Criminal Justice (Probation & Parole)

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Feb 5, 2026

SB 2113: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, creates an offense to knowingly inhale, ingest, use, or possess any compound, liquid, gas, or chemical that contains nitrous oxide. - Amends TCA Title 39; Title 57, Chapter 7; Title 63 and Title 67, Chapter 4, Part 10.

SB 2113 makes it a Class A misdemeanor to knowingly inhale, ingest, use, or possess nitrous oxide ("laughing gas") or amyl nitrite ("poppers"), directly affecting individuals who use these substances recreationally. Exceptions include medical prescriptions, manufacturing/industrial use, food preparation, or personal use by those aged 21+ (with flavoring creating a presumption against these exemptions). Businesses selling nitrous oxide illegally face license suspension for first violations and revocation for second violations. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, with courts able to require drug rehabilitation as a probation condition.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill criminalizes recreational nitrous oxide use as Class A misdemeanor, expanding criminalization without reform elements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Probation & Parole

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 20, 2026

SB 2110: Sentencing - As introduced, makes the offense of sexual battery by an authority figure ineligible for probation. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 40.

SB 2110 removes probation as an option for individuals convicted of sexual battery committed by an authority figure (such as teachers, coaches, or youth workers). The bill amends Tennessee law (TCA § 39-13-527) to require mandatory sentencing for this specific offense, meaning judges cannot grant probation to offenders in these cases. It applies to crimes committed on or after July 1, 2026, and directly affects people convicted of sexual battery by someone in a position of trust or authority. This change modifies sentencing guidelines under Title 40 of Tennessee law to ensure stricter consequences for these offenses.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRemoves probation for sexual battery by authority figures, mandating stricter sentencing instead of rehabilitative options, increasing mandatory penalties.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole Sentencing

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signed · Tennessee · House May 27, 2025

HB 1093: Firearms and Ammunition - As enacted, expands the definition of "machine gun" to include any part, or combination of parts, designed and intended solely for use in converting a firearm into a machine gun; increases the classification for the intentional or knowing possession, manufacture, transport, repair, or sale of a machine gun from a Class E to a Class C felony; reclassifies certain other offenses involving the possession of firearm or handgun ammunition; makes a defendant ineligible for parole if convicted of aggravated assault that involved the use of a firearm from within a motor vehicle. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 40.

HB 1093 amends Tennessee law to strengthen firearm regulations. It expands the definition of "machine gun" to include parts designed solely to convert a firearm into a machine gun, and increases penalties for possessing, making, or selling such devices from a Class E to a Class C felony. The bill also changes penalties for other gun-related offenses and makes defendants ineligible for parole if convicted of aggravated assault involving a firearm used from within a vehicle. These changes apply to Tennessee residents and anyone violating these provisions within the state. The law took effect on July 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands machine gun definition, increases felony penalties, and removes parole eligibility for firearm-related aggravated assault - harsher sentencing aligns with opposition to criminal justice reform.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Firearms Probation & Parole

in committee · Tennessee · Senate May 27, 2025

SB 1075: Firearms and Ammunition - As enacted, expands the definition of "machine gun" to include any part, or combination of parts, designed and intended solely for use in converting a firearm into a machine gun; increases the classification for the intentional or knowing possession, manufacture, transport, repair, or sale of a machine gun from a Class E to a Class C felony; reclassifies certain other offenses involving the possession of firearm or handgun ammunition; makes a defendant ineligible for parole if convicted of aggravated assault that involved the use of a firearm from within a motor vehicle. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 40.

SB 1075 (enacted as Public Chapter 513) amends Tennessee law to expand the definition of "machine gun" to include parts designed solely for converting firearms into machine guns. It upgrades the felony classification for machine gun possession, manufacture, or sale from Class E to Class C and reclassifies certain firearm ammunition offenses. The bill also makes defendants ineligible for parole if convicted of aggravated assault involving a firearm used from a motor vehicle. These changes directly affect individuals possessing machine guns or specific firearm-related offenses in Tennessee, with the law taking effect upon enactment.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization of firearm offenses, upgrades felony classifications, and removes parole eligibility for firearm-related aggravated assault, increasing penalties and restricting defendant rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Firearms Probation & Parole

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vetoed · Tennessee · Senate May 5, 2025

SB 455: Probation and Parole - As introduced, removes the limitations on the board of parole's authority to deny parole based solely on the seriousness of the offense for certain offenses to allow denial based on the seriousness of the offense for any offense. - Amends TCA Title 40, Chapter 35, Part 5.

SB 455 would have removed a restriction on Tennessee's parole board, allowing it to deny parole based solely on the seriousness of an offense for *any* crime - not just specific offenses previously covered. This change would directly affect incarcerated individuals in Tennessee whose parole eligibility is reviewed by the board. The bill amended Tennessee Code Annotated § 40-35-503(b)(2)(A) to remove the phrase requiring parole denial to "depreciate the seriousness of the crime," broadening the board's authority. The bill was signed by legislative leaders but vetoed by the Governor on May 5, 2025, so it did not become law.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRemoves restriction on parole denial for any offense, increasing incarceration by allowing board to deny parole based solely on offense seriousness, reducing defendant rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole

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in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 7, 2026

HB 625: Mental Illness - As introduced, establishes a rebuttable presumption that a person poses an imminent substantial likelihood of serious harm and needs emergency detention and examination if the person was charged with one of certain criminal offenses and ordered by the criminal, circuit, or general sessions court to undergo an evaluation to determine whether the person is incompetent to stand trial or the person's mental capacity at the time of the commission of the crime; requires clear and convincing evidence to rebut the presumption. - Amends TCA Title 33; Title 40 and Title 52.

HB 625 creates an automatic presumption requiring emergency detention and mental evaluation for defendants charged with specific serious crimes (those carrying 85% mandatory sentence time before parole eligibility) who are ordered by a court to undergo a mental evaluation for competency or mental state at the time of the crime. This presumption can only be overturned by "clear and convincing evidence" showing the person poses no immediate risk of serious harm. The bill directly affects criminal defendants in Tennessee facing certain violent or severe offenses who are undergoing court-ordered mental health assessments. It amends Tennessee law in Titles 33, 40, and 52 to establish this new standard for emergency detention.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandates automatic detention for specific defendants with high burden to rebut, restricting defendant rights by presuming risk without sufficient evidence.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Probation & Parole

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in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 16, 2025

HB 527: Probation and Parole - As introduced, removes the limitations on the board of parole's authority to deny parole based solely on the seriousness of the offense for certain offenses to allow denial based on the seriousness of the offense for any offense. - Amends TCA Title 40, Chapter 35, Part 5.

HB 527 modifies Tennessee's parole laws by removing a restriction that previously prevented parole boards from denying parole solely based on an offense's seriousness for certain crimes. The bill amends TCA Title 40, Chapter 35, Part 5 to allow parole boards to deny release for *any* offense if they determine it would "depreciate the seriousness of the crime" or "promote disrespect for the law." This change directly affects incarcerated individuals seeking parole, as it expands the criteria parole boards can use to deny release. The bill does not alter sentencing or create new penalties but shifts the parole decision-making standard.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands parole denial grounds to any offense based on 'seriousness,' restricting defendant rights and making parole harder to obtain, directly opposing criminal justice reform goals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole Sentencing

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