Criminal Justice (Corrections)

signed · Tennessee · House May 18, 2026

HB 1718: Correctional Programs - As enacted, requires each correctional officer at Trousdale Turner Correctional Center to utilize a body camera that is recording at all times while the officer is on duty at the facility and is in contact with or may reasonably anticipate contact or interaction with an inmate; makes other related changes. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 10 and Title 41.

HB 1718 requires Tennessee's Department of Correction to study the cost of providing body cameras to correctional officers and prison contractor employees working at Trousdale Turner Correctional Facility. The study must cover facilities meeting specific criteria: located on public property housing inmates under contractor care, in a county with a 2020 census population between 11,600 and 11,616. The department must submit findings to legislative committee chairs by July 1, 2026, detailing the financial impact of this equipment. This bill does not mandate body cameras but mandates a cost analysis for a specific facility.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill requires study on body camera costs for correctional staff, enhancing accountability in corrections - a key criminal justice reform measure.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

signed · Tennessee · House Apr 24, 2026

HB 1815: Jails, Local Lock-ups - As enacted, authorizes a sheriff, jail administrator, or deputy jailer to refuse or delay acceptance into the jail of an arrestee if the arrestee has not received medical treatment for obvious serious physical injuries or conditions of an emergency nature; makes other related changes. - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 8; Title 29; Title 40 and Title 41.

HB 1815 allows jails to refuse accepting arrestees who require medical attention and were arrested for a non-violent misdemeanor (not a crime against a person). The arresting agency must arrange for a healthcare provider to evaluate the person and obtain a release form confirming they no longer need medical care or can be confined. If the healthcare provider provides this release form, the jail must accept the person. The bill directly affects individuals arrested for minor non-violent offenses needing medical care at the time of arrest.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill prevents unnecessary jail intake for non-violent misdemeanor arrestees needing medical care, aligning with reform goals by protecting civil rights and reducing avoidable incarceration.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement

signed · Tennessee · Senate Apr 27, 2026

SB 1479: Driver Licenses - As enacted, requires the department of correction to coordinate with the department of safety to provide a driver license to certain inmates who are discharged from imprisonment and who intend to reside in this state; makes other related changes. - Amends TCA Section 41-51-301 and Title 55, Chapter 50, Part 3.

SB 1479 requires Tennessee's Department of Correction to coordinate with the Department of Safety to help inmates released after serving a felony sentence obtain driver licenses or photo ID licenses if they had a valid license before incarceration. It automatically extends the expiration date of a driver license that expired during incarceration or within six months after release by six additional months. The bill also mandates a data-sharing agreement between the two departments to streamline this process and ensures licenses expired solely due to incarceration are treated as valid for reentry. This applies specifically to inmates discharged from prison who plan to live in Tennessee and had a driver license in good standing prior to incarceration.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill facilitates post-incarceration reintegration by removing driver license barriers, reducing recidivism risk through practical reentry support, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole Sentencing

signed · Tennessee · Senate May 15, 2025

SB 1115: Correction, Dept. of - As enacted, provides that in a facility operated pursuant to a contract to provide correctional services, or in a facility operated pursuant to a contract with a county to hold state inmates and that county has entered into a contract with a contractor to provide correctional services, if the death rate of inmates at the facility is twice the death rate of an equivalent state-operated facility, then the department must reduce the population at such facility by 10%. - Amends TCA Title 8; Title 12; Title 40 and Title 41.

SB 1115 (Tennessee) requires the Department of Correction to reduce inmate populations by 10% at privately operated correctional facilities if their death rate exceeds twice that of a comparable state-run facility. This applies to facilities under contract with the state or county for holding state inmates. The bill also mandates that required facility reports be posted on the Department of Correction website. It amends Tennessee Code sections related to correctional services (Titles 8, 12, 40, 41) and took effect May 9, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires population reduction at private facilities with excessive death rates and mandates transparency, enhancing oversight and safety in corrections.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

signed · Tennessee · House Apr 28, 2025

HB 1239: Opioids - As enacted, clarifies that a physician licensed in this state is the only healthcare provider authorized to prescribe a buprenorphine product for a FDA-approved use in recovery or medication-assisted treatment; revises criteria for providers not licensed in this state to prescribe a buprenorphine product for the treatment of opioid use disorder. - Amends TCA Title 33; Title 41; Title 53 and Title 63.

HB 1239 clarifies that only physicians licensed in Tennessee may prescribe buprenorphine for FDA-approved uses in opioid recovery or medication-assisted treatment. It also establishes new requirements for non-Tennessee-licensed healthcare providers (such as those working in correctional facilities) to prescribe buprenorphine for opioid use disorder: they must hold a federal DEA registration, be employed by or contract with a correctional facility or jail, and have clinical protocols for medication-assisted treatment. The bill revises existing law to limit prescribing authority while creating specific pathways for correctional healthcare providers. It takes effect on July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEnables medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder in correctional facilities, supporting rehabilitation within criminal justice system90% confidence ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareRestricts prescribing authority to Tennessee-licensed physicians only, adding barriers for non-physician providers in correctional settings, limiting access to medication-assisted treatment.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Drug Policy Substance Abuse

signed · Tennessee · House Jun 4, 2025

HB 577: State Inmates - As enacted, increases the accreditation stipend provided to eligible counties for each convicted felon housed by the county. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 8; Title 9; Title 29; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40 and Title 41.

HB 577 increases the state-funded stipend that eligible counties receive for housing each convicted felon in county facilities. This change directly affects counties operating correctional facilities, providing them with additional state funding per inmate. The bill amends multiple sections of Tennessee law (TCA Titles 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 29, 38, 39, 40, and 41) to adjust the stipend amount. It was signed into law in May 2025 and takes effect on July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeIncreases state funding for county correctional facilities housing inmates, directly supporting corrections infrastructure within criminal justice system.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

signed · Tennessee · Senate Apr 6, 2026

SB 175: State Inmates - As enacted, requires by July 1, 2027, and each July 1 thereafter, the commissioner of correction to deliver to the chairs of legislative committees with jurisdiction over the department a report containing data with regard to individuals who may be certified eligible for parole for being chronically debilitated or incapacitated. - Amends TCA Title 40 and Title 41.

SB 175 changes Tennessee's parole and furlough rules for inmates with serious medical conditions. It removes the requirement that an inmate must be "chronically debilitated" to be certified for parole, and expands eligibility for furloughs when an inmate cannot perform basic daily tasks in prison due to a medical condition. The bill affects inmates with health issues that limit their ability to manage daily activities in a correctional setting. These changes update Tennessee Code Sections 40-35-501 (parole eligibility) and 41-21-227 (furlough criteria), but the bill remains pending in the Senate.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves medical barrier for parole/furloughs, enabling compassionate release for inmates with chronic conditions - advancing rehabilitation-focused criminal justice reform.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Jun 4, 2025

SB 186: State Inmates - As enacted, increases the accreditation stipend provided to eligible counties for each convicted felon housed by the county. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 8; Title 9; Title 29; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40 and Title 41.

SB 186 increases state payments to counties for housing convicted felons by raising the accreditation stipend per inmate. This directly affects counties that operate local jails or hold inmates under state supervision. The bill amends multiple Tennessee Code sections (including Titles 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 29, 38, 39, 40, and 41) to implement this payment increase. The change became law on June 4, 2025, after passing through legislative committees.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeIncreases state funding to counties for housing inmates via higher accreditation stipends, directly supporting correctional system operations and funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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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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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 20, 2026

SB 261: 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.

SB 261 requires Tennessee's Department of Correction, in collaboration with the Inmate Disciplinary Oversight Board, to create an annual report tracking the number of inmates who earned sentence reduction credits under state law. The report must detail these credits and be submitted to the Senate Judiciary Committee and the relevant House committee. This bill directly affects the Department of Correction and the oversight board by mandating transparency about how sentence credits are applied to inmates. It does not change sentencing laws but adds a reporting requirement to improve legislative oversight of correctional practices. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 41-21-236 and related titles to implement this reporting obligation.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates transparency in sentence credit application, supporting accountability in criminal justice reform through data-driven oversight.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Sentencing

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