Criminal Justice

signed · Tennessee · Senate May 5, 2026

SB 1968: Local Education Agencies - As enacted, requires a director of schools to refer to juvenile court certain students who were formerly enrolled in the LEA, who were receiving certain truancy interventions, who withdrew from the LEA, and who did not transfer to another LEA; makes related changes. - Amends TCA Title 37, Chapter 1, Part 1; Title 49, Chapter 1; Title 49, Chapter 2 and Title 49, Chapter 6.

SB 1968 requires Tennessee school districts to count unexcused absences from a student's previous school when they transfer to a new district, so those absences contribute to truancy determinations at the new school. It also mandates that school directors refer students who withdrew without transferring to juvenile court if they had received truancy interventions and accumulated unexcused absences. The bill directly affects students, school districts, and juvenile courts by changing how attendance records are handled across school transfers. Key provisions include carrying forward prior absences to the new school and requiring documentation for juvenile court referrals.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill mandates juvenile court referrals for truancy, expanding criminalization of school absences and increasing criminal justice system involvement in education matters, contrary to reform goals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Juvenile Justice

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 20, 2026

SB 2144: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, increases the penalties for a violation of the offense of introduction or possession of contraband into a penal institution from a Class C felony to a Class B felony for certain acts and certain types of contraband, from a Class D felony to a Class C felony for certain acts and certain types of contraband, and from a Class E felony to a Class D felony for certain acts involving a telecommunication device if the violation resulted in the death of another person. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 40.

SB 2144 increases penalties for introducing or possessing contraband in Tennessee prisons. It raises certain violations from a Class C to Class B felony (if the act caused death), Class D to Class C (for specific contraband), and Class E to Class D (for telecommunication devices if death occurred). The bill directly affects individuals who bring prohibited items into correctional facilities, with higher penalties applying specifically when the violation results in another person's death. The changes amend Tennessee Code Sections 39-16-201 and 40 regarding prison contraband offenses. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases felony classifications for prison contraband violations, raising penalties for acts causing death or involving specific items, directly expanding criminalization in corrections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Drug Policy

Track

in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 1662: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, increases from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class C felony the available sentence for an aggravated criminal trespass if, while in commission of the trespass, the trespasser encounters the owner using or displaying a firearm in self-defense; upgrades trespass offenses to Class C felonies. - Amends TCA Section 39-11-611; Title 39, Chapter 13, Part 10 and Title 39, Chapter 14, Part 4.

HB 1662 upgrades certain trespass offenses to Class C felonies in Tennessee. Specifically, it increases penalties for "aggravated criminal trespass" when a trespasser encounters a property owner using or displaying a firearm in self-defense. The bill also expands the definition of aggravated trespass to include causing fear for others' safety, damaging barriers to enter property, or recklessly damaging property on-site. This change directly affects individuals committing trespass on private property, particularly in scenarios where owners defend themselves with firearms. The law would take effect July 1, 2026, applying to offenses occurring on or after that date.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeUpgrades trespass to Class C felony; increases penalties for encountering property owner with firearm in self-defense. Expands criminalization of trespass offenses.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 2, 2026

SB 1949: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, enacts the "mRNA Bioweapons Prohibition Act," which prohibits the manufacture, acquisition, possession, or making accessible to others of mRNA injections and products; requires state and local government officials to use all lawful means necessary to investigate or enforce suspected violations; punishes violations the same as manufacturing, acquiring, possessing, or transferring a weapon of mass destruction, which is a Class B felony. - Amends TCA Title 8; Title 14; Title 39; Title 40; Title 53; Title 63 and Title 68.

SB 1949, the "mRNA Bioweapons Prohibition Act," prohibits the manufacture, possession, or distribution of modified mRNA products (including certain vaccines and gene therapies) in Tennessee, classifying violations as Class B felonies - equivalent to weapons of mass destruction offenses. It defines prohibited products as synthetic mRNA with specific genetic modifications (e.g., N-methyl-pseudouridine substitutions) used in medical treatments, excluding naturally occurring mRNA. The bill requires state and local officials to investigate violations and allows residents to sue for enforcement failures. It exempts naturally occurring mRNA and takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by classifying mRNA product violations as Class B felonies (equivalent to WMD offenses), increasing penalties without addressing criminal justice reform priorities.92% confidence ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareProhibits mRNA-based medical treatments (vaccines, gene therapies) under felony penalties, restricting patient access to healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

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died · Tennessee · Senate Jan 20, 2026

SB 1705: Local Education Agencies - As introduced, requires director of schools to report a student who was formally truant and now enrolled in a home school to juvenile court; establishes that unexcused absences accumulated by a transfer student at their former school or LEA during the school year in which they transfer follow the student to the receiving school or LEA to determine habitual truancy, to implement a progressive truancy plan, and to identify cases of educational neglect. - Amends TCA Title 37, Chapter 1, Part 1; Title 49, Chapter 1; Title 49, Chapter 2 and Title 49, Chapter 6.

SB 1705 requires Tennessee public schools to include unexcused absences from a student's previous school when they transfer to a new school or home school, using these combined absences to determine if a student meets habitual truancy thresholds. It mandates that school directors report students who were previously enrolled in public school (and received truancy interventions) but are now in home school to juvenile court if they accumulate 5+ unexcused absences. The bill also requires schools to apply progressive truancy plans and document interventions before reporting. This bill was filed for introduction in January 2026 but was withdrawn on January 20, 2026, and did not become law.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandates juvenile court referrals for student absences, expanding criminalization of truancy rather than addressing educational neglect through school systems.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill requires tracking truancy across school transfers and reporting home-schooled students with 5+ absences to juvenile court to prevent educational neglect, directly supporting student attendance and access to education.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Juvenile Justice

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in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 1769: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, enacts "The Intercollegiate Student-Athlete Protection Act," which creates a criminal offense of student athlete harassment; punishes the first offense as a Class A misdemeanor and a second or subsequent offense as a Class E felony; and specifies that a student athlete who is the victim of student athlete harassment has a private right of action against a person convicted of the offense. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 49; Title 39 and Title 49.

HB 1769, "The Intercollegiate Student-Athlete Protection Act," creates new criminal offenses for harassment targeting student athletes in Tennessee. It defines "student athlete harassment" as threats or repeated bullying related to athletic performance that causes emotional distress, with first offenses classified as Class A misdemeanors (up to 11 months in jail) and repeat offenses as Class E felonies. The bill grants victims a private right to sue offenders for $75,000 per violation plus actual damages, punitive damages, and attorney fees. It also clarifies that electronic service providers are not liable for disclosing user data under valid warrants or court orders.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new criminal offense with escalating penalties, expanding criminalization of harassment rather than advancing reform or protections.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates legal protections for student athletes against harassment in higher education, directly supporting safe educational environments for a specific group.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts School Safety

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in committee · Tennessee · House Feb 2, 2026

HB 1647: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, enacts "Matthew Davenport's Law," which creates a Class D felony offense of knowingly possessing Kratom; creates a Class B felony offense of knowingly manufacturing, delivering, or selling Kratom, or of knowingly possessing Kratom with intent to manufacture, deliver, or sell Kratom; punishes a violation of the offense as a Class A felony if the offense involved the delivery or sale of Kratom to a minor; requires toxicology tests in certain circumstances to include testing for Kratom; requires the commissioner of labor and workforce development to promulgate a rule to add Kratom to the definition of a drug in regard to workers' compensation claims. - Amends TCA Title 33, Chapter 2; Title 38; Title 39; Title 50; Title 63 and Title 68.

HB 1647, known as "Matthew Davenport's Law," creates new criminal penalties for Kratom: possessing it becomes a Class D felony, while manufacturing, delivering, or selling it becomes a Class B felony (Class A if sold to a minor). The bill also requires medical examiners to test for Kratom in overdose deaths and physicians to include Kratom in toxicology tests for suspected overdoses or neonatal abstinence syndrome. Additionally, it mandates adding Kratom to the definition of a drug for workers' compensation claims, requiring the labor commissioner to update regulations. The law will take effect on July 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new felony offenses for Kratom possession/manufacturing, expanding criminalization rather than promoting reform.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 20, 2026

SB 1938: Orders of Protection - As introduced, increases from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony the penalty for the criminal offense of violation of an order of protection if the order violated was a lifetime order of protection and the conviction that the lifetime order of protection was based on involved the use of force against a victim. - Amends TCA Title 36 and Title 39.

SB 1938 increases the penalty for violating a lifetime order of protection from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony under specific circumstances. This applies when the violation occurs after a conviction for an offense involving force against a victim (such as assault) that led to the lifetime order. The bill also requires prison sentences for such violations to be served consecutively to other sentences for the same incident, though judges may allow concurrent sentences in some cases. The law would take effect on July 1, 2026, and affects individuals convicted of violent offenses who later violate lifetime protective orders.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for violating lifetime protection orders from misdemeanor to felony, expanding criminalization and mandating consecutive sentences per bill text.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Domestic Violence Policing

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in committee · Tennessee · House May 27, 2026

HB 1706: Immigration - As enacted, creates certain offenses for a person who is unlawfully present in the United States to operate a commercial motor vehicle in this state and a direct employer of such person; requires the law enforcement agency of an officer who arrests a person who is unlawfully present in the United States to operate a commercial motor vehicle in this state to ensure that federal immigration authorities are notified; creates related civil actions for persons injured by an unlawfully present person's operation of a commercial motor vehicle. - Amends TCA Title 55, Chapter 50.

HB 1706 would make it a serious misdemeanor for someone without legal immigration status to operate a commercial motor vehicle in Tennessee. It also requires law enforcement to notify federal immigration authorities when arresting such individuals and holds employers strictly liable for injuries caused by undocumented drivers operating commercial vehicles. The bill creates civil penalties of at least $1 million for employers or state officials who knowingly allow or issue licenses to undocumented drivers, and allows private citizens to file lawsuits on behalf of the state (known as "qui tam" actions). This bill directly affects undocumented immigrants working in commercial driving, employers, and state licensing officials, with no provisions for enforcement or implementation details yet.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates Class A misdemeanor for undocumented commercial driving, expanding criminalization per bill's explicit language on penalties and enforcement.95% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationBill restricts undocumented immigrants from operating commercial vehicles, mandates law enforcement to notify federal immigration authorities, and imposes civil penalties on employers. This increases state enforcement and limits immigrant access t...95% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentBill restricts employment opportunities for undocumented workers and imposes strict liability on employers, limiting labor mobility and increasing employer risk.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Driver Licenses & IDs Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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signed · Tennessee · Senate Apr 27, 2026

SB 1659: Sentencing - As enacted, adds aggravating circumstances for a jury to consider when determining the sentence of a defendant convicted of certain offenses. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 40.

SB 1659 amends Tennessee sentencing laws to add 12 new aggravating factors that juries must consider when sentencing defendants convicted of rape of a child or aggravated rape of a child. Key provisions include factors like the defendant being in a position of trust (e.g., teacher or caregiver), prior convictions involving minors, filming the crime, using substances to influence the victim, or the offense being especially heinous. The bill directly affects defendants in these specific child sexual assault cases by making certain circumstances mandatory for sentencing consideration. It also removes a prior mitigating factor (victim participation/consent) that applied to child rape cases and takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeAdds aggravating factors for child sex offenses, leading to harsher sentences. Increases severity of punishment, aligning with 'oppose' indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Sentencing Violent Crime