Tennessee Bills

HB 1449 redefines "drag racing" as "street drag racing" and expands the offense to include reckless driving for spectators and events on commercial property (like shopping centers or retail lots). It defines "drifting" as intentionally skidding a vehicle and broadens the term "participant" to cover organizers, promoters, and anyone facilitating street drag racing. The bill allows police to impound vehicles used in the offense or to flee (with the charged person paying fees) and authorizes vehicle forfeiture upon conviction. Additionally, reckless endangerment through street drag racing is now classified as a Class E felony.

SB 2381 extends the deadline for Tennessee courts to notify the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) after ordering the expunction (sealing) of a criminal record, increasing the timeframe from 30 to 45 days. This change directly affects courts issuing expunction orders and the TBI, which must receive the notification within the new 45-day window. The bill amends specific provisions of Tennessee law (TCA Section 40-32-102(d)) to adjust this administrative process without altering eligibility for expunction. It focuses solely on streamlining the notification procedure for criminal record expungement.

SJR 659 proposes a constitutional amendment to Tennessee's Constitution that would establish a right for citizens to carry firearms in public without a permit. It would delete the current constitutional language allowing the legislature to regulate the wearing of arms to prevent crime and replace it with a provision stating citizens have a right to keep and bear arms without a permit. If approved by voters, this change would make permitless carry the constitutional standard for public firearm carrying in Tennessee, directly affecting all residents who carry firearms. The amendment requires legislative approval and voter ratification to take effect.

SB 2467 repeals Tennessee’s criminal penalties for carrying firearms in public parks, playgrounds, and recreational areas, and removes the prohibition on firearm possession for individuals convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence or stalking after five years from their conviction date. The bill updates state law to clarify that domestic violence convictions older than five years no longer disqualify someone from owning a firearm, provided their rights haven’t been restored through other means. It also modifies definitions to replace "handgun" with "firearm" in multiple sections and adds exceptions for juveniles possessing rifles/shotguns for specific activities like livestock protection. These changes directly affect people with past domestic violence or stalking convictions, park visitors, and firearm owners navigating state restrictions.

SB 2382 amends Tennessee law to extend the deadline by which the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) must report excess funds collected from gun dealer background check fees. Specifically, it changes the reporting date from February 1 to February 15 each year. The bill affects the TBI’s administrative process for handling fees collected from gun dealers, with no changes to the underlying fee structure or gun regulations. This is a procedural adjustment to the reporting timeline, not a substantive policy change.

SB 2343 changes parole rules for individuals convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment between July 1, 1995, and June 30, 2020. It establishes a minimum 25-year sentence before parole eligibility, with up to 35 years reduced through specific criteria: 10 years for 10 years without violent misconduct, 10 years for 10 years drug-free, 10 years for completing an accredited degree, and 5 years for finishing required correctional programs. If parole criteria aren't met, the sentence automatically expires after 40 years of incarceration. The bill applies retroactively to eligible inmates already serving life sentences as of July 1, 2026.

HB 2144 establishes Tennessee's "Court Appearance Reminder Program Act," creating a statewide system to send automated reminders to defendants about upcoming court dates in criminal and traffic cases where they are not in custody. The program, administered by the Administrative Office of the Courts, automatically enrolls defendants who provide contact information (text as default) and sends at least three reminders before each court appearance, including one the day prior, with clear details on date, time, location, and consequences of missing. It is free for defendants, offers multilingual options, and includes virtual appearance links when applicable, while prohibiting the use of contact information for criminal investigations or bail decisions. The bill aims to reduce missed court appearances, lower unnecessary arrests and jail admissions, and improve judicial efficiency by addressing logistical barriers rather than altering penalties.

This Senate Joint Resolution (SJR 668) confirms Governor Bill Lee's appointment of Todd Skelton to serve on the University of Tennessee, Knoxville advisory board for a term ending June 30, 2029. Under Tennessee law (TCA § 49-9-501), the General Assembly must confirm such governor appointments to the advisory board. The resolution formally approves Skelton's service without altering any policy or creating new obligations. It is a procedural confirmation, not a substantive legislative change.

SB 2359 modifies Tennessee law to create a rebuttable presumption that children under 13 years old would suffer significant emotional distress from testifying in court during criminal cases involving certain offenses, making it easier for judges to allow video testimony instead. The bill directly affects child victims under 13 in criminal trials, shifting the burden to the defense to prove the child wouldn’t be traumatized if testifying in person. Key provisions require judges to find that video testimony wouldn’t unduly prejudice the defendant before ordering it. The law amends Tennessee Code Annotated Sections 24-7-120 and 39, aiming to reduce trauma for young witnesses while maintaining defendant rights.

SB 2478 changes Tennessee's firearm laws by removing the offense of carrying a firearm with "intent to go armed" in schools and on school buses (when posted), and deleting similar restrictions on university campuses. It rewrites rules about possessing handguns while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and carrying weapons during court proceedings. The bill also adds new provisions allowing property owners to threaten deadly force against unlawful trespassers who refuse to leave, creating a presumption of justification for such actions. These changes directly affect school staff, students, property owners, and individuals interacting with law enforcement over firearm-related incidents.

SJR 629 is a procedural resolution confirming Governor Bill Lee's appointment of Dane Scism to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville advisory board for a term ending June 30, 2029. This resolution complies with Tennessee law (TCA Section 49-9-501), which requires the General Assembly to confirm governor-appointed members of university advisory boards. The bill directly affects the UT Knoxville advisory board and the university's governance structure by formalizing Scism's role. It does not create new policy or impact broader legislation.

SB 2215, the "PEEPS Act," requires Tennessee police and government entities to obtain a search warrant (not a subpoena) before accessing historical location data (more than 24 hours old) in databases, with limited exceptions like vehicle theft reports or traffic enforcement. It prohibits selling or sharing such data with private third parties, mandates data destruction within 2-7 days (or preservation if requested by a criminal defendant), and requires encryption, access logs, and written security policies. This law directly affects police departments, municipal governments, and any agency collecting location data from sources like license plate readers or cell towers, aiming to limit unwarranted surveillance under the Fourth Amendment.