Criminal Justice

introduced · Tennessee · House Feb 5, 2025

HB 450: Expunction - As introduced, reduces from 15 years to 10 years the amount of time that must have elapsed since the completion of the sentence imposed for illegal registration or voting before filing a petition for expunction. - Amends TCA Title 2, Chapter 19 and Title 40, Chapter 32.

HB 450 shortens the waiting period for expunging certain criminal records in Tennessee from 15 to 10 years after completing a sentence for illegal voting or registration offenses. It directly affects individuals convicted of these specific offenses who seek to clear their records. The bill amends Tennessee law to reduce the required time from 15 years to 10 years before filing for expunction. The change would take effect on July 1, 2025, if enacted.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeReduces expungement waiting period from 15 to 10 years, aiding record clearance and rehabilitation - direct criminal justice reform support.95% confidence

Track

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 25, 2025

SB 804: Treasurer, State - As introduced, creates within the state treasury a fund known as the crime stoppers trust fund to be used for the purpose of grant administration to fund crime stoppers programs within the state; requires an additional fine of $10 to be imposed on offenders convicted of a felony or misdemeanor offense to be deposited in the crime stoppers trust fund. - Amends TCA Title 38; Title 39; Title 40 and Title 67.

SB 804 creates a "crime stoppers trust fund" in Tennessee's state treasury by requiring an additional $10 fine on offenders convicted of felonies or misdemeanors. The collected funds (after a $3 service charge retained by courts) directly support local crime stoppers programs, which are nonprofit organizations that collect public tips about crimes and offer rewards for information leading to arrests or recoveries. The bill specifies that funds must be distributed to the primary crime stoppers organization in each county, with grants used for public awareness, rewards for specific crime-related tips (like solving homicides or recovering stolen property), and up to 25% for administrative costs.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates fund via $10 fine to directly support crime stoppers programs, aiding crime-solving and community engagement in criminal justice.95% confidence

Track

in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 1053: Criminal Procedure - As introduced, allows certain persons deprived of the right of suffrage to apply for a voter registration card and have the right of suffrage provisionally restored if the person enters into a payment plan to become current on all child support obligations. - Amends TCA Title 40, Chapter 29.

HB 1053 would allow people in Tennessee who lost voting rights due to unpaid child support to temporarily regain voting rights by entering a payment plan for outstanding child support debts. It replaces a rule requiring full payment of all child support with a new option for provisional voting rights restoration through a court-approved payment plan. If someone fails to follow the payment plan, a court must provide legal counsel and allow them to present evidence of financial hardship before revoking voting rights. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, applying to new voter registration applications after that date.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestores voting rights for individuals with unpaid child support via payment plans, advancing criminal justice reform by promoting reintegration and protecting civil rights.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Courts

Track

failed · Tennessee · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 1407: Firearms and Ammunition - As introduced, lowers the standard for the use of deadly force to protect property; specifies that deadly force does not include the display of a weapon, the brandishing of a weapon, or the use of force in circumstances that do not result in death or serious bodily injury. - Amends TCA Title 39.

SB 1407 would amend Tennessee law to allow the use of deadly force to protect property, such as preventing burglary, theft, or damage to livestock, under specific conditions. It directly affects property owners and occupants who face intruders or property crimes. Key changes include lowering the standard for deadly force (requiring only a reasonable belief that force is necessary to stop the crime), defining "deadly force" to exclude merely displaying or brandishing a weapon, and updating legal references to include property protection under self-defense statutes. The bill would not permit deadly force if less lethal options are available to protect the property or if the force used wouldn’t cause death or serious injury.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill lowers standard for deadly force in property crimes, expanding use of force without requiring death/injury, opposing reforms that limit excessive force use.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms Policing

Track

in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 7, 2026

HB 1064: Bail, Bail Bonds - As introduced, makes various changes to criminal law, including requiring defendants accused of certain offenses to be subject to a global positioning monitoring system as condition of bail. - Amends TCA Title 10; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40; Chapter 969 of the Public Acts of 2024 and Chapter 1033 of the Public Acts of 2024.

HB 1064 requires courts to order GPS monitoring for defendants accused of specific serious offenses as a condition of bail, including cases involving firearms, domestic assault, vehicle burglary, reckless driving, drag racing, or repeat offenses. It directly affects individuals charged with these offenses who are released before trial. Key provisions mandate GPS monitoring unless the court finds the defendant no longer poses a threat, require monthly court reporting on monitored defendants, and update bail condition procedures. The bill also modifies related laws to clarify victim protections and reporting requirements for violations.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRequires GPS monitoring for pretrial release on specific offenses, restricting defendant freedom and increasing surveillance, reducing pretrial rights90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Violent Crime

Track

in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 11, 2026

HB 689: Expunction - As introduced, authorizes court clerks in certain counties to implement an automatic expunction processing program that initiates processing the expunction of public records without petition by the person, certification of eligibility from the TBI, or court order in certain limited circumstances. - Amends TCA Title 40, Chapter 32.

HB 689 creates an automatic expungement program for eligible individuals in Tennessee counties with 366,200+ residents (per 2020 census). It allows court clerks in those counties to expunge qualifying criminal records without requiring the person to file a petition, obtain TBI certification, or get a court order. This applies to individuals who qualify for free expungement under specific legal categories (e.g., dismissed cases or certain convictions). The bill streamlines the process by having court clerks initiate expungements directly, with confidential record-keeping and no liability for clerks.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAutomates expungement for eligible cases (dismissed charges, certain convictions), reducing barriers to employment/housing and aligning with criminal justice reform goals like reducing recidivism.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

Track

in committee · Tennessee · House May 13, 2025

HB 587: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, adds organized retail crime and possession or employment of a firearm during the commission of or attempt to commit a dangerous felony to the definition of racketeering activity; clarifies that carjacking is a racketeering activity. - Amends TCA Title 39.

This Tennessee bill (HB 587) expands the state's definition of racketeering activity to include organized retail crime (like large-scale shoplifting) and carrying a firearm during a dangerous felony. It also explicitly adds carjacking to the list of activities classified as racketeering. These changes will affect law enforcement investigations and prosecutions of these specific crimes. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by adding organized retail crime, firearm possession during felonies, and carjacking to racketeering definitions, increasing penalties for these offenses.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Firearms Law Enforcement

Track

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

Track

in committee · Tennessee · House Feb 12, 2025

HB 1294: Correction, Dept. of - As introduced, prohibits the department from denying the dissemination or availability of books and materials donated by book vendors to state inmates, with certain exceptions for depictions of nudity and sexually explicit material. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 3; Title 40 and Title 41.

HB 1294 prohibits Tennessee's Department of Correction from blocking the distribution of books and educational materials donated by book vendors to state inmates, with specific exceptions. The bill directly affects incarcerated individuals, correctional facilities, and book vendors by requiring institutions to allow access to donated materials unless they meet strict security exceptions. Key provisions allow rejection only for materials that: (1) contain sexually explicit content or regular nudity (excluding medical/educational depictions), or (2) pose documented security risks like inciting violence, aiding escapes, or promoting contraband. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, and requires institutions to follow administrative procedures if inmates dispute denials.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates access to educational materials for inmates, directly supporting rehabilitation programs and correctional reform as per criminal justice topic indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

Track

in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 14, 2025

HB 706: District Attorneys - As introduced, adds an additional assistant district attorney general position and criminal investigator position in each judicial district that includes a state correctional facility. - Amends TCA Title 8; Title 16 and Title 41.

HB 706 adds 10 new assistant district attorney general positions and 10 new criminal investigator positions across 10 specific Tennessee judicial districts that contain state correctional facilities. These roles are funded by the Department of Correction and focus exclusively on investigating and prosecuting crimes committed within state prisons, including violations of specific prison-related laws. The bill mandates that prison officials grant these prosecutors and investigators full access to prison records, evidence, and facilities upon request. The positions become effective July 1, 2025, and do not restrict existing staffing options for district attorneys.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAdds 10 prison crime prosecution roles funded by DOC, directly strengthening correctional facility law enforcement within criminal justice system.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

Track