Judiciary

SB 846 requires the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) to submit its annual report on narcotics investigations to the House criminal justice committee and Senate judiciary committee by February 15 each year, instead of the previous annual deadline. The bill amends specific Tennessee Code sections to update the submission timeline and committee references. This change affects the TBI’s narcotics division and the legislative committees overseeing criminal justice oversight. The bill focuses solely on adjusting the reporting schedule, with no new policy requirements or funding impacts.

SB 837 defines key legal terms in Tennessee law to clarify statutory interpretation. It specifies that "person," "human being," "life," and "natural person" include biological humans (including the unborn from fertilization) but explicitly exclude artificial intelligence, algorithms, software, hardware, and machines. These definitions amend Tennessee Code Annotated Title 1, Section 1-3-105(a), to prevent legal personhood for technology. The bill does not create new regulations but ensures these terms are interpreted consistently in existing laws. It affects how Tennessee statutes apply to human vs. machine entities in legal contexts.

SB 166 creates one additional circuit court position in Tennessee's 28th judicial district, which covers Crockett, Gibson, and Haywood counties, effective September 1, 2025. The governor will appoint a judge to serve until the August 2026 general election, after which voters will elect a judge for an eight-year term. This amendment to Tennessee Code Annotated Title 16, Chapter 2, increases judicial capacity in the district to address caseloads, with the new court position becoming permanent following the 2026 election.

SB 866 modifies Tennessee's legal time limits for construction-related lawsuits. It removes a four-year deadline (statute of repose) that previously barred certain counterclaims or third-party claims about defects in real property design, planning, supervision, or construction. This change directly affects property owners, contractors, and developers involved in disputes over construction quality. The bill allows these specific claims to be filed beyond the standard four-year period after a project's substantial completion. The amendment takes effect July 1, 2025.

SB 673, the "Comprehensive Assault Crime Intervention Act," requires judges sentencing defendants for assault offenses to mandate completion of certified batterer's intervention programs (minimum 26 weeks, 3+ hours per session, max 6:1 counselor ratio) or drug/alcohol treatment as part of alternative sentencing. It directly affects individuals convicted of assault who receive alternative sentences, requiring them to complete these programs fully without shortening the term via plea agreements. The bill also adds new requirements for defendants in certain violations to attend violence-focused counseling and mandates 12+ hours yearly domestic violence training for judges and court staff. These provisions take effect July 1, 2025, and do not change assault definitions but alter sentencing conditions.