Criminal Procedure - As enacted, requires the clerk of every court having jurisdiction of criminal offenses to include a $12.50 charge in every cost bill, to be remitted to the county government to provide support services for the purpose of promoting public safety at the sole discretion of the district attorney general; takes effect upon two-thirds vote of the county legislative body; requires a district attorney general receiving funding to submit an annual report. - Amends TCA Title 40.
SB 547 requires Tennessee court clerks to add a $12.50 fee to every misdemeanor and felony cost bill, sending the collected funds to county governments (or district attorney offices in multi-county districts) for public safety support services. These funds must be used at the sole discretion of the district attorney general for public safety purposes, with no requirement for specific programs. Counties must approve the fee via a two-thirds vote of their legislative body, and district attorneys must submit annual reports detailing how the funds were spent. The fee does not apply to traffic violations or affect existing restitution or criminal injury compensation payments.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Feb 10, 2025
Signed May 5, 2025
Floor votes · Senate Mar 17, 2025 · House Apr 17, 2025
How they voted
30–5
Passed
Total votes 35
Mar 17, 2025
D
Democratic6
83% Nay
R
Republican29
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
19
Key actions
7
Committee
3
May 5, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by Governor.
lower
Apr 22, 2025
Upper · Passed
Signed by Senate Speaker
upper
Apr 22, 2025
Lower · Passed
Signed by H. Speaker
lower
Apr 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed H., Ayes 73, Nays 23, PNV 1
lower
Mar 17, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate, Ayes 25, Nays 5
upper
Mar 11, 2025
Lower · Passed
Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee
lower
Mar 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/11/2025
lower
Feb 12, 2025
Committee
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee
upper
Feb 10, 2025
Introduced
Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
John Stevens
RRepublican
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