to implement these changes.
SB 1210 requires state or local law enforcement officers in Tennessee to receive written notice detailing the specific allegations before being placed on a "Brady list" (a list tracking officers with misconduct allegations), and mandates at least 10 business days for the officer to respond before the placement is finalized. This bill directly affects law enforcement officers who might face placement on such a list due to misconduct allegations. The key mechanism is the procedural safeguard of prior written notice and a response period, amending Tennessee Code Annotated Title 38, Chapter 8. The bill focuses on due process for officers during the listing process, without changing the criteria for listing.
SB 992 requires Tennessee's juvenile courts to adopt a new centralized computer system for tracking juvenile cases. All juvenile court clerks must switch to this statewide system, which meets criminal justice standards, following a schedule set with the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC). The system mandates monthly reporting of case data directly to the AOC, replacing older, fragmented record-keeping methods. This change applies to all juvenile courts across Tennessee and aims to improve data consistency and accessibility.
SB 533 changes who pays for electronic monitoring devices when prisoners are released for work in Tennessee. For unpaid work release, the organization employing the prisoner must cover the monitoring costs. For paid employment, the prisoner’s wages must be used to pay for the device, with the sheriff deducting the cost and paying the provider directly. This applies to county or state facilities under Tennessee Code Annotated Title 41, effective July 1, 2025. The bill removes a prior 2024 start date but otherwise modifies existing work release rules.
SB 1184 requires individuals convicted of domestic assault or subject to a court-ordered protection plan to surrender all firearms to a designated law enforcement agency within 48 hours. They must also submit a sworn affidavit of surrender and a receipt from the agency to the court within three business days. This applies to people under existing protection orders or those convicted of domestic violence offenses in Tennessee. The bill amends Tennessee Code sections related to domestic violence protection orders (Title 36), criminal sentencing (Title 39), and firearm possession laws (Title 40), creating a standardized process for firearm surrender and documentation.
