Criminal Justice (Law Enforcement)

signed · Tennessee · House Apr 24, 2026

HB 1815: Jails, Local Lock-ups - As enacted, authorizes a sheriff, jail administrator, or deputy jailer to refuse or delay acceptance into the jail of an arrestee if the arrestee has not received medical treatment for obvious serious physical injuries or conditions of an emergency nature; makes other related changes. - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 8; Title 29; Title 40 and Title 41.

HB 1815 allows jails to refuse accepting arrestees who require medical attention and were arrested for a non-violent misdemeanor (not a crime against a person). The arresting agency must arrange for a healthcare provider to evaluate the person and obtain a release form confirming they no longer need medical care or can be confined. If the healthcare provider provides this release form, the jail must accept the person. The bill directly affects individuals arrested for minor non-violent offenses needing medical care at the time of arrest.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill prevents unnecessary jail intake for non-violent misdemeanor arrestees needing medical care, aligning with reform goals by protecting civil rights and reducing avoidable incarceration.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement

signed · Tennessee · House Apr 28, 2025

HB 501: Children and Youth, Commission on - As enacted, creates the Tennessee juvenile justice review commission to review an appropriate sampling of juvenile justice cases and any critical incidents involving juveniles in order to provide the general assembly with findings and legislative recommendations. - Amends TCA Title 4 and Title 37.

HB 501 creates the Tennessee Juvenile Justice Review Commission to examine juvenile justice cases and critical incidents involving youth in state custody. The commission will review specific cases (like repeat offenses or those with systemic issues such as extended detention or out-of-state placements) and incidents (like escapes, self-harm, or staff abuse allegations) to identify patterns and make legislative recommendations. It must report its findings annually to the Tennessee General Assembly starting in 2028. The commission includes members from child services, education, mental health, courts, public defense, law enforcement, and child development fields. This bill directly affects how Tennessee reviews and improves its juvenile justice system, focusing on policy changes based on case data rather than individual outcomes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates juvenile justice review commission to identify systemic issues and recommend reforms, directly advancing criminal justice reform through case review and legislative recommendations.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice Law Enforcement

in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 8, 2025

HB 122: Safety, Dept. of - As enacted, specifies that the Tennessee Advanced Communications Network is the division of the department of safety that operates, maintains, and oversees the statewide P25 interoperable communications system; authorizes the department to collect and use fees and assessments for the improvement of the system in addition to collection and use of such fees for the system's use and maintenance. - Amends TCA Section 4-3-2018.

HB 122 amends Tennessee law to designate the Tennessee Advanced Communications Network (TACN) as the specific division within the Department of Safety responsible for operating, maintaining, and overseeing the statewide P25 interoperable communications system. The bill authorizes the Department of Safety to collect fees and assessments for the system's maintenance, use, and improvement - beyond existing fees for system access. All collected funds must be used exclusively for the system's maintenance, use, and improvement, as specified by department rules. This change clarifies administrative responsibility and funding mechanisms for emergency communications infrastructure used by law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAuthorizes fees for law enforcement communications system maintenance, directly supporting operational capabilities within criminal justice infrastructure.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

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signed · Tennessee · House Apr 4, 2025

HB 1095: Law Enforcement Training Academy - As enacted, requires the peace officer standards and training commission to issue a certificate of compliance to a person appointed as a private special deputy on or after January 1, 2026, if the person meets the qualifications for employment as a police officer and satisfactorily completes an approved recruit training program; requires annual in-service training sessions to retain such certification. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 8; Title 38 and Title 49.

HB 1095 requires Tennessee's Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission to issue a certification to private special deputies appointed on or after January 1, 2026, if they meet police officer qualifications and complete an approved recruit training program. To maintain this certification, special deputies must also complete annual in-service training sessions relevant to their duties. The bill directly affects private special deputies employed by entities like private security firms or businesses with law enforcement authority. It updates existing training requirements in Tennessee law (Titles 4, 8, 38, and 49) to standardize certification for this specific role, effective March 28, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires mandatory training for private special deputies, enhancing law enforcement standards and accountability within criminal justice framework.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

in committee · Tennessee · Senate May 8, 2025

SB 1133: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, revises provisions of present law relative to placing certain defendants on a fugitives list for failure to appear. - Amends TCA Title 8; Title 10; Title 33; Title 36; Title 37; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40; Title 41; Title 49; Title 50; Title 55 and Title 70.

SB 1133 shortens the timeframe for placing defendants on Tennessee's fugitives list after missing a court appearance, reducing it from five days to three days. This directly affects criminal defendants who fail to appear for court dates, accelerating law enforcement's ability to pursue them. The bill specifically amends Tennessee Code Annotated Section 39-16-202(a)(1) to implement this change, impacting how courts handle non-appearances. The law aims to improve efficiency in the criminal justice system by streamlining the fugitives list process.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill reduces defendant's window to address court absence from 5 to 3 days, tightening enforcement and limiting due process rights per TCA 39-16-202(a)(1).90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement

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signed · Tennessee · House May 27, 2025

HB 1177: Criminal Procedure - As enacted, increases from 11 months and 29 days to two years from the date of arrest the time within which misdemeanor charges against a defendant who has been found incompetent must be retired unless the defendant is restored to competency; adds to present law that, when a defendant whose misdemeanor charges were retired due to a finding of incompetency is released into the community, the chief officer is required to notify the court of the defendant's discharge and provide the court and the sheriff with an outpatient treatment plan that accounts for the safety of the community. - Amends TCA Title 33; Title 40 and Title 52.

HB 1177 extends the time limit for filing misdemeanor charges against defendants found incompetent to stand trial from 11 months and 29 days to two years after arrest, unless the defendant is restored to competency. It directly affects misdemeanor defendants declared incompetent by a court, requiring prosecutors to move faster or dismiss charges if competency isn't restored. The bill also mandates that when such a defendant is released into the community after charges are dismissed due to incompetence, the chief officer must notify the court, provide a discharge notice, and share an outpatient treatment plan designed to ensure community safety. These changes update Tennessee Code Sections 33-7-301 and 52-6-102.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates outpatient treatment plans for dismissed incompetent defendants, prioritizing community safety through rehabilitation over prolonged detention, aligning with reform indicators.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement

signed · Tennessee · Senate May 15, 2025

SB 1346: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, creates a civil and criminal action for individuals who are the subject of an intimate digital depiction that is intentionally disclosed without the individual's consent under certain circumstances. - Amends TCA Title 28 and Title 39, Chapter 17.

SB 1346, the "Preventing Deepfake Images Act," creates a civil legal remedy for individuals whose intimate digital images or videos (including deepfakes) are shared without consent. It directly affects people who have had non-consensual intimate depictions - such as images showing genitals, sexual fluids, or explicit acts - disclosed online or otherwise. The law allows victims to sue for $150,000 in liquidated damages, actual damages, or punitive damages, and seek court orders to stop further disclosure. It defines key terms like "deepfakes" and clarifies that consent for creating the image does not cover its sharing, while allowing exceptions for law enforcement or good-faith disclosures. The law took effect on July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates civil remedy for victims of non-consensual intimate image disclosure, strengthening victim protections and addressing a gap in criminal justice reform. Aligns with protecting civil rights and enhancing victim rights in digital harm cases.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyCreates civil remedy for non-consensual deepfake sharing, strengthening data privacy protections against technology misuse per bill's focus on intimate digital depictions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement Artificial Intelligence

died · Tennessee · House Apr 28, 2026

HB 1273: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, clarifies, for purposes of criminal offenses relative to threats of mass violence on school property or at a school-related activity or failing to report such threats, that a threat of mass violence is credible if the threat causes another to reasonably expect the commission of an act of mass violence. - Amends TCA Title 39.

HB 1273 creates a new felony charge for recklessly threatening mass violence against child care centers, preschools, or religious institutions, and a misdemeanor for failing to report such threats. The law requires immediate reporting of threats to both local law enforcement and the affected institution, with specific details needed in the report. Violators face penalties including up to 6 years in prison for the felony threat and up to 6 months for failing to report. The bill defines "property" to include buildings and grounds of these institutions and mandates restitution for disruption caused by threats.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new felony/misdemeanor for threats against institutions, increasing criminal penalties and expanding criminalization per indicators.92% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill strengthens school safety by criminalizing threats of mass violence, directly protecting students and educational institutions.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement Victims' Rights

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in committee · Tennessee · House Feb 4, 2026

HB 650: Bail, Bail Bonds - As introduced, requires a sheriff to accept the surrender of a criminal defendant on pretrial release by a bail bondsman or surety for good cause, pending a hearing by a court with jurisdiction to admit to bail to determine whether there is good cause for the surrender. - Amends TCA Title 40, Chapter 11.

HB 650 requires Tennessee sheriffs to accept surrenders of criminal defendants on pretrial release from bail bondsmen or sureties, rather than allowing sheriffs to refuse such surrenders without explanation. The bill mandates this acceptance pending a court hearing to determine if the bail company had "good cause" for the surrender. This directly affects bail bondsmen, sheriffs, and defendants who are out on pretrial release. The key provision replaces the current discretion of sheriffs with a requirement for mandatory acceptance before a court evaluates the reasonableness of the surrender.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires sheriffs to accept defendant surrenders from bondsmen with court oversight, protecting defendants' rights and reducing arbitrary detention per criminal justice reform principles.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate May 27, 2025

SB 1065: County Officers - As enacted, revises present law relative to constables. - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 10 and Title 38, Chapter 8.

SB 1065 requires new Tennessee county constables (elected or appointed after July 1, 2025) to complete 128 hours of law enforcement training within their first year. Until training is finished, new constables must work under a trained constable or a POST-certified officer, unless they previously served as a full-time POST-certified officer within the last five years. The bill clarifies that constables do not need POST certification to perform their duties and prohibits the POST Commission from mandating minimum work hours to maintain certification.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEnforces 128-hour training for new constables, promoting law enforcement competency and accountability in criminal justice operations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

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