Criminal Justice

introduced · Tennessee · House Feb 24, 2025

HB 566: Finance and Administration, Dept. of - As introduced, allows the department, office of criminal justice programs, to use available existing resources to seek appropriate funding and resources from the federal and state governments to design and implement grants to reduce gun violence in this state. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 38; Title 39; Title 47 and Title 68.

HB 566 allows Tennessee's Department of Finance and Administration and the Office of Criminal Justice Programs to use existing resources and seek additional federal or state funding to design and implement grants targeting gun violence reduction. The bill specifically defines "gun violence" as homicide, violent crime, and domestic violence, and amends multiple Tennessee Code sections to enable this funding mechanism. It does not create new spending but directs state agencies to leverage current resources and pursue external funding for grant programs. The bill directly affects state agencies managing criminal justice programs and communities impacted by gun violence through potential grant-supported initiatives.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds gun violence reduction grants via existing resources, aligning with criminal justice reform goals to address homicide and violent crime.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Firearms Violent Crime

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate May 14, 2026

SB 671: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, increases from a Class E felony to a Class D felony the offense of burglary of a conveyance. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 40.

SB 671 reclassifies burglary of a vehicle (a "conveyance") from a Class E felony to a Class D felony under Tennessee law. This change directly affects individuals convicted of breaking into cars, trucks, or other vehicles. The bill modifies specific sections of Tennessee Code (39-13-1002 and 40-32-101) to reflect this updated felony classification. The policy change reduces the severity of penalties for this specific offense, effective July 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases burglary of conveyance from Class E to Class D felony, making penalties more severe. This opposes criminal justice reform by harshening sentencing for this offense.90% confidence

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signed · Tennessee · House May 27, 2025

HB 1089: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, requires the department of mental health and substance abuse services to establish a mental health evaluation process for a community mental health center or qualified mental health professional to evaluate a defendant convicted of domestic assault, child abuse, aggravated child abuse, cruelty to animals, aggravated cruelty to animals; requires a court in which a person is convicted of any such offense to order the offender to undergo a mental health evaluation prior to the sentencing hearing. - Amends TCA Title 33; Title 39 and Title 40.

HB 1089 requires courts to order mental health evaluations for defendants convicted of specific abuse-related crimes - including domestic assault, child abuse, aggravated child abuse, or cruelty to animals - before sentencing. The law directs Tennessee's Department of Mental Health to create a process where community mental health centers or qualified professionals conduct these evaluations. It directly affects defendants in these cases and the state's mental health evaluation system, adding a pre-sentencing step to assess potential mental health factors. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 39-14-202 and related titles to implement this requirement, effective May 21, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires mental health evaluations for abuse offenders pre-sentencing to address root causes and improve rehabilitation, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates court-ordered mental health evaluations for abuse offenders, expanding access to mental health services through legal system integration.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Sentencing Violent Crime Healthcare Workforce Substance Abuse

in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 12, 2025

HB 1106: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, reduces from a Class C felony to a Class B misdemeanor the offense of criminal exposure of another to HIV; creates a Class C felony for the criminal exposure of another to HIV if a person transmitted HIV to another person. - Amends TCA Title 39.

HB 1106 changes Tennessee's criminal penalties for exposing someone to HIV. It reduces the standard offense (exposure without transmission) from a Class C felony to a Class B misdemeanor, while creating a new Class C felony for cases where HIV transmission actually occurred. This directly affects individuals convicted of HIV exposure under current law. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Title 39 and would take effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeReduces standard HIV exposure penalty from felony to misdemeanor, aligning with criminal justice reform by lessening severe sentencing for non-transmission cases while maintaining penalties for actual transmission.92% confidence

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 12, 2025

SB 829: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, creates the Class B misdemeanor of intentionally refusing a law enforcement officer's request to exit from a motor vehicle during a lawful traffic stop. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 16.

SB 829 creates a new Class B misdemeanor offense for drivers who intentionally refuse to exit their vehicle when lawfully stopped by police. It directly affects individuals stopped during traffic stops who ignore an officer's request to leave their vehicle. The bill amends Tennessee law to define this refusal as a punishable offense, with penalties including fines or up to 60 days in jail. The law will take effect on July 1, 2025, and applies only during lawful traffic stops where the officer has a valid reason to stop the vehicle.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new Class B misdemeanor for refusing to exit vehicle during lawful stop, expanding criminalization without reform elements or accountability measures.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement Policing

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in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 6, 2026

HB 687: 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.

HB 687 modifies Tennessee's voting rights laws by removing permanent disenfranchisement for individuals convicted of first-degree murder, aggravated rape, treason, or voter fraud. It replaces the requirement to pay all past court costs with a simpler standard: voters must be compliant with current child support orders (not fully paid arrears). The bill also establishes a three-year waiting period after sentence completion for those convicted of the listed crimes before they can regain voting rights, provided they meet other eligibility criteria. This directly affects Tennessee residents with these specific convictions who were previously barred from voting permanently or required to settle all financial obligations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill restores voting rights for formerly incarcerated individuals convicted of specified crimes, promoting reintegration and aligning with criminal justice reform goals by removing barriers to civic participation.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Courts

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 20, 2026

SB 924: 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.

SB 924 adds 10 new assistant district attorney general positions and 10 new criminal investigator positions in Tennessee judicial districts that include state correctional facilities. These roles are specifically designated for handling criminal cases related to offenses occurring within state prisons, including violations of specific prison-related laws. The bill requires prison staff to provide full access to evidence and cooperation for these prosecutors and investigators. The positions will be funded at specified pay levels and take effect on July 1, 2025, for districts including the first, ninth, twelfth, fifteenth, twentieth, twenty-second, twenty-fifth, twenty-ninth, thirtieth, and thirty-second judicial districts.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAdds 10 specialized prosecutors/investigators for prison crime cases, strengthening prosecution capacity within correctional facilities' criminal justice system.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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failed · Tennessee · House Apr 8, 2025

HB 308: Taxes, Sales - As introduced, authorizes certain counties to levy a local option sales tax at the rate of 3.75 percent, instead of a maximum of 2.75 percent, if the revenue from the increase in such tax is used by the county exclusively for the construction of a new county jail or to retire debt, including principal and interest and related expenses, on such construction. - Amends TCA Title 67, Chapter 6, Part 7.

HB 308 would allow counties in Tennessee with over 900,000 residents (based on the 2020 census) to raise their local sales tax rate from a maximum of 2.75% to 3.75%. The revenue from this tax increase must be used exclusively for building a new county jail or paying off debt related to jail construction, including principal, interest, and expenses. The higher tax rate would apply for up to eight years or until the jail debt is paid off, whichever comes first. If the debt is paid early, the county must notify the state within 10 days. After the eight-year period or debt payoff, the tax rate would revert to 2.75%.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill authorizes local sales tax increase (2.75% to 3.75%) to fund jail construction/debt, directly using tax revenue for specific government spending.90% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds jail construction exclusively, directly supporting corrections infrastructure within criminal justice without reform language.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax Corrections

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in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 6, 2026

HB 36: 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.

HB 36 modifies Tennessee's parole and furlough rules for state inmates. It removes the requirement that an inmate must be "chronically debilitated or incapacitated" for the corrections commissioner to certify them as parole-eligible, expanding eligibility to inmates meeting age (55+), time served (10+ years), and non-violent offense criteria. The bill also changes furlough rules, allowing the commissioner to grant furloughs if an inmate cannot perform at least one basic daily activity in prison due to a medical condition causing debilitation or incapacity. These changes apply to inmates not convicted of violent sexual offenses or multiple murders. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 40-35-501 and 41-21-227.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands parole eligibility for non-violent, elderly inmates (55+, 10+ years) and allows compassionate furloughs for medical needs, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 993: Handgun Permits - As introduced, extends the time, from 30 days to 60 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 4; Title 8; Title 10; Title 29; Title 33; Title 36; Title 37; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40; Title 49; Title 50 and Title 70.

SB 993 extends the deadline for individuals with suspended or revoked handgun permits to request court review of the decision from 30 to 60 days. This change directly affects permit holders whose permits were suspended or revoked by the Tennessee Department of Safety. The bill amends multiple sections of Tennessee law (Titles 4, 8, 10, 29, 33, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 49, 50, and 70) to update this review period, providing more time for affected individuals to seek judicial review.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExtends judicial review window for permit holders, enhancing due process rights in criminal justice proceedings related to firearm permits.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Firearms

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