Criminal Justice

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 16, 2026

SB 1677: Evidence - As introduced, prohibits a court from excluding evidence against a criminal defendant unless the evidence was obtained by deliberate, reckless, or grossly negligent conduct or recurring or systemic negligence that violated the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution and refusal to suppress the evidence would contradict a clearly established holding of the United States supreme court; establishes an immediate interlocutory appeal to the Tennessee supreme court when a court grants a motion to suppress evidence. - Amends TCA Title 40.

SB 1677 changes Tennessee's rules for excluding evidence in criminal cases. It limits exclusion to situations where evidence was obtained through deliberate, reckless, or grossly negligent conduct violating constitutional rights, and where refusing to exclude it would contradict a clear U.S. Supreme Court ruling. The bill also creates an immediate appeal process for prosecutors when a judge suppresses evidence, requiring the Tennessee Supreme Court to expedite such cases. This directly affects criminal defendants (who may lose evidence challenges) and prosecutors (who gain faster appeals). The law aligns Tennessee's exclusionary rule strictly with federal standards, preventing state courts from creating stricter rules.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill restricts evidence suppression to only severe constitutional violations, reducing defendant rights and weakening judicial oversight of law enforcement evidence collection.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Judges

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in committee · Tennessee · House Feb 2, 2026

HB 1829: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, prohibits a person who is convicted of a felony from running for public office, regardless of whether the person receives a presidential pardon; prohibits a public employee from receiving retirement benefits from the Tennessee consolidated retirement system, any superseded retirement system, or any other public pension system, if such employee or official is convicted of a felony. - Amends TCA Title 2; Title 8; Title 39 and Title 40.

HB 1829 prohibits individuals convicted of a felony from running for public office in Tennessee, even if they receive a presidential pardon. It also bars public employees or officials convicted of a felony from receiving retirement benefits from any state pension system. The bill removes exceptions that previously allowed eligibility for office or retirement benefits if a felony was unrelated to official duties or if a pardon was granted. These changes apply to felony convictions occurring on or after July 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeProhibits felons from public office/retirement benefits, restricting rights and removing pardon exceptions - aligns with 'oppose' indicators of reducing defendant rights.92% confidence

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate May 27, 2026

SB 2039: District Attorneys - As enacted, eliminates the fraud and economic crimes fees and assessments in criminal prosecutions for counties that have enacted a $12.50 court cost to be used for supplemental funding for the district attorney general's office; requires existing funds in fraud and economic crimes prosecution fund to be remitted back to the county government of original assessment and collection. - Amends TCA Title 40, Chapter 3.

SB 2039 eliminates fraud and economic crimes fees in Tennessee counties that have implemented a $12.50 court cost. These counties will no longer collect those fees, and any existing funds in the fraud prosecution fund must be returned to the county government. The bill requires district attorneys to hold these funds until the $12.50 court cost funds equal the fraud fund balance, at which point the full amount reverts to the county. This directly affects counties using the $12.50 fee and district attorney offices managing related funds.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeDefunds fraud prosecution fund by redirecting fees to counties, reducing DA funding for economic crimes cases.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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failed · Tennessee · Senate Apr 23, 2026

SB 1958: Remedies and Special Proceedings - As enacted, removes the right of a cause of action for any affected person who seeks declaratory and injunctive relief in any action brought regarding the legality or constitutionality of a state governmental action; authorizes such an action against a political subdivision of this state; does not limit any other cause of action or waiver of sovereign immunity to vindicate rights under the Tennessee Constitution or the United States Constitution. - Amends TCA Title 1, Chapter 3 and Title 49.

SB 1958 removes the right for individuals to seek court orders (declaratory or injunctive relief) challenging the constitutionality or legality of state government actions, including state statutes. It directly affects people or groups trying to legally challenge state laws or actions in court. The bill preserves Tennessee’s sovereign immunity (meaning the state cannot be sued) and creates a limited exception only for challenges against *local* governments (like cities or counties), but still prohibits lawsuits seeking damages or challenging state laws. It amends specific Tennessee Code sections to clarify these restrictions.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRemoves right to challenge state law constitutionality, restricting defendant rights and legal avenues for criminal justice reform.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 1749: 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.

SB 1749 upgrades certain trespass offenses to Class C felonies in Tennessee. It specifically targets situations where a trespasser enters property without permission and encounters the owner using or displaying a firearm in self-defense - this scenario becomes a Class C felony. The bill also changes general criminal trespass to a Class C felony and adds new conditions for aggravated trespass, such as causing fear for others' safety or damaging property barriers. These changes apply to acts occurring on or after July 1, 2026, and directly affect individuals committing trespass under these specific circumstances.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeUpgrades trespass to Class C felony, increasing penalties for property entry with firearm encounter, expanding criminalization.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms

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signed · Tennessee · Senate May 27, 2026

SB 1992: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, creates a Class E felony offense when a person, for the purpose of deriving a pecuniary benefit, engages in conduct intended to influence the occurrence or nonoccurrence of an event while the person, or another acting in active concert with the person, is a party to a contract traded on a prediction-market by which the person will derive such pecuniary benefit directly from the settlement of that contract based on the occurrence or a nonoccurrence of the event. - Amends TCA Title 39.

SB 1992 creates a new Class E felony offense for intentionally influencing the outcome of an event when a person or another party has a financial contract with a prediction market that benefits from that outcome. It directly affects individuals using prediction markets - defined as platforms where people trade contracts based on unknown future events - such as sports, elections, or economic indicators. The law prohibits conduct meant to sway results for personal financial gain through these markets, treating violations as serious criminal offenses. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and defines "prediction-market" specifically to clarify the scope of the new crime.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill creates new Class E felony for influencing prediction markets, expanding criminalization without reform context. Matches 'oppose' indicator of expanding criminalization.95% confidence

signed · Tennessee · House May 15, 2026

HB 1668: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, creates the offense for a person to knowingly travel, with intent to commit theft of another person's cash, from a commercial business; a financial institution; or an automated teller machine, on the same path or route as another person without substantial deviation from that path or route while in possession of two or more criminal instruments. - Amends TCA Title 39.

HB 1668 creates a new criminal offense in Tennessee for knowingly traveling with intent to steal cash from businesses or financial institutions while following another person's path without deviating and carrying two or more "criminal instruments" (tools designed for theft, like lockpicks). It directly affects individuals who plan cash thefts by mirroring others' routes while possessing multiple theft tools. Violations start as a Class A misdemeanor, but escalate to a Class D felony if the person also violates other theft laws (Chapter 13, Part 10) or a Class B felony if they violate firearm laws (Chapter 13, Part 4). The law takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new criminal offense for route-mirroring theft, expanding criminalization and increasing penalties from misdemeanor to felony.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Firearms

in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 15, 2026

HB 1542: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, prohibits the use of a telecommunication device, with intent to deprive the owner of property, to fraudulently obtain or exercise control over the property of another without the owner's effective consent, which is punishable as theft, but in no event less than a Class E felony. - Amends TCA Title 39.

HB 1542 would make it a crime to use a phone, computer, or other telecommunication device to fraudulently take someone else's property without their consent, with the intent to deprive them of it. This law directly affects individuals attempting to commit fraud through digital means, such as scams involving online transactions or phone calls. The bill specifies that telecommunication fraud would be punished as theft under existing Tennessee law, but with a minimum penalty of a Class E felony (the least severe felony classification). It amends Tennessee's theft statutes to explicitly cover this type of fraud, effective July 1, 2026, if passed. The bill does not create new penalties but ensures these digital frauds are treated as serious theft offenses.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands criminalization by creating new felony offense for digital fraud with mandatory minimum Class E penalty, increasing punitive measures without reform elements.85% confidence

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate May 15, 2026

SB 1737: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, creates the offense for a person to knowingly travel, with intent to commit theft of another person's cash, from a commercial business; a financial institution; or an automated teller machine, on the same path or route as another person without substantial deviation from that path or route while in possession of two or more criminal instruments. - Amends TCA Title 39.

SB 1737 creates a new criminal offense in Tennessee for knowingly traveling on the same path as another person (without substantial deviation) toward a business or financial institution, while carrying two or more "criminal instruments" with intent to steal cash. It directly affects individuals who attempt coordinated thefts by following others' routes while possessing tools like lockpicks or fake IDs designed for crime. The law classifies violations as a Class A misdemeanor, escalating to a Class D felony if the person commits additional crimes like burglary, or a Class B felony if they commit armed robbery. This bill defines "criminal instruments" as items not inherently illegal but used for offenses under specific Tennessee criminal codes.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new criminal offense for coordinated theft, expanding criminalization and increasing penalties for non-violent behavior.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Violent Crime

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in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 15, 2026

HB 1765: 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.

HB 1765 upgrades penalties for violating lifetime protection orders from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony under specific conditions. It applies only when the violation involves a lifetime order (issued under TCA §36-3-627) and the original order was based on a conviction involving force against a victim. The law requires consecutive prison sentences for these violations unless a judge orders concurrent terms. This change affects individuals who breach such orders after a force-based conviction, increasing criminal penalties for repeat or severe violations.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeUpgrades violation penalties to felony, increasing mandatory sentences and expanding criminalization under specific conditions, aligning with 'oppose' indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Domestic Violence Judges

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