SB 2138 requires that individuals convicted of vehicular homicide caused by intoxication **and** leaving the scene of the accident (a hit-and-run) be sentenced as a minimum "Range II" offender under Tennessee law. This bill directly affects people facing dual convictions for these specific traffic-related crimes. The key provision mandates that the sentencing range for vehicular homicide cannot be set below the second-lowest tier (Range II) if the person is also convicted of fleeing the scene. The law will take effect July 1, 2026, and amends Tennessee Code Sections 39-13-213, 40-20-102, and 55-10-101.
HB 1547 requires Tennessee state and local criminal justice agencies (like police departments and courts) to share specific criminal justice data with qualified researchers. This includes personal details, demographic information, and records about stops, arrests, sentencing, and supervision programs. To qualify, researchers must have institutional review board approval, agree to use data only for research, and maintain strict security protocols to protect sensitive information. The bill does not make data publicly available but creates a formal process for researchers to access it for studies aimed at improving criminal justice outcomes. Agencies must comply by January 2027, though they may charge reasonable fees for data retrieval.
HB 1624 makes knowingly violating a no-contact order issued as part of a defendant's sentence or probation/parole for certain domestic abuse-related crimes a Class A misdemeanor. It directly affects individuals convicted of offenses where the alleged victim was a domestic abuse victim under Tennessee law. The bill amends Tennessee Code to clarify that violations of such orders - whether issued before release on bond or as part of sentencing - constitute a specific criminal offense. This changes the legal consequence from a general probation breach to a defined misdemeanor charge, effective July 1, 2026.
SB 2110 removes probation as an option for individuals convicted of sexual battery committed by an authority figure (such as teachers, coaches, or youth workers). The bill amends Tennessee law (TCA § 39-13-527) to require mandatory sentencing for this specific offense, meaning judges cannot grant probation to offenders in these cases. It applies to crimes committed on or after July 1, 2026, and directly affects people convicted of sexual battery by someone in a position of trust or authority. This change modifies sentencing guidelines under Title 40 of Tennessee law to ensure stricter consequences for these offenses.
HB 2014 amends Tennessee law to increase sentencing for drivers convicted of vehicular homicide due to intoxication who also flee the scene of the accident. If convicted of both offenses under the same incident, the driver must be sentenced as a Range II offender (minimum) for the vehicular homicide charge, per the new Section 39-13-213(b)(2)(H). This applies to cases where a driver causes death while intoxicated and violates §55-10-101 (leaving the scene). The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and directly affects individuals convicted of both specific traffic-related offenses.
SB 1982 changes probation eligibility for defendants convicted of aggravated assault involving a firearm in Tennessee. It creates a rebuttable presumption that such defendants are not good candidates for probation, meaning courts would start with the assumption they don't qualify unless the defendant provides evidence to the contrary. This applies specifically to aggravated assault cases under Tennessee Code § 39-13-102 where a firearm was used or displayed during the offense. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, for offenses committed on or after that date.
SB 2137 requires Tennessee courts to sentence defendants as "repeat violent offenders" to life imprisonment if they have three or more prior violent convictions committed on or after July 1, 2026. It defines "violent offenses" to include crimes like aggravated rape, murder, kidnapping, human trafficking, and certain child sexual abuse offenses, with at least two prior convictions needing to be from the most severe listed offenses. This law directly affects individuals convicted of new violent crimes who have prior violent felony convictions meeting the specified criteria. The bill amends Tennessee sentencing statutes to implement this mandatory life sentence requirement for qualifying repeat offenders.
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.
HB 1454 amends Tennessee sentencing laws to add 12 new aggravating circumstances that juries must consider when sentencing defendants convicted of certain sexual offenses, primarily those involving children or vulnerable victims. It directly affects defendants convicted of offenses like rape of a child, aggravated rape, or sexual battery where specific factors apply - such as the victim being under four years old, the defendant abusing a position of trust, prior offenses involving minors, or filming the crime. Key provisions include removing victim consent as a mitigating factor for child rape cases and requiring consideration of factors like heinous conduct, use of substances to influence victims, or multiple victims. The bill applies to offenses occurring on or after July 1, 2026, and aims to increase penalties for particularly severe cases. It does not change sentencing ranges but adds specific factors for judicial consideration.
HB 72 establishes mandatory 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 bill also prohibits retailers from allowing employees under 21 to access, handle, or sell these products on store premises. These rules directly affect retailers and their underage employees handling hemp-derived cannabinoid products, effective July 1, 2025.
