HB 1229 Tennessee House · 114th Regular Session (2025-2026)

Forfeiture of Assets - As enacted, removes the requirement for a claimant to post a bond when filing a claim to seized property. - Amends TCA Title 40, Chapter 33.

HB 1229 modifies Tennessee's asset forfeiture laws by removing the requirement for claimants to post a bond when filing claims for seized property. This change directly affects individuals or businesses seeking to recover property seized by law enforcement under forfeiture proceedings. The bill deletes language requiring a "cost bond or" in Tennessee Code Annotated §40-33-205(a) and removes subsection (b) from §40-33-206, streamlining the claim process. The law will take effect July 1, 2025, applying to all seizures occurring on or after that date.
Bill status in committee 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 10, 2025 Last action May 13, 2025
Floor votes · House Apr 8, 2025

How they voted

290
Passed
Total votes 29
Apr 8, 2025
D Democratic6
6 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican23
23 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
26
Key actions
13
Committee
15
Apr 9, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/10/2025
lower
Apr 8, 2025
Lower · Passed
Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee
lower
Apr 8, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (29-0)
house
Apr 2, 2025
Lower · Passed
Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
lower
Apr 2, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Finance, Ways, and Means Committee for 4/8/2025
lower
Mar 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/2/2025
lower
Mar 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
Action Def. in s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee to 3/19/2025
lower
Mar 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 3/19/2025
lower
Mar 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
Rec. for pass; ref to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
lower
Mar 5, 2025
Committee
Assigned to s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee
lower
Mar 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 3/12/2025
lower
Feb 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Judiciary Committee
lower
Feb 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 3/5/2025
lower
Feb 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 2/26/2025
lower
Feb 12, 2025
Committee
P2C, ref. to Judiciary Committee
lower
Feb 12, 2025
Committee
Assigned to s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee
lower
Feb 10, 2025
Introduced
Intro., P1C.
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Justin Lafferty
Justin Lafferty
RRepublican
TN
89