Criminal Justice

died · Tennessee · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 1441: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, increases the penalty for criminal impersonation of a law enforcement officer from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony if the offense occurs while the defendant is committing or attempting to commit a crime of violence. - Amends TCA Title 38; Title 39 and Title 40.

HB 1441 raises the penalty for impersonating a law enforcement officer in Tennessee from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony when the impersonation occurs during the commission or attempt of a violent crime. It maintains the current misdemeanor penalty for impersonation while driving a vehicle (with a $5,000 fine maximum) and for other non-violent cases. The bill specifically targets individuals who use impersonation as part of violent criminal activity, making the offense a felony under those circumstances. The law is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalty for impersonating officers during violent crimes, expanding criminalization and harshening sentencing.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Violent Crime

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in committee · Tennessee · House May 15, 2025

HB 1140: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, makes the offense of possession of a used, detached catalytic converter by an unauthorized person punishable by a term of imprisonment not greater than 11 months, 29 days; a fine not to exceed $2,500; or both, instead of only subject to a fine. - Amends TCA Title 38; Title 39; Title 55 and Title 62.

HB 1140 reclassifies the unauthorized possession of a used, detached catalytic converter as a Class E felony in Tennessee, instead of a Class A misdemeanor. This change subjects offenders to potential jail time (up to 11 months, 29 days), a fine of up to $2,500, or both. The bill directly affects individuals or businesses possessing catalytic converters without authorization, such as scrap dealers or auto repair shops. It amends Tennessee criminal code sections in Titles 38, 39, 55, and 62 to implement this penalty upgrade, effective July 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeReclassifies catalytic converter possession as felony with jail time, expanding criminalization rather than reforming justice system.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Drug Policy

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in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 7, 2026

HB 931: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, specifies that a person using force intended or likely to cause death or serious bodily injury from within the person's residence or dwelling is presumed to have acted in self-defense when that force is used against an individual armed with a deadly weapon who is unlawfully present on the person's property and outside of the enclosed structure of the person's residence or dwelling. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 11 and Title 40.

HB 931 amends Tennessee law to create a legal presumption that a homeowner acted in self-defense when using force likely to cause death or serious injury against an armed intruder. This presumption applies specifically when the intruder is unlawfully on the property (but outside the main home structure) and armed with a deadly weapon. The bill directly affects homeowners who use force against such intruders, shifting the burden to prosecutors to disprove self-defense in these scenarios. It does not change general self-defense rules but adds this specific presumption for armed intruders on property outside the home's enclosed structure.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates legal presumption for homeowners using force against armed intruders, shifting burden to prosecutors - strengthens defendant rights in self-defense cases.90% confidence

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signed · Tennessee · Senate May 27, 2026

SB 254: Criminal Procedure - As enacted, requires a defendant who is ordered to wear a transdermal monitoring device or alternative device, including other alternative alcohol or drug monitoring device, or global positioning monitoring device, as a condition of pretrial release, and who has not been determined by the court to be indigent, to pay all fees associated with the installation, monitoring, maintenance, and operation of the device. - Amends TCA Title 38; Title 39; Title 40 and Title 55.

SB 254 requires Tennessee's Department of Correction to submit an annual report by February 1st on the effectiveness of diverting offenders from state prisons. The report must be sent to the House Criminal Justice Committee, Senate Judiciary Committee, and Fiscal Review Committee. This bill amends Tennessee law to establish this specific reporting requirement for diversion programs, focusing on how well they reduce prison populations. It directly affects the Department of Correction (which must file the report) and the three legislative committees (which will review it). The bill is procedural and does not change diversion program rules or funding.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates annual reports on diversion program effectiveness to reduce prison populations, directly supporting criminal justice reform through data-driven oversight of alternatives to incarceration.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts

in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 18, 2025

HB 1004: Education, Dept. of - As introduced, requires the department to award grants to local education agencies that operate or authorize at least one public school located in a county with a county juvenile offense rate that is at least 10 percent higher than the statewide juvenile offense rate to enable such LEAs to provide after school programs for students in grades K-12. - Amends TCA Title 37 and Title 49.

HB 1004 requires Tennessee's Department of Education to award grants to local school districts operating schools in counties with juvenile offense rates at least 10% higher than the statewide rate. These grants fund after-school programs for all K-12 students in qualifying districts, with programs required to include educational activities. Districts must submit applications showing eligibility, partner with approved nonprofits if needed, and report annually on program reach and outcomes. Funding is allocated based on the proportion of eligible students served across all qualifying districts, subject to annual appropriations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds after-school programs in counties with high juvenile offense rates to prevent delinquency, aligning with criminal justice reform goals of reducing recidivism through early intervention.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds after-school programs for K-12 students in high-offense counties via grants, requiring educational activities and reporting on outcomes.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice K-12 Education

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 4, 2025

SB 240: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, expands the offense of organized retail crime to include certain acts, including knowingly using an online marketplace or social media platform to coordinate a meeting with one or more persons to sell, barter, or trade stolen merchandise for monetary or other gain; increases the punishment for the offense under certain circumstances. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 14.

SB 240 expands Tennessee's definition of "organized retail crime" to include using social media or online marketplaces to coordinate selling, trading, or bartering stolen merchandise. It adds specific acts to the offense, such as tampering with anti-theft devices, interfering with fire alarms during theft, and possessing stolen items for resale. The bill also increases penalties for certain violations, like when property is destroyed or a weapon is used, by elevating the offense classification. These changes directly affect individuals engaging in retail theft, particularly those using digital platforms to organize criminal activity.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by adding social media coordination to organized retail crime and increases penalties for aggravated offenses, aligning with 'oppose' indicators of harsher sentencing.95% confidence

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in committee · Tennessee · House May 15, 2025

HB 1353: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, creates an offense for a person who harms or threatens to harm an individual involved in the judicial process or a family member of such person with the intent to impede, intimidate, interfere with, or retaliate against the justice system participant in connection with their participation in the judicial process, punishable as a Class E felony. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 16.

HB 1353 creates a new Class E felony offense for threatening or harming individuals involved in the judicial process (such as witnesses, judges, court staff, prosecutors, public defenders, or jurors) or their family members, specifically when done to interfere with, intimidate, or retaliate against their participation in court proceedings. It directly affects anyone who targets these judicial participants with threatening or harmful acts to disrupt their work. The law defines "family member" broadly (including spouses, parents, children, and siblings) and "judicial participant" to cover key court personnel and legal professionals. This bill amends Tennessee law to strengthen protections for those supporting the justice system, effective July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProtects judicial participants from intimidation, strengthening court integrity and system functionality per bill's intent to deter interference with proceedings.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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died · Tennessee · House Feb 6, 2025

HB 451: Expunction - As introduced, reduces the time period following completion of the sentence imposed before which a person may file a petition for expunction from five years for a misdemeanor or Class E felony and 10 years for a Class C or D felony to one year since completion of the sentence imposed for the offense the person is seeking to have expunged. - Amends TCA Section 40-32-101.

HB 451 would change Tennessee's expunction law by shortening the waiting period to clear certain criminal records. Currently, people convicted of misdemeanors or Class E felonies must wait 5 years after finishing their sentence before petitioning to expunge the record, and 10 years for Class C or D felonies. This bill would reduce that waiting period to just one year for all these offenses, making it easier for affected individuals to seek record clearance. The change applies to anyone seeking expunction under Tennessee Code §40-32-101.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeReduces waiting periods for expungement (1 year vs 5-10 years), aiding record clearance and rehabilitation - key criminal justice reform indicator.95% confidence

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 291: Medical Occupations - As introduced, extends from 30 business days to 60 business days the period of time an individual, applicant, licensee, certificate holder, or registrant has to file a petition in Davidson County chancery court following receipt of a notice from a health-related licensing authority that the authority is denying an application for or refusing to renew a license, certificate, or registration on the basis of a prior criminal conviction. - Amends TCA Title 39; Title 40; Title 63 and Title 68.

SB 291 extends the deadline for healthcare license applicants or holders facing denial due to a prior criminal conviction to file a court challenge in Davidson County. It changes the timeframe from 30 to 60 business days after receiving a denial notice from a licensing authority. This procedural bill affects individuals seeking or renewing licenses in Tennessee’s healthcare professions (like nurses or doctors) who must challenge denials based on past criminal records. The change applies to cases filed in Davidson County chancery court under Tennessee law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExtends deadline for challenging healthcare license denials based on prior criminal convictions, reducing barriers to professional reentry and aligning with criminal justice reform goals of reducing recidivism.80% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends deadline for healthcare license challenges, improving access to medical professions by reducing procedural barriers for applicants with prior convictions.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 1, 2025

SB 914: Handgun Permits - As introduced, extends the time, from 30 to 45 days, within which a person whose handgun carry permit has been suspended or revoked may petition the chancery court for judicial review of the department of safety's final determination. - Amends TCA Title 39.

SB 914 extends the timeframe for individuals whose handgun carry permits have been suspended or revoked to challenge that decision in court. Specifically, it changes the deadline from 30 to 45 days to petition a chancery court for review of the state safety department's final determination. The bill directly affects permit holders facing suspension or revocation, giving them more time to seek judicial review. This is a procedural change to Tennessee law (TCA Title 39) with no other substantive policy shifts. The amendment takes effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExtends due process for permit holders, aligning with procedural fairness in criminal justice by increasing judicial review window.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Firearms

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