Criminal Justice

died · Tennessee · House Mar 19, 2025

HB 907: Criminal Procedure - As introduced, creates a law enforcement investigatory privilege; prohibits a subpoena from being issued for a civil or criminal proceeding for information protected by the law enforcement privilege. - Amends TCA Title 24, Chapter 1, Part 2 and Title 40, Chapter 17, Part 1.

This bill creates a new law enforcement investigatory privilege in Tennessee that protects information gathered during open criminal investigations and prosecutions from being subpoenaed in civil or criminal cases. The privilege applies to information covered under Rule 16 of the Rules of Criminal Procedure and remains in effect until an investigation is closed by the district attorney general, a defendant is acquitted, or a conviction becomes final. Law enforcement officials can still issue subpoenas for their own investigative purposes, but the district attorney general may file motions to stop or change subpoenas that seek protected information. The legislation clarifies that this privilege does not override a criminal defendant's constitutional rights or change existing procedures for law enforcement subpoenas.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill creates law enforcement privilege that restricts subpoena access to investigation information, limiting transparency and defendant rights in criminal proceedings.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

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in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 15, 2026

HB 2377: Sexual Offenses - As introduced, revises the offense of continuous sexual abuse of a child, including the required number of victims, required number of incidents of sexual abuse, and time frame within which the incidents must have occurred. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 13, Part 5.

HB 2377 revises Tennessee's definition of "continuous sexual abuse of a child" in criminal law. It requires prosecutors to prove three or more separate incidents of sexual abuse against one or more minors, with at least one incident occurring in the filing county and another on or after July 1, 2026. The bill also specifies that these incidents must occur over a period of 30 days or more, and mandates unanimous jury agreement on this timeframe. The changes apply to cases occurring on or after July 1, 2026, directly affecting prosecutors, courts, and defendants in child sexual abuse cases.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRequires stricter proof for child sexual abuse prosecution, restricting enforcement of criminal justice laws85% confidence

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 2467: Firearms and Ammunition - As introduced, repeals the criminal offenses of unlawfully carrying a firearm or club with the intent to go armed and carrying or possessing a weapon in or on public parks, playgrounds, civic centers, and other public recreational buildings and grounds; allows persons convicted of stalking or a misdemeanor domestic violence offense to possess a firearm after five years from the date of conviction. - Amends TCA Title 16; Title 36; Title 37; Title 39; Title 40; Title 49 and Title 65.

SB 2467 repeals Tennessee’s criminal penalties for carrying firearms in public parks, playgrounds, and recreational areas, and removes the prohibition on firearm possession for individuals convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence or stalking after five years from their conviction date. The bill updates state law to clarify that domestic violence convictions older than five years no longer disqualify someone from owning a firearm, provided their rights haven’t been restored through other means. It also modifies definitions to replace "handgun" with "firearm" in multiple sections and adds exceptions for juveniles possessing rifles/shotguns for specific activities like livestock protection. These changes directly affect people with past domestic violence or stalking convictions, park visitors, and firearm owners navigating state restrictions.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRepeals firearm restrictions for domestic violence offenders after 5 years, reducing victim protections and weakening gun control in criminal justice policy.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Drug Policy Firearms

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passed both · Tennessee · Senate Apr 15, 2026

SB 2335: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, expands the offense of aggravated criminal trespass to include trespassing that results in the disruption of a religious assembly, which is a Class A misdemeanor. - Amends TCA Title 39.

SB 2335 amends Tennessee's aggravated criminal trespass law to specifically include disrupting a religious assembly within a building on property as a punishable offense. It directly affects individuals who enter or remain on property without consent and disrupt religious gatherings, such as protests or services inside a place of worship. The key provision adds a new subsection (D) to the trespass definition, stating that disrupting a religious assembly while on the property constitutes aggravated criminal trespass. This change elevates the offense to a Class A misdemeanor, carrying potential penalties of up to 11 months in jail.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by adding disruption of religious assemblies to aggravated trespass, increasing penalties for protest-related activities without reform indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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signed · Tennessee · Senate May 27, 2026

SB 2468: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, makes revisions to law relative to offenses occurring at a house of worship. - Amends TCA Title 29 and Title 39.

SB 2468 requires Tennessee courts to impose a mandatory fine equal to at least twice the cost of property damage or restoration when vandalism occurs at a house of worship (like a church, synagogue, or mosque). This applies specifically to sentencing for vandalism offenses committed at these locations, directly affecting both the convicted individual and the affected house of worship. The bill amends Tennessee criminal code to add this penalty as part of the sentence, overriding standard sentencing guidelines for such cases. It takes effect July 1, 2026, if passed.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandates doubled fines for vandalism at houses of worship, increasing sentencing severity per TCA amendments, aligning with 'increases mandatory sentences' indicator.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Sentencing

signed · Tennessee · Senate May 4, 2026

SB 2466: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, makes various changes to the law relative to fraudulent freight theft. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 16; Title 17; Title 18; Title 20; Title 22; Title 24; Title 25; Title 26; Title 27; Title 28; Title 37; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40; Title 43; Title 54 and Title 55.

SB 2466 clarifies that stealing merchandise from a cargo container with the intent to avoid paying the full price constitutes theft under Tennessee law. It directly affects individuals who enter cargo containers to remove goods without authorization. The bill amends multiple sections of Tennessee's criminal code to specifically include "entering a cargo container and removing merchandise" as a defined theft offense. This change makes it explicitly illegal to steal from containers with the intent to deprive merchants of the merchandise's full value. The law focuses on preventing cargo theft by clearly defining the act as a criminal offense.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands criminalization by explicitly defining cargo container theft as a specific offense under Tennessee law, increasing legal penalties for a new category of theft without reform elements.95% confidence

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 23, 2026

SB 2465: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, prohibits a juvenile adjudicated delinquent for conduct that, if committed by an adult, would constitute the offense of threatening to commit an act of mass violence from purchasing or possessing a firearm until the juvenile reaches 25; prohibits a person appropriately licensed by the federal government from selling a firearm to a person who is ineligible to possess a firearm pursuant to any court order or under any law of this state; increases penalties for sexual exploitation of a minor offenses. - Amends TCA Title 37 and Title 39.

SB 2465 prohibits juveniles adjudicated delinquent for threatening mass violence (as defined in existing Tennessee law) from purchasing or possessing firearms until age 25. It also requires federally licensed firearm dealers to verify a buyer’s eligibility under state law or court orders before selling. The bill significantly increases penalties for sexual exploitation of minors by raising felony classifications based on the quantity of materials involved (e.g., 50+ images become a Class B felony, 100+ become Class A). These changes amend Tennessee Code Sections 37-1-190, 39-17-1307, 39-17-1316, 39-17-1351, 39-17-1352, and sections related to sexual exploitation offenses (39-17-1003 to 39-17-1005). The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for sexual exploitation offenses and restricts juvenile firearm access, aligning with tough-on-crime measures rather than reform.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Firearms Juvenile Justice

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died · Tennessee · House May 27, 2026

HB 2428: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, increases the penalty for assaulting a first responder from a Class A misdemeanor with a mandatory fine of $5,000 and a mandatory minimum of 30 days incarceration to a Class E felony with a mandatory fine of $10,000 and a mandatory minimum of 60 days incarceration. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 40.

HB 2428 raises the penalty for assaulting a first responder (including law enforcement officers) in Tennessee from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony. The bill mandates a $10,000 fine and a minimum 60-day jail sentence for such offenses, with no early release during the mandatory period. It amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39 (criminal law) and Title 40 (criminal justice), effective July 1, 2026. This change directly affects individuals convicted of assaulting first responders by increasing the severity of penalties for these crimes.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases mandatory penalties for assaulting first responders, raising offense to felony with higher fines and longer mandatory jail time, aligning with 'oppose' indicators of stricter sentencing.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement Sentencing

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signed · Tennessee · House May 5, 2026

HB 2101: Drugs, Over the Counter - As enacted, increases the amount of products containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine a person may purchase in a one-year period from 43.2 grams to 61.2 grams; changes references to the "National Precursor Log Exchange" to the "electronic sales tracking system"; requires any manufacturer of an ephedrine or pseudoephedrine product that is sold in or into this state to, on a monthly basis, pay fees to the administrator of the electronic sales tracking system. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 4.

HB 2101 increases the annual purchase limit for over-the-counter ephedrine and pseudoephedrine products from 43.2 grams to 61.2 grams per person. It updates tracking system references from "NPLEx" to "electronic sales tracking system" and requires manufacturers of these products sold in Tennessee to pay monthly fees to the system administrator starting January 1, 2027. Pharmacies must use the electronic system to record sales, generate stop-sale alerts for individuals on the methamphetamine registry, and prevent prohibited sales, with the system designed to be free for pharmacies and law enforcement.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases annual purchase limit for meth precursors (43.2g→61.2g), weakening restrictions on chemicals used in meth production, directly opposing criminal justice reform efforts to reduce meth trafficking.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

in committee · Tennessee · House Feb 5, 2026

HB 2467: Probation and Parole - As introduced, permits a trial judge to revoke a defendant's probation for a felony or misdemeanor based on one instance of technical violation; extends the permitted terms of incarceration a court may impose for a technical violation to 90 days for a first revocation, 180 days for a second revocation, and the remainder of the sentence for a third or subsequent revocation. - Amends TCA Title 40.

HB 2467 changes Tennessee's probation revocation rules for technical violations (like missing meetings or failing drug tests, not new crimes). It allows judges to revoke probation after just one technical violation and sets specific incarceration limits: up to 90 days for a first revocation, 180 days for a second, and the full remaining sentence for third or more revocations. The bill requires judges to use a "preponderance of evidence" standard (not beyond reasonable doubt) for these decisions. This directly affects individuals on probation for felony or misdemeanor offenses in Tennessee who breach non-criminal probation terms.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases probation revocations for minor technical violations with lower evidence standard, extending incarceration terms - restricts defendant rights and moves away from rehabilitation-focused reform.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Probation & Parole

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