SB 790 requires private special deputies in Tennessee (appointed on or after January 1, 2026) to obtain a certificate of compliance from the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission. To qualify, they must meet standard police officer requirements and complete an approved recruit training program. The bill also mandates annual in-service training sessions to maintain this certification. This law amends Tennessee Code to establish these training and certification standards for private special deputies.
SB 215 establishes new penalties for selling hemp-derived cannabinoid products to people under 21 in Tennessee. It requires a minimum 48-hour jail sentence and $500 fine for anyone convicted of knowingly selling such products to minors. The law also prohibits retailers from allowing employees under 21 to access, handle, or sell these products on store premises. These provisions amend Tennessee Code sections governing retail sales and criminal penalties, effective July 1, 2025.
HB 120 creates two new criminal offenses in Tennessee: intentionally obstructing officers from entering, leaving, or moving within areas where they protect vulnerable individuals, and refusing to vacate restricted zones when ordered for safety. It directly affects anyone who interferes with the Division of Protective Services (including highway patrol and law enforcement officers) while they are safeguarding people under their protection. Violating these provisions is a Class A misdemeanor, but becomes a Class E felony if the person posed a threat to the protected individual. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, and applies to all locations where protective services are actively engaged.
HB 1095 requires Tennessee's Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission to issue a certification to private special deputies appointed on or after January 1, 2026, if they meet police officer qualifications and complete an approved recruit training program. To maintain this certification, special deputies must also complete annual in-service training sessions relevant to their duties. The bill directly affects private special deputies employed by entities like private security firms or businesses with law enforcement authority. It updates existing training requirements in Tennessee law (Titles 4, 8, 38, and 49) to standardize certification for this specific role, effective March 28, 2025.
HB 207 expands Tennessee's organized retail crime law to specifically criminalize using online marketplaces or social media to coordinate selling, bartering, or trading stolen merchandise for gain. It adds 10 new prohibited acts, including removing anti-shoplifting devices, interfering with fire alarms during thefts, returning stolen goods to retailers, and possessing 10+ fraudulently obtained access devices (like gift cards). The bill increases penalties for offenses involving weapons or property destruction by one classification. This law directly affects individuals coordinating organized theft and retailers impacted by such crimes, with effective date July 1, 2025.
HB 72 establishes mandatory penalties for selling hemp-derived cannabinoid products to people under 21 in Tennessee. It requires a minimum 48-hour jail sentence and $500 fine for anyone convicted of knowingly selling such products to minors. The bill also prohibits retailers from allowing employees under 21 to access, handle, or sell these products on store premises. These rules directly affect retailers and their underage employees handling hemp-derived cannabinoid products, effective July 1, 2025.
HB 191 makes it a Class B misdemeanor to knowingly point a laser pointer or laser device at someone driving a car, boat, aircraft, or any motor vehicle. This law directly affects individuals who intentionally use such devices to distract or endanger drivers. The bill creates a new criminal offense with penalties including fines or jail time for violations occurring on or after July 1, 2025. It applies statewide to all motor vehicles and was signed into law by the governor on March 28, 2025.
SJR 3 is a Senate Joint Resolution defining antisemitism and urging state agencies to use this definition when assessing discrimination under Tennessee law. It provides 11 specific examples of antisemitism, including denying the Holocaust, accusing Jews of controlling institutions, or comparing Israeli policy to Nazi actions. The resolution encourages state departments, district attorneys (to seek enhanced sentences for antisemitism-motivated crimes), and schools to consider this definition when evaluating discrimination claims based on religion or national origin. It does not create new laws but serves as a policy statement for state entities. This resolution applies directly to Tennessee state government agencies, schools, and law enforcement.
SB 243 creates a Class E felony for altering, defacing, or removing a firearm's permanent serial number or distinguishing mark, or for selling, purchasing, or possessing such a modified firearm. It directly affects individuals who tamper with firearm identification or handle firearms with altered markings. The bill imposes a mandatory minimum 180-day prison sentence for violations, with no possibility of early release. This law amends Tennessee Code sections covering criminal offenses related to firearms and takes effect July 1, 2025.
SB 475 modifies Tennessee's sentencing rules for individuals convicted of first-degree murder after July 1, 1995, who receive life imprisonment. It reduces the required service for release eligibility from 100% of 60 years (60 years total) to 60% of 60 years (36 years), minus time earned for good behavior. However, it mandates a minimum 25-year sentence if the offender was under 25 at the time of the crime, or 30 years if 26 or older. This bill directly affects life-sentenced murder convicts in Tennessee, changing when they may become eligible for parole under specific age-based timelines.
