Sentencing - As introduced, establishes parole criteria for certain persons convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to imprisonment for life; specifies that if a person is convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to imprisonment for life, then the sentence must automatically expire after the person has served 40 years. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 13 and Title 40, Chapter 35.

HB 2229 establishes a parole pathway for individuals convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment between 1995 and 2020, directly affecting roughly 1,300 Tennessee inmates currently serving life terms. The bill allows parole eligibility after 25 years if inmates meet specific criteria: avoiding violent misconduct for 10 consecutive years (saving 10 years), avoiding drug violations for 10 years (saving 10 years), earning a college degree (saving 10 years), or completing five mandated correctional programs (saving 5 years). If parole isn’t granted, life sentences automatically expire after 40 years of incarceration. The law applies retroactively to eligible inmates as of July 2026, with parole decisions mandatory upon meeting all requirements.