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.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 15, 2026
Last action Mar 16, 2026
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
5
Key actions
1
Committee
3
Mar 16, 2026
Committee
Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Judiciary Committee
lower
Mar 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/16/2026
lower
Jan 21, 2026
Committee
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee
upper
Jan 15, 2026
Introduced
Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Kerry Roberts
RRepublican
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