Criminal Justice (Corrections)

failed · Tennessee · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 903: Firearms and Ammunition - As introduced, requires, subject to certain exemptions, that a sale or transfer of a firearm be done through a federally licensed gun dealer; creates a Class B misdemeanor offense for sales or transfers that are not conducted through a gun dealer. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 54; Title 38, Chapter 3, Part 1 and Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13.

This bill would require most firearm sales and transfers in Tennessee to be conducted through a federally licensed gun dealer, with specific exceptions for private sales between family members, transfers to law enforcement, and sales of antique firearms. The law creates a Class B misdemeanor offense for individuals who sell or transfer firearms outside of these approved channels, punishable by fines up to $10,000 and up to nine months in jail. Additionally, anyone convicted of violating this provision would be prohibited from possessing firearms for two years. The bill would take effect on July 1, 2025, if it were to become law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens law enforcement oversight by requiring licensed dealers for firearm sales, reducing illegal transfers and enhancing public safety through stricter regulations.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Firearms Law Enforcement

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 17, 2026

SB 2170: Jails, Local Lock-ups - As introduced, requires the monthly report of the warden of a county workhouse for each prisoner placed under a work release program to be filed with the judge by whom the prisoner was sentenced on or before the fifteenth day of the month immediately following the reporting period. - Amends TCA Title 5; Title 40 and Title 41.

SB 2170 requires county workhouse wardens to submit monthly reports to the sentencing judge about prisoners in work release programs. The reports, due by the 15th of each month, must detail each prisoner's conduct and financial achievements during the previous month. This bill directly affects county workhouses, wardens, and judges who oversee criminal sentences, updating Tennessee law (TCA Titles 5, 40, and 41) to mandate this judicial reporting. The key provision shifts reporting responsibility from previous entities to the sentencing judge, enhancing direct oversight of work release participants.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates reporting on work release participants' conduct/financial achievements to oversee rehabilitation progress, aligning with improving rehabilitation programs and reducing recidivism.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Judges Sentencing

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passed both · Tennessee · Senate Apr 15, 2026

SB 2335: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, expands the offense of aggravated criminal trespass to include trespassing that results in the disruption of a religious assembly, which is a Class A misdemeanor. - Amends TCA Title 39.

SB 2335 amends Tennessee's aggravated criminal trespass law to specifically include disrupting a religious assembly within a building on property as a punishable offense. It directly affects individuals who enter or remain on property without consent and disrupt religious gatherings, such as protests or services inside a place of worship. The key provision adds a new subsection (D) to the trespass definition, stating that disrupting a religious assembly while on the property constitutes aggravated criminal trespass. This change elevates the offense to a Class A misdemeanor, carrying potential penalties of up to 11 months in jail.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by adding disruption of religious assemblies to aggravated trespass, increasing penalties for protest-related activities without reform indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 2373: Jails, Local Lock-ups - As introduced, specifies that a jailer's authorization to evaluate a person confined in the county jail for purposes of the person's care includes evaluating the person's need for medical attention. - Amends TCA Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 8, Chapter 8; Title 29; Title 40 and Title 41.

SB 2373 amends Tennessee law to explicitly require county jailers to assess inmates' need for medical attention as part of their routine evaluations. This directly affects jailers and all individuals confined in county jails, ensuring medical needs are formally considered during care and classification. The key change modifies Tennessee Code Annotated § 41-4-103(b) to add "medical attention" to the list of purposes for which jailers may evaluate confined persons. The bill does not create new funding or penalties but clarifies existing authority to improve medical oversight in local detention facilities.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires jailers to formally assess medical needs for inmates, improving correctional care standards and aligning with criminal justice reform principles focused on humane treatment.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates jailers to formally evaluate inmates' medical needs, ensuring healthcare access in correctional facilities per TCA §41-4-103(b).95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 2229: Sentencing - As introduced, establishes parole criteria for certain persons convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to imprisonment for life; specifies that if a person is convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to imprisonment for life, then the sentence must automatically expire after the person has served 40 years. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 13 and Title 40, Chapter 35.

HB 2229 establishes a parole pathway for individuals convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment between 1995 and 2020, directly affecting roughly 1,300 Tennessee inmates currently serving life terms. The bill allows parole eligibility after 25 years if inmates meet specific criteria: avoiding violent misconduct for 10 consecutive years (saving 10 years), avoiding drug violations for 10 years (saving 10 years), earning a college degree (saving 10 years), or completing five mandated correctional programs (saving 5 years). If parole isn’t granted, life sentences automatically expire after 40 years of incarceration. The law applies retroactively to eligible inmates as of July 2026, with parole decisions mandatory upon meeting all requirements.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes parole pathway after 25 years for life-sentence inmates meeting rehabilitation criteria (e.g., college degree, no misconduct), reducing long-term incarceration and promoting reform through structured rehabilitation pathways.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole Sentencing

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died · Tennessee · House May 27, 2026

HB 2428: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, increases the penalty for assaulting a first responder from a Class A misdemeanor with a mandatory fine of $5,000 and a mandatory minimum of 30 days incarceration to a Class E felony with a mandatory fine of $10,000 and a mandatory minimum of 60 days incarceration. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 40.

HB 2428 raises the penalty for assaulting a first responder (including law enforcement officers) in Tennessee from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony. The bill mandates a $10,000 fine and a minimum 60-day jail sentence for such offenses, with no early release during the mandatory period. It amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39 (criminal law) and Title 40 (criminal justice), effective July 1, 2026. This change directly affects individuals convicted of assaulting first responders by increasing the severity of penalties for these crimes.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases mandatory penalties for assaulting first responders, raising offense to felony with higher fines and longer mandatory jail time, aligning with 'oppose' indicators of stricter sentencing.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement Sentencing

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in committee · Tennessee · House Feb 5, 2026

HB 2467: Probation and Parole - As introduced, permits a trial judge to revoke a defendant's probation for a felony or misdemeanor based on one instance of technical violation; extends the permitted terms of incarceration a court may impose for a technical violation to 90 days for a first revocation, 180 days for a second revocation, and the remainder of the sentence for a third or subsequent revocation. - Amends TCA Title 40.

HB 2467 changes Tennessee's probation revocation rules for technical violations (like missing meetings or failing drug tests, not new crimes). It allows judges to revoke probation after just one technical violation and sets specific incarceration limits: up to 90 days for a first revocation, 180 days for a second, and the full remaining sentence for third or more revocations. The bill requires judges to use a "preponderance of evidence" standard (not beyond reasonable doubt) for these decisions. This directly affects individuals on probation for felony or misdemeanor offenses in Tennessee who breach non-criminal probation terms.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases probation revocations for minor technical violations with lower evidence standard, extending incarceration terms - restricts defendant rights and moves away from rehabilitation-focused reform.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Probation & Parole

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died · Tennessee · House Feb 5, 2026

HB 2430: Welfare - As introduced, requires the commissioner of human services to provide to the commissioner of correction an application for food assistance to be used by inmates in state correctional institutions prior to release; requires the application to contain an option for the inmate to indicate a denial to apply for food assistance and reasons for doing so; requires the commissioner of correction to supply the application to each inmate prior to release; requires reports to the general assembly on certain data collected from the applications and on the number of inmates leaving incarceration who are approved for food assistance. - Amends TCA Title 41 and Title 71.

HB 2430 requires Tennessee state correctional facilities to provide inmates preparing for release with a food assistance application form from the human services agency. The application must include an option for inmates to decline assistance, specify reasons for declining (with anonymous submission allowed), and be collected by correctional staff before release. The bill mandates annual reports to the legislature starting in 2027, tracking the number of completed applications, declines with reasons, and approval rates for food assistance. This policy change directly affects incarcerated individuals transitioning to community life and requires state agencies to implement standardized application and reporting procedures.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProvides post-release food assistance access to reduce reentry barriers, aligning with criminal justice reform goals of reducing recidivism through rehabilitation support.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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signed · Tennessee · House May 26, 2026

HB 2369: Criminal Procedure - As enacted, revises present law that authorizes the attorney general to bring an action to enforce compliance with the Tennessee Abortion-Inducing Drug Risk Protocol Act or intervene as a matter of right in a case in which the constitutionality of such act is challenged. - Amends TCA Title 38; Title 39 and Title 40.

HB 2369 increases the monthly supervision fee for defendants under court supervision from $10 to $15. It also requires municipalities to pay autopsy costs requested by local law enforcement, unless the state covers them. Additionally, the bill reclassifies illegal possession of communication devices in prisons as a Class E felony (previously a fine-only offense). These changes directly affect defendants paying fees, municipalities managing autopsy costs, and inmates facing new felony charges for prison device violations. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases defendant supervision fees and reclassifies prison communication device possession as a felony (previously fine-only), increasing penalties and financial burdens. Aligns with 'oppose' indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Drug Policy

in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 2285: Sentencing - As introduced, increases from one year to three years the amount of time a defendant receiving a split sentence of confinement and probation may be required to serve a portion of the sentence in continuous confinement in the local jail or workhouse; specifies that the state is responsible for all costs of incarceration after the first year. - Amends TCA Title 40 and Title 41.

HB 2285 changes Tennessee sentencing rules for defendants receiving split sentences (part jail time, part probation). It increases the maximum continuous jail time from one year to three years for such sentences, while requiring the state to cover all incarceration costs after the first year. This directly affects criminal defendants sentenced under these terms, particularly those serving split sentences in local jails or workhouses. The law amends Tennessee Code Annotated Sections 40-35-306 and 40-35-314, effective July 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases mandatory continuous jail time from 1 to 3 years for split sentences, expanding incarceration duration. State covers costs after first year but does not reduce sentence length, aligning with 'increases mandatory sentences' oppose indicator.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole Sentencing

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