HB 486 modifies Tennessee law to require district public defenders to meet certain deadlines within ten business days instead of ten calendar days, effective July 1, 2025. This change directly affects public defenders' offices across Tennessee by extending the timeframe for completing specific legal tasks, accounting for weekends and holidays. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated sections related to public defender procedures (Title 8, Chapter 14; Title 9, Chapter 4) without creating new positions or altering funding. It streamlines administrative processes for public defenders while maintaining existing service requirements.
HB 1128 revises Tennessee's laws governing county constables by establishing new training requirements and removing certain certification barriers. It requires all constables newly elected or appointed on or after July 1, 2025, to complete 128 hours of law enforcement training within their first year, with a pairing requirement with experienced officers during training unless they have prior POST-certified experience. The bill eliminates the requirement for constables to be certified by the POST commission to perform their duties and removes any mandated work-hour minimums for maintaining certification. This directly affects county constables in Tennessee, changing how they qualify and train for their roles.
HB 751 creates a new criminal offense in Tennessee for knowingly exposing children to fentanyl, carfentanil, remifentanil, alfentanil, thiafentanil, or related drugs in a way that places them in immediate risk of death, injury, or impairment. It directly affects adults who possess these substances in the presence of children. The law classifies this as a Class E felony for children over age 8 and a more serious Class B felony for children age 8 or younger. The bill amends Tennessee Code sections 39-15-401 to establish these penalties, effective July 1, 2025.
SB 586 amends Tennessee's unlawful exposure law (TCA § 39-17-318) to clarify that distributing a private intimate image of another identifiable person with intent to cause emotional distress is illegal - regardless of whether the distributor was part of the original private agreement about the image. This directly affects individuals who share such images non-consensually, including those who received them from others. The key provision removes the previous requirement that the distributor must have been a party to the original private agreement. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, strengthening protections against non-consensual sharing of intimate images.
SB 769 changes Tennessee law to treat unauthorized possession of a used, detached catalytic converter as a felony instead of a minor misdemeanor. It makes this offense punishable by up to 11 months and 29 days in jail, a $2,500 fine, or both. The bill directly affects individuals or businesses that possess catalytic converters without authorization, such as scrap recyclers or those who may have stolen them. This policy update strengthens penalties to deter catalytic converter theft, which is a growing problem across the state.
SB 932 creates a study committee to evaluate the feasibility of implementing a "distance to drive" program for individuals with suspended or revoked driver licenses due to DUI offenses. The program would allow license reinstatement if participants meet court-mandated objectives and complete all requirements set by the Department of Safety. This bill does not create the program itself but establishes a committee to study its potential implementation, directly affecting people convicted of DUI with license suspensions. The committee’s findings would inform future legislative decisions about the program, with no immediate policy changes enacted by this bill.
SB 1346, the "Preventing Deepfake Images Act," creates a civil legal remedy for individuals whose intimate digital images or videos (including deepfakes) are shared without consent. It directly affects people who have had non-consensual intimate depictions - such as images showing genitals, sexual fluids, or explicit acts - disclosed online or otherwise. The law allows victims to sue for $150,000 in liquidated damages, actual damages, or punitive damages, and seek court orders to stop further disclosure. It defines key terms like "deepfakes" and clarifies that consent for creating the image does not cover its sharing, while allowing exceptions for law enforcement or good-faith disclosures. The law took effect on July 1, 2025.
SB 1399 creates a new Class E felony offense in Tennessee for anyone who harms or threatens to harm a person involved in the judicial process (such as witnesses, judges, jurors, prosecutors, law enforcement, or court staff) or their family members. It specifically targets actions taken to impede, intimidate, interfere with, or retaliate against someone for participating in court proceedings. The bill defines "family member" broadly (including spouses, parents, children, and siblings) and lists all covered judicial participants. This law, effective July 1, 2025, aims to protect individuals who engage with the justice system from targeted threats or violence.
SB 1115 (Tennessee) requires the Department of Correction to reduce inmate populations by 10% at privately operated correctional facilities if their death rate exceeds twice that of a comparable state-run facility. This applies to facilities under contract with the state or county for holding state inmates. The bill also mandates that required facility reports be posted on the Department of Correction website. It amends Tennessee Code sections related to correctional services (Titles 8, 12, 40, 41) and took effect May 9, 2025.
SB 392 creates a new Class E felony offense for "human smuggling" in Tennessee, defined as knowingly transporting 10+ adults or 5+ minors across state lines while concealing them from immigration authorities, with knowledge they entered the U.S. illegally. It also establishes a Class A misdemeanor for harboring undocumented immigrants (a $1,000 fine per person). The law amends Tennessee Code to include human smuggling under "human trafficking offenses" and grants the Attorney General authority to seek court orders dissolving organizations involved in these crimes. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.
