Criminal Justice (Judges)

in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 7, 2026

HB 2296: Bail, Bail Bonds - As introduced, requires a court or magistrate to impose global positioning monitoring as a condition of release for a defendant accused of certain offenses, unless the court or magistrate enters written findings that the defendant does not pose a threat to the victim or public safety; requires the administrative office of the courts to compile an annual report of the number of defendants subject to such an order. - Amends TCA Title 39; Title 40 and Title 55.

HB 2296 would require Tennessee courts to impose GPS monitoring as a condition of release for defendants charged with specific offenses, including domestic assault, vehicle burglaries, and offenses involving firearms or violence, unless the court makes a written finding that the defendant does not pose a threat to victims or public safety. Courts must report monthly to the administrative office of the courts on the number of defendants under GPS monitoring, and this office would compile an annual report for the legislature. The bill applies to cases such as domestic assault (under § 39-13-111), vehicle burglaries (§ 39-13-1002), reckless driving (§ 55-10-205), and repeat offenses. This policy adds GPS monitoring as a standard requirement for these offenses, with a safeguard to avoid unnecessary monitoring.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRequires GPS monitoring for specific offenses, restricting defendant freedom as a bail condition per TCA amendments.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Judges Violent Crime

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signed · Tennessee · Senate May 5, 2026

SB 2201: Juvenile Offenders - As enacted, specifies that if a student is referred to juvenile court for being unlawfully absent from school and is ultimately adjudicated to be unruly, that the disposition made by the juvenile judge or magistrate may include the suspension of the student's driving privileges or ability to obtain a driver license for a period of up to one year. - Amends TCA Title 37; Title 49, Chapter 6, Part 30 and Title 55, Chapter 10.

SB 2201 allows juvenile courts in Tennessee to suspend a student’s driving privileges or prevent them from obtaining a driver’s license for up to one year if the student is adjudicated "unruly" for unlawful school absences. This applies specifically to students referred to juvenile court for truancy and found unruly under Tennessee law. The bill amends existing statutes (TCA Title 37, 49, and 55) to add driving suspension as a permitted court disposition. It directly affects students facing juvenile court for truancy-related offenses, with the policy change taking effect July 1, 2026. The measure does not alter truancy reporting requirements but expands potential consequences for adjudicated cases.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeAdds driving suspension for juvenile truancy, expanding criminalization of minor school absences beyond traditional court dispositions per TCA amendments.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Judges Juvenile Justice

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 25, 2026

SB 2665: Bail, Bail Bonds - As introduced, requires a court or magistrate to impose global positioning monitoring as a condition of release for a defendant accused of certain offenses, unless the court or magistrate enters written findings that the defendant does not pose a threat to the victim or public safety; requires the administrative office of the courts to compile an annual report of the number of defendants subject to such an order. - Amends TCA Title 39; Title 40 and Title 55.

SB 2665 requires Tennessee courts to mandate GPS monitoring as a bail condition for defendants charged with specific serious offenses - including those involving firearms, violence, domestic assault, vehicle burglary, reckless driving, drag racing, or repeat crimes - unless the court documents in writing that the defendant poses no threat to victims or public safety. It applies to cases where the defendant was arrested for one of these listed offenses. Courts must report monthly data on defendants under GPS monitoring to the Administrative Office of the Courts, which will compile an annual statewide report for legislative committees. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandates GPS monitoring for specific offenses, restricting defendant freedom and reducing pretrial release options, aligning with 'oppose' indicators of limiting rights.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Judges Violent Crime

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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 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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in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 11, 2026

HB 1475: 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.

HB 1475 limits when Tennessee courts can exclude evidence in criminal cases. It prohibits excluding evidence unless it was obtained through deliberate, reckless, or grossly negligent conduct violating the Fourth Amendment, or recurring/systemic negligence, and refusing to exclude it would contradict a clear U.S. Supreme Court ruling. The bill also creates an immediate appeal for prosecutors to the Tennessee Supreme Court when a judge suppresses evidence, requiring the court to expedite the review. This aligns Tennessee's evidence rules strictly with federal standards, preventing state courts from imposing stricter exclusion rules than those set by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRestricts evidence suppression, reducing defendant rights in criminal cases by limiting when courts can exclude illegally obtained evidence.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Judges

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 20, 2026

SB 1474: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, restates the criminal offense of drag racing as street drag racing; expands the offense to include acts committed on commercial property; authorizes a vehicle used in the commission of the offense or to flee after commission of the offense to be impounded for the purpose of collecting evidence; makes various other changes regarding the offense of street drag racing. - Amends TCA Title 7; Title 39; Title 40; Title 55 and Title 68.

SB 1474 redefines "drag racing" as "street drag racing" throughout Tennessee law and expands the offense to include reckless driving or drifting stunts on commercial properties (like shopping centers), not just public roads. It defines "drifting" as steering to lose traction for skidding, allows police to impound vehicles used in the offense or to flee, and makes reckless endangerment from street drag racing a Class E felony. The bill directly affects drivers engaging in street racing or drifting, property owners on commercial sites where such activities occur, and law enforcement handling related arrests. Key changes include requiring arrests to be taken before a magistrate (not issued a citation) and mandating vehicle impoundment for evidence collection.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization of street drag racing to commercial properties, elevates to Class E felony, increasing penalties and restricting driver activities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Judges Policing

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in committee · Tennessee · House May 15, 2025

HB 34: Juvenile Offenders - As enacted, permits a court to use juvenile court records, including the disposition and evidence, in pretrial reports used to set bond for certain criminal offenses; requires the magistrate to consider the defendant's prior juvenile record in determining the defendant's risk of danger to the community. - Amends TCA Title 37 and Title 40.

HB 34 (Tennessee) changes how juvenile court records can be used in adult criminal cases. It permits courts to include juvenile records (like case outcomes and evidence) in pretrial reports used to set bond for certain criminal offenses. The bill also requires judges to consider a defendant's prior juvenile record when assessing their risk of harming the community. This directly affects individuals with past juvenile court involvement who face adult criminal charges, altering how their history influences bond decisions.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill permits juvenile records to be used in adult bond hearings and risk assessment, potentially increasing pretrial detention and punitive outcomes. This expands criminalization of past behavior and reduces defendant rights.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Judges Juvenile Justice

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 12, 2025

SB 388: Bail, Bail Bonds - As introduced, requires a court or magistrate to impose global positioning monitoring as a condition of release for a defendant accused of certain offenses, unless the court or magistrate enters written findings that the defendant does not pose a threat to the victim or public safety; requires the administrative office of the courts to compile an annual report of the number of defendants subject to such an order. - Amends TCA Title 39; Title 40; Title 55; Chapter 969 of the Public Acts of 2024 and Chapter 1033 of the Public Acts of 2024.

SB 388 requires courts to mandate GPS tracking for defendants accused of specific offenses - such as firearm use, domestic assault, vehicle burglary, reckless driving, drag racing, or repeat crimes - during pretrial release, unless the court documents in writing that the defendant poses no threat to victims or public safety. It applies to defendants awaiting trial for these listed offenses, directly affecting their release conditions. Courts must report monthly data on GPS orders to the Administrative Office of the Courts, which will compile an annual report for legislative committees by July 1 each year. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, amending Tennessee Code sections related to criminal procedure and bail.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandates GPS monitoring for pretrial release in specific offenses, restricting defendant rights without clear reform intent; aligns with 'reduces defendant rights' indicator.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Firearms Judges

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died · Tennessee · House Mar 30, 2026

HB 33: Bail, Bail Bonds - As enacted, establishes a presumption that a defendant should not be released on the defendant’s personal recognizance if the defendant is charged with a felony offense that involved the use or display of a firearm or resulted in the serious bodily injury or death of the victim; requires a magistrate who determines that the presumption has been rebutted to include in the bail order written findings for each factor considered in making such a determination. - Amends TCA Title 40.

HB 33 establishes a new rule for pretrial release in Tennessee: defendants charged with offenses involving firearm use/display or causing serious injury/death are presumed not to be released on their own promise to return to court (personal recognizance). This directly affects individuals facing these specific charges during initial court hearings. If a judge decides to override this presumption, they must provide written reasons for each factor considered in their decision. The bill amends Tennessee law to take effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRestricts pretrial release for firearm/serious injury offenses, requiring judicial justification to override presumption, reducing defendant rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Firearms Judges

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