Criminal Justice (Sentencing)

in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 15, 2026

HB 184: 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.

HB 184 creates a new Class C felony for reckless endangerment classified as "community terrorism," defined as gang-related acts against populations in a geographic area or within 1,000 feet of schools, parks, or other public spaces like libraries. Convicted individuals face a mandatory 5-year driver's license revocation or prohibition (with limited exceptions for work/medical needs), plus GPS monitoring to enforce geographic restrictions near the crime site. The law applies specifically to offenses committed by criminal gang members or near protected locations, requiring courts to order these penalties alongside sentencing. Reinstatement of a driver's license is only possible after five years, with strict requirements for restricted use and court approval.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new felony with mandatory 5-year license revocation and GPS monitoring for gang-related acts near schools, expanding criminalization and increasing penalties.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Sentencing

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 4, 2025

SB 215: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, establishes mandatory minimum penalties of 48 hours in jail and a $500 fine for a person convicted of knowingly selling or distributing a product containing a hemp-derived cannabinoid to a person who is under 21; prohibits a retailer from knowingly allowing an employee younger than 21 to access, handle, or sell any product containing a hemp-derived cannabinoid on the premises of the retail establishment. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17; Title 43, Chapter 27 and Title 49, Chapter 6.

SB 215 establishes new penalties for selling hemp-derived cannabinoid products to people under 21 in Tennessee. It requires a minimum 48-hour jail sentence and $500 fine for anyone convicted of knowingly selling such products to minors. The law also prohibits retailers from allowing employees under 21 to access, handle, or sell these products on store premises. These provisions amend Tennessee Code sections governing retail sales and criminal penalties, effective July 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeImposes mandatory 48-hour jail term and $500 fine for selling hemp products to minors, increasing criminal penalties per bill's explicit language.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Sentencing

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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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in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 9, 2025

HB 1165: Sentencing - As introduced, adds as an enhancement factor to be used in determining the sentence within the permissible range for a criminal offense that the defendant is an adult and committed the offense with a minor, regardless of whether the minor was convicted of the offense. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 40.

HB 1165 amends Tennessee sentencing laws to require judges to consider as a sentencing factor that an adult defendant committed a criminal offense with a minor, regardless of whether the minor was convicted. This change directly affects adult defendants in criminal cases where a minor was involved in the offense. The bill adds this factor to the list of considerations judges must weigh when determining a sentence within the legally permitted range. It applies to offenses committed on or after July 1, 2025, and would impact sentencing outcomes for such cases statewide.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeAdds sentencing enhancement for adults involving minors, increasing severity of penalties per bill's explicit language.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Sentencing

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in committee · Tennessee · House May 13, 2025

HB 1204: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, revises present law concerning driving under the influence. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 55.

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.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases first-time DUI sentence max from 1 year to 18 months, expanding criminalization and harsher penalties per indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Sentencing

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in committee · Tennessee · House May 13, 2025

HB 1352: Sentencing - As enacted, provides that if the victim in an aggravated sexual battery was less than 18 or was mentally defective, mentally incapacitated, or physically helpless, then such battery remains a Class B felony, and the defendant must be punished as a Range II offender; provides that the sentence imposed upon the defendant may, if appropriate, be within Range III but in no case lower than Range II. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 13, Part 5.

HB 1352 changes Tennessee law to classify aggravated sexual battery as a Class A felony (a more serious offense) when the victim is under 18 years old or is mentally defective, mentally incapacitated, or physically helpless - previously, it was a Class B felony. The bill mandates that defendants in these cases must be sentenced within Tennessee’s Range II sentencing range (the minimum for Class A felonies), though judges may impose a higher Range III sentence if appropriate. This affects all convictions for aggravated sexual battery meeting these victim criteria and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeUpgrades aggravated sexual battery to Class A felony with mandatory minimum Range II sentencing, increasing penalties for vulnerable victims' cases per bill language.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sentencing

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in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 29, 2025

HB 579: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, adds the offense of robbery to the definition of crime of violence. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13.

HB 579 amends Tennessee law to explicitly include "robbery" in the legal definition of "crime of violence" under Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13. This change directly affects robbery cases by classifying them under the same sentencing framework as other violent crimes like murder, aggravated assault, and kidnapping. The bill updates the statutory definition to ensure robbery is treated as a crime of violence for legal and sentencing purposes. It takes effect on July 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeClassifies robbery as 'crime of violence' under sentencing framework, increasing penalties and expanding criminalization per bill's explicit amendment to TCA Title 39.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sentencing Violent Crime

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 25, 2025

SB 243: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, creates a Class E felony for altering or defacing a permanent distinguishing number on a firearm and selling, purchasing, or possessing such a firearm with a mandatory minimum sentence of 180 days incarceration. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 14, Part 1; Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13 and Title 40.

SB 243 creates a Class E felony for altering, defacing, or removing a firearm's permanent serial number or distinguishing mark, or for selling, purchasing, or possessing such a modified firearm. It directly affects individuals who tamper with firearm identification or handle firearms with altered markings. The bill imposes a mandatory minimum 180-day prison sentence for violations, with no possibility of early release. This law amends Tennessee Code sections covering criminal offenses related to firearms and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeImposes mandatory 180-day sentence for firearm serial number alteration, expanding criminalization and increasing penalties per Criminal Justice indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Firearms Sentencing

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in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 16, 2025

HB 527: Probation and Parole - As introduced, removes the limitations on the board of parole's authority to deny parole based solely on the seriousness of the offense for certain offenses to allow denial based on the seriousness of the offense for any offense. - Amends TCA Title 40, Chapter 35, Part 5.

HB 527 modifies Tennessee's parole laws by removing a restriction that previously prevented parole boards from denying parole solely based on an offense's seriousness for certain crimes. The bill amends TCA Title 40, Chapter 35, Part 5 to allow parole boards to deny release for *any* offense if they determine it would "depreciate the seriousness of the crime" or "promote disrespect for the law." This change directly affects incarcerated individuals seeking parole, as it expands the criteria parole boards can use to deny release. The bill does not alter sentencing or create new penalties but shifts the parole decision-making standard.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands parole denial grounds to any offense based on 'seriousness,' restricting defendant rights and making parole harder to obtain, directly opposing criminal justice reform goals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole Sentencing

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 20, 2026

SB 45: Sentencing - As introduced, adds as an enhancement factor to be used in determining the sentence within the permissible range for a criminal offense that the defendant is an adult and committed the offense with a minor, regardless of whether the minor was convicted of the offense. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 40.

SB 45 would add a new sentencing factor for judges in Tennessee: when sentencing an adult who committed a criminal offense with a minor, judges must consider this fact as an enhancement within the existing sentencing range. This applies regardless of whether the minor was convicted of the offense. The bill amends Tennessee law (Title 39 and Title 40) to require this consideration for all relevant criminal cases. The change would affect adult defendants in cases involving minors, making it a factor judges must weigh during sentencing decisions, but it does not alter the maximum or minimum sentences. The law would take effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeAdds sentencing enhancement for adults involving minors, increasing penalties - aligns with 'oppose' indicators of stricter sentencing.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sentencing

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