Tennessee Senate Joint Resolution 25 proposes a constitutional amendment that would remove the right to bail for specific serious offenses when evidence is strong. It targets charges including terrorism, second-degree murder, aggravated rape of a child, aggravated rape, grave torture, and any other offense where a conviction would require serving at least 85% of the sentence before release. Judges would be required to document their bail decisions for these cases, and the amendment would take effect on November 3, 2026. The proposal must be approved by voters in the 2026 general election to become part of Tennessee's constitution.
SB 391 allows certified facility dogs to accompany witnesses - especially trauma victims - in court to reduce stress and improve testimony accuracy. It sets strict requirements: dogs must have 2+ years of training, vet health certificates, $500,000 insurance, and visible markings, while handlers must be certified in legal protocols. Courts must approve requests via motion, require handlers to stay visible to witnesses but out of jury view during testimony, and instruct juries not to view the dog as prejudicial. The law, effective April 11, 2025, applies to all Tennessee court proceedings involving witness testimony.
SB 1299, now law in Tennessee, modifies ignition interlock device requirements for drivers convicted of DUI offenses. It allows individuals to schedule calibration, monitoring, or inspection appointments within a two-week window before or after their original date (instead of strict on-time appointments), and permits courts to reinstate driver’s licenses if the sole noncompliance was missing a calibration appointment and no other license suspensions exist. The bill also adds provisions for military service members deployed outside Tennessee for over 30 days, enabling temporary tolling of ignition interlock usage periods with proof of deployment. These changes take effect April 11, 2025, and apply directly to drivers required to use ignition interlock devices.
SB 1097 changes Tennessee law for DUI offenders required to use ignition interlock devices (IIDs) by automatically deeming individuals receiving SNAP, TANF, or state Medicaid benefits as unable to pay for the device, eliminating the need for a court hearing to determine indigency. Under this bill, eligible individuals must pay $30 monthly toward device costs, with the state covering the remainder up to $170 per month from the electronic monitoring indigency fund. The law updates reimbursement procedures for device providers, requiring them to submit claims with court orders and proof of the person's benefit eligibility. This applies specifically to those ordered to use a functioning IID for DUI offenses.
SB 406 expands which Tennessee courts in Shelby County can handle petitions for orders of protection. It allows criminal courts to process these petitions when the same court is already hearing a related criminal case involving domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking victims. This change eliminates the need for victims to seek protection orders in a separate court, streamlining the process while the criminal case is active. The bill directly affects survivors of these specific crimes in Shelby County who are navigating both criminal and protection proceedings. The law took effect on April 24, 2025, after being signed by the Governor.
SB 601 updates Tennessee's pretrial release rules for defendants using global positioning monitoring systems. It defines "qualified contract service providers" (companies managing GPS monitoring), requiring them to have 24/7 monitoring centers, written court protocols, and notify emergency dispatchers if defendants violate bond conditions. The bill also creates a process where courts must hold hearings within 10 days if defendants fall behind on monitoring costs, with options to revoke bond, require payment, or seek alternative funding (excluding local sheriff's departments). This directly affects defendants on monitored pretrial release, victims receiving alerts, courts imposing conditions, and private GPS monitoring companies.
SB 1055 expands Tennessee's expungement eligibility to include individuals who facilitated, attempted, or solicited crimes that were previously eligible for expungement. This change directly affects people with certain criminal records who could not previously clear related charges like planning or aiding a crime. The bill revises multiple Tennessee statutes (Titles 7, 16, 38, 40, 55, and 57) to add these scenarios to the list of eligible offenses for expungement. The law, effective April 24, 2025, simplifies the process by aligning statutory language to reflect this expanded eligibility.
HB 601 allows criminal defendants in Tennessee who pleaded guilty, "best interest," or no contest to later petition for a new trial based on new evidence that was unknown to them at the time of their plea, through no fault of their own. The law creates a specific court process: defendants file a verified petition with no fee, and if the court finds the claim has merit, a hearing is scheduled where the defendant must prove the new evidence establishes actual innocence. If proven, the court vacates the conviction and orders a new trial; if not, the petition is dismissed. This law applies to all convictions regardless of trial type (jury or plea) and takes effect July 1, 2025.
SB 256 allows criminal defendants in Tennessee who previously entered a guilty plea, "best interest" plea, or no-contest plea to later petition a court for a special review (writ of error coram nobis) if they have new evidence proving their actual innocence. This new evidence must not have been known to them at the time of their plea, such as DNA results or witness testimony. The bill requires courts to hold a hearing if the petition is valid, with the defendant needing to prove innocence by "clear and convincing evidence" to get a new trial. It applies to all convictions regardless of trial type and removes filing fees for these petitions. This change directly affects defendants seeking to overturn pleas based on newly discovered evidence.
HB 749 creates a Class B misdemeanor offense for operating a vehicle in Tennessee with an out-of-state driver license issued exclusively to individuals without lawful immigration status. The bill specifically targets licenses marked or designed to distinguish undocumented immigrants from other license holders, defining them as "invalid" in Tennessee. It requires the state to publish and maintain a list of such invalid license types by December 2025. This law directly affects non-residents holding these specific out-of-state licenses, making their use a punishable offense. The policy change takes effect January 1, 2026, with related administrative provisions effective immediately upon enactment.
