Criminal Justice

in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 626: Law Enforcement - As introduced, requires a law enforcement officer who becomes aware that an order of protection has been entered against a person in the officer’s presence but has not been served on the person to take appropriate steps to facilitate service of the order of protection, including notifying the sheriff’s department of the person’s immediate location; requires the curriculum of the Tennessee peace officer standards and training commission to include instruction on such requirements. - Amends TCA Title 36, Chapter 3, Part 6; Title 38 and Title 40.

HB 626 requires Tennessee law enforcement officers to take specific action when they observe someone who has an active order of protection against them but hasn't been served the document. If an officer sees this situation in person, they must notify the sheriff's department of the person's location and other details to help serve the order. The bill also mandates that officer training programs include instruction on these requirements. This law directly affects police officers and sheriff's departments by changing how they handle unserved protection orders during encounters.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires officers to enforce protection orders, enhancing victim safety and procedural compliance in criminal justice.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Law Enforcement Policing

Track

failed · Tennessee · Senate Apr 28, 2025

SB 256: Appeal and Review - As enacted, authorizes criminal defendants who plead guilty, best interest, or no contest to also petition for a writ of error coram nobis based on evidence that was, through no fault of the defendant, unknown to the defendant at the time of the plea. - Amends TCA Title 40.

SB 256 allows criminal defendants in Tennessee who previously entered a guilty plea, "best interest" plea, or no-contest plea to later petition a court for a special review (writ of error coram nobis) if they have new evidence proving their actual innocence. This new evidence must not have been known to them at the time of their plea, such as DNA results or witness testimony. The bill requires courts to hold a hearing if the petition is valid, with the defendant needing to prove innocence by "clear and convincing evidence" to get a new trial. It applies to all convictions regardless of trial type and removes filing fees for these petitions. This change directly affects defendants seeking to overturn pleas based on newly discovered evidence.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAllows defendants to petition for innocence claims via writ of error coram nobis, enhancing post-conviction review and protecting defendant rights.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

Track

died · Tennessee · House Feb 2, 2026

HB 1445: Finance and Administration, Dept. of - As introduced, creates a law enforcement officer recruitment fund and grant program administered by the department for the purpose of assisting eligible law enforcement agencies in officer recruitment. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 8; Title 9 and Title 38.

HB 1445 creates a state-funded grant program to help local law enforcement agencies recruit officers. It establishes a "law enforcement officer recruitment fund" within the state general fund, targeting cities, counties, or municipalities with 10% or more vacant officer positions. The Department of Finance and Administration will manage the fund, setting application rules, grant criteria, and reporting requirements for agencies seeking funds to cover recruitment costs only. Unspent funds will carry forward annually, but the program requires future legislative appropriations to activate, with the bill taking effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates state-funded grant program from general fund for law enforcement recruitment, increasing public safety spending within budget framework.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds law enforcement recruitment to address vacancies, strengthening agency capacity within criminal justice system.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Law Enforcement

Track

died · Tennessee · Senate Feb 4, 2025

SB 607: Firearms and Ammunition - As introduced, deletes the offense of unlawful carrying of a firearm or club with the intent to go armed; lowers the age requirement to obtain an enhanced or concealed handgun carry permit from 21 to 18 years of age. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17.

SB 607 would have deleted the offense of "unlawful carrying of a firearm with intent to go armed" and lowered the minimum age for obtaining a concealed handgun carry permit from 21 to 18 years. It would have added new rules for juveniles (under 18), making it a Class A misdemeanor to carry a firearm with intent to go armed - except during activities like hunting, safety courses, or supervised practice. The bill would have directly affected juveniles and applicants seeking concealed carry permits by changing eligibility rules and creating specific exceptions for lawful firearm activities. These changes were part of amendments to Tennessee's firearms statutes (Title 39, Chapter 17), but the bill was withdrawn before enactment.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill deletes unlawful carrying offense for adults, reducing criminalization. Aligns with reform by minimizing minor offenses. New juvenile rules are specific but do not override overall reduction.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms

Track

introduced · Tennessee · House Feb 10, 2025

HB 1031: Criminal Procedure - As introduced, creates an exception to the requirement that a petitioner pay the costs of a petition to restore the person's citizenship rights if the court finds that the petitioner is indigent. - Amends TCA Title 2; Title 4; Title 22; Title 36; Title 39 and Title 40.

HB 1031 would amend Tennessee law to require courts to waive the costs of filing a petition to restore a person's citizenship rights for individuals determined to be indigent. Currently, petitioners must pay these costs unless the court finds them indigent, but the bill makes this exception automatic by stating costs must be waived upon a finding of indigence. This directly affects individuals with criminal convictions seeking to regain civil rights (such as voting eligibility) who cannot afford court fees. The key provision removes the upfront payment requirement for indigent petitioners without altering eligibility for rights restoration.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill waives court costs for indigent petitioners seeking restored citizenship rights (e.g., voting), directly advancing civil rights restoration in criminal justice reform.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Courts

Track

signed · Tennessee · Senate Apr 8, 2025

SB 1290: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, makes permanent the exclusion of narcotic testing equipment used to determine whether a controlled substance contains a synthetic opioid, unless the narcotic testing equipment is possessed for purposes of the commission of a drug offense, from the definition of drug paraphernalia; removes the July 1, 2025, repeal date for that exclusion. - Amends TCA Section 39-17-402.

SB 1290 permanently removes a temporary expiration date for a law that excludes certain testing equipment from being classified as drug paraphernalia. Specifically, it makes permanent the exclusion of equipment used to test for synthetic opioids (like fentanyl) unless the equipment is used to commit a drug crime. This change directly affects harm reduction organizations, public health workers, and law enforcement using such tools for legitimate testing purposes. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Section 39-17-402 by deleting the prior repeal date of July 1, 2025. The law is now permanent and took effect April 3, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill permanently removes restrictions on synthetic opioid testing equipment for harm reduction, supporting public health initiatives without criminalizing legitimate use. Aligns with criminal justice reform by reducing unnecessary criminalization ...90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves legal barrier for public health workers to use synthetic opioid testing equipment, enabling harm reduction programs that protect community health and prevent overdoses.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Law Enforcement Public Health Substance Abuse

signed · Tennessee · Senate Apr 6, 2026

SB 336: Election Laws - As enacted, revises present law that prohibits a person convicted of an infamous crime after May 18, 1981, from being eligible to have the right to vote restored unless the person meets certain requirements, including having been compliant with all child support orders for the previous 12 months, including orders related to child support arrearages. - Amends TCA Title 2 and Title 40.

SB 336 changes Tennessee's voting rights laws by removing permanent voting bans for people convicted of first-degree murder, aggravated rape, treason, or voter fraud. It updates the child support requirement from "being current in all obligations" to "compliant with all current child support orders" (allowing those with past arrears to regain voting rights). The bill also adds a 3-year waiting period after sentence completion for those convicted of the specified crimes before they can petition to restore voting rights. This directly affects individuals with these specific convictions who were previously barred from voting indefinitely.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestores voting rights for certain convicted individuals, reducing barriers to reintegration and aligning with criminal justice reform principles by easing eligibility requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights

in committee · Tennessee · House May 13, 2025

HB 445: Criminal Procedure - As enacted, revises the procedure for restoration of rights of citizenship. - Amends TCA Title 2; Title 4; Title 22; Title 36; Title 39 and Title 40.

HB 445 updates Tennessee's process for restoring voting rights after felony convictions. It replaces vague language about "restoring citizenship rights" with specific requirements that voting rights must be restored "as prescribed by law" for each felony conviction. The bill explicitly bans voting rights restoration for certain serious offenses, including first-degree murder, aggravated rape, treason, and voter fraud (with expanded restrictions for some crimes after 2006). This affects individuals with felony convictions who previously had their voting rights restored through court orders or pardons. The law became effective on May 13, 2025, after becoming Public Chapter 298.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill restricts voting rights restoration for serious offenses like murder/rape, limiting post-conviction rights instead of advancing reform.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Courts

Track

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 12, 2025

SB 1100: 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.

SB 1100 requires Tennessee correctional facilities to allow state inmates to receive books and educational materials donated by nonprofit book vendors, without arbitrary denial. Exceptions apply only to materials containing routine depictions of nudity or sexually explicit content that threaten security - such as those inciting violence, promoting escape plans, or advocating criminal activity. Inmates denied materials may request a hearing under state administrative procedures to challenge the decision. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, and directly affects inmates in Tennessee state correctional facilities.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires correctional facilities to provide inmate access to educational materials for rehabilitation, directly supporting criminal justice reform goals like reducing recidivism through programming.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

Track

in committee · Tennessee · House May 13, 2025

HB 547: Criminal Procedure - As enacted, requires the clerk of every court having jurisdiction of criminal offenses to include a $12.50 charge in every cost bill, to be remitted to the county government to provide support services for the purpose of promoting public safety at the sole discretion of the district attorney general; takes effect upon two-thirds vote of the county legislative body; requires a district attorney general receiving funding to submit an annual report. - Amends TCA Title 40.

HB 547 requires court clerks in Tennessee to add a $12.50 fee to every misdemeanor and felony cost bill. The collected funds must be paid to the county government (or the district attorney general’s office in multi-county districts) to support public safety services, with the district attorney general having sole discretion over how to use the money. The bill takes effect only after a two-thirds vote by the county legislative body, and district attorneys must submit annual reports detailing fund usage. It does not apply to non-moving traffic violations and is supplemental to existing funding for district attorneys.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates $12.50 court fee to fund public safety services via district attorney general, explicitly stating purpose is 'promoting public safety' as per bill text.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

Track