SB 2396 creates new criminal offenses for employers who systematically evade federal employment verification rules (like I-9 forms) or exploit unauthorized workers. It targets employers - especially officers, managers, or general contractors - with repeated violations, making it a Class E felony. Key mechanisms include mandatory restitution for lost wages, unpaid taxes, and benefits, plus fines of $50,000-$500,000 for businesses. The bill directly affects employers who fail to comply with verification requirements across multiple workers, with penalties extending to business owners and contractors. It also requires future compliance monitoring for convicted entities.
SB 2650 requires Tennessee's attorney general to notify crime victims about escrow accounts holding funds for civil judgments using email, phone calls, and text messages - beyond just direct in-person or mail contact. This change directly affects victims in civil cases where compensation may be available through court-ordered escrow funds. The bill amends specific sections of Tennessee law (Titles 29, 36, 37, 39, and 40) to update notification methods, ensuring victims receive timely information through multiple accessible channels. It focuses on procedural clarity without altering eligibility or funding amounts for victims.
HB 2183 extends the deadline for courts to schedule hearings on motions to freeze a criminal defendant's funds in cases involving financial exploitation of elderly or vulnerable adults. The bill changes the timeframe from 10 to 20 days after a motion is filed, specifically for cases where the defendant took over $5,000 in property. This applies to criminal proceedings pending restitution for victims, giving courts more time to act before the hearing. The change directly affects courts handling these elder abuse cases and aims to streamline the process for returning assets to victims. The bill amends Tennessee Code Section 39-15-502(c)(4) and is pending legislative action.
SB 2376 extends the deadline for courts to schedule hearings on petitions to freeze a criminal defendant's funds in financial exploitation cases involving elderly or vulnerable adults. Specifically, it changes the timeframe from 10 to 20 days after a motion is filed, applying when defendants are accused of taking more than $5,000 in property. This affects courts handling these cases, victims seeking restitution, and defendants charged with financial exploitation. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated § 39-15-502(c)(4) and takes effect July 1, 2026.
SB 2210 increases the required notice period for victims registered in Tennessee's criminal proceedings notification system from 24 to 36 hours before any related hearing. This change directly affects victims who have registered to receive alerts about court proceedings involving their case. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 40-38-507(b)(1), to update the notice timeframe. The law will take effect on July 1, 2026.
HB 2564 requires Tennessee's attorney general to notify crime victims about escrow accounts holding funds for civil judgments using email, phone calls, and text messages - beyond just direct in-person or mail notification. This bill directly affects victims who have civil judgments against offenders and are eligible to receive funds from these escrow accounts. The key provision amends Tennessee Code Section 29-13-405(1) to mandate these additional notification methods. The change ensures victims receive timely updates about available funds through multiple accessible communication channels.
HB 2524 creates new criminal offenses for employers who systematically evade federal employment verification (like I-9 forms) or exploit unauthorized workers. It defines "systematic unauthorized employment" as repeated failures to verify worker eligibility, misclassify employees as independent contractors, or knowingly use subcontractors employing unauthorized workers, making it a Class E felony. Employers found liable must pay restitution covering unpaid wages (based on FLSA or state minimum wage), taxes, benefits, and damages, plus fines of $50,000-$500,000 for businesses. The law directly affects Tennessee employers, particularly general contractors and businesses with patterns of evasion, and amends Tennessee Code Sections 39-13-301 and 39-13-317.
HB 2221 increases the required notice period for crime victims registered in Tennessee's criminal proceedings notification system from 24 to 36 hours before any hearing related to their case. This change directly affects victims who have opted into the state's notification system to receive updates about criminal cases involving them. The bill amends Tennessee Code Section 40-38-507(b)(1) to implement this longer notice period, affecting how the system communicates with registered victims. The policy change focuses solely on extending the notice window for victims' awareness, with no other provisions or impacts described in the bill text.
HB 2367 expands the legal definition of "victim" in Tennessee criminal law to include insurance companies that compensated victims and law enforcement agencies that spent funds on investigations. It also explicitly allows victims (or their representatives) to attend court proceedings related to their case, beyond the state's designated witness. The bill specifically adds certain offenses - like evading arrest causing serious injury/death and vehicular homicide - to the list where victim impact is considered during sentencing. These changes directly affect crime victims, their representatives, insurance providers, and law enforcement agencies involved in criminal cases. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.
SB 2085 (Tennessee Code Annotated § 40-24-109) increases the victims' assistance assessment fee from $45 to $125 for individuals convicted of certain crimes, including those who plead guilty, are found guilty, or enter diversion programs. The fee applies to criminal cases in Tennessee courts and directly affects convicted defendants. The bill specifies that $15 of each assessment goes to the court clerk for processing, while the remaining $110 must be sent to the county’s designated victim assistance program. This change redirects funding to support local victim services under existing state law.
