Criminal Justice (Violent Crime)

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Apr 20, 2026

SB 1982: Sentencing - As introduced, states that there is a rebuttable presumption that a defendant convicted of aggravated assault is not a favorable candidate for probation if the offense involved the use or display of a firearm during the commission of the offense. - Amends TCA Title 40, Chapter 35.

SB 1982 changes probation eligibility for defendants convicted of aggravated assault involving a firearm in Tennessee. It creates a rebuttable presumption that such defendants are not good candidates for probation, meaning courts would start with the assumption they don't qualify unless the defendant provides evidence to the contrary. This applies specifically to aggravated assault cases under Tennessee Code § 39-13-102 where a firearm was used or displayed during the offense. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, for offenses committed on or after that date.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill creates rebuttable presumption against probation for aggravated assault with firearm, restricting defendant rights and increasing incarceration likelihood, aligning with 'oppose' indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms Sentencing Violent Crime

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signed · Tennessee · Senate May 27, 2026

SB 1493: Computers and Electronic Processing - As enacted, requires TACIR to study artificial intelligence and submit a report to the governor and both speakers by January 31, 2027. - Amends TCA Title 29; Title 33; Title 39 and Title 47.

SB 1493 creates a Class A felony offense for knowingly training AI systems that encourage suicide, criminal homicide, or develop emotional relationships with users. It specifically prohibits AI chatbots from simulating human appearance/voice, acting as a mental health professional, or prompting users to isolate from family or share sensitive information. The bill directly affects AI developers and companies creating chatbots that meet its definitions, excluding standard customer service bots, video game features, and basic voice assistants. Violators face criminal penalties and civil lawsuits allowing victims to seek $150,000 in liquidated damages or actual harm compensation.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates Class A felony for AI training encouraging suicide/homicide, expanding criminalization of AI development per bill's explicit offense definitions.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill prohibits AI from encouraging suicide (mental health crisis) and acting as unlicensed mental health professionals, directly protecting patient safety and mental health services.95% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyBill explicitly criminalizes AI training for harmful behaviors like encouraging suicide/homicide or simulating human relationships, directly restricting AI development capabilities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime Healthcare Workforce Mental Health Artificial Intelligence

in committee · Tennessee · House May 27, 2026

HB 1455: Computers and Electronic Processing - As enacted, requires TACIR to study artificial intelligence and submit a report to the governor and both speakers by January 31, 2027. - Amends TCA Title 29; Title 33; Title 39 and Title 47.

HB 1455 would make it a Class A felony in Tennessee to knowingly train artificial intelligence systems that encourage suicide, criminal homicide, or develop emotional relationships with users. The bill specifically targets AI developers who create systems simulating human interaction (e.g., voice, appearance) or providing false mental health support, while excluding standard customer service bots, video game features, and basic voice assistants. Violators face criminal charges and civil lawsuits allowing victims to seek $150,000 in damages plus emotional distress compensation. The law directly affects AI developers and companies creating consumer-facing chatbots, not end-users.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new Class A felony for AI developers, expanding criminalization of AI interactions per bill's explicit language.95% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyRestricts AI development by criminalizing training systems that encourage suicide or simulate emotional relationships, targeting specific dangerous applications while excluding standard tech.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime Artificial Intelligence

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in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 1, 2025

HB 721: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, makes assault against school employees a Class E felony offense under certain circumstances. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 49, Chapter 6.

HB 721 makes assault against school employees a Class E felony when it occurs during their official duties at specific locations: school grounds, school-sponsored activities, school-provided transportation, or official school bus stops. It directly affects K-12 school employees (teachers, staff, and administrators) in both public and private schools across Tennessee. The bill defines "educational employee" broadly to cover all staff working in grades K-12, raising the legal penalty for harming them while they perform job-related tasks. This policy change, effective July 1, 2025, elevates assault offenses from lower-level charges to felony status under these defined circumstances.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeClassifies assault on school employees as Class E felony, increasing mandatory sentencing and criminalization per bill's penalty elevation for specific offenses.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProtects K-12 school employees by increasing penalties for assault during official duties, enhancing safety for educators in educational settings.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProtects school employees' workplace safety by elevating assault penalties during duties, advancing labor safety standards for K-12 staff across Tennessee.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime K-12 Education School Safety School Transportation

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in committee · Tennessee · House May 15, 2025

HB 190: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, decreases from 0.20 to 0.15 percent the minimum weight of alcohol concentration in a defendant's blood or breath as an element of the offense of aggravated vehicular assault and in a defendant's blood as an element of the offense of aggravated vehicular homicide. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 13.

HB 190 lowers the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) threshold for aggravated vehicular assault and homicide charges in Tennessee. It amends Tennessee Code Annotated Sections 39-13-115(b)(2)(A) and 39-13-218(a)(3) to reduce the minimum BAC level from 0.20% to 0.15% for these offenses. This change directly affects defendants charged with aggravated vehicular assault (requiring 0.15% BAC in blood/breath) or homicide (requiring 0.15% BAC in blood). The bill makes it easier for prosecutors to pursue aggravated charges at a lower blood alcohol level than previously required. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill lowers BAC threshold for aggravated vehicular assault/homicide, expanding criminalization and reducing defendant rights by making conviction easier at lower BAC levels.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Jan 13, 2026

SB 1411: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, makes assault against school employees a Class E felony offense under certain circumstances. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 49, Chapter 6.

SB 1411 makes it a Class E felony to assault a school employee while they are performing job duties on school property, at school events, on school-provided transportation, or at a designated school bus stop. It directly affects all K-12 school employees (teachers, administrators, staff) in both public and private schools across Tennessee. The bill reclassifies these specific assaults - previously likely misdemeanors - into a felony offense, increasing penalties. The law takes effect on July 1, 2025, and applies only when the assault occurs during work-related activities at school-affiliated locations.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeReclassifies assaults on school employees as felony, increasing penalties - expands criminalization, opposing reform trends90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationReclassifies assaults on school employees as felonies, directly enhancing protection for K-12 educators and staff, aligning with 'protect' in support indicators.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentStrengthens workplace safety protections for school employees by elevating assault charges to felony, directly advancing worker safety standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime K-12 Education School Transportation

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signed · Tennessee · House May 5, 2026

HB 359: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, defines "seriously bodily injury" for the purposes of the present law offense of vehicular assault, which occurs when a person who, as the proximate result of the person's intoxication, recklessly causes serious bodily injury to another person by the operation of a motor vehicle or vessel subject to registration; makes related changes. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 55.

HB 359 increases penalties for driving without a valid driver's license in Tennessee. It upgrades a first offense from a Class C to a Class B misdemeanor and makes a second or subsequent offense within 10 years a Class A misdemeanor. The bill directly affects drivers who operate vehicles without a valid license, with penalties applying to violations occurring on or after July 1, 2025. This change amends Tennessee Code Sections 55-50-301 and related provisions.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for driving without license, expanding criminalization of minor traffic violations, aligning with 'oppose' indicators.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationIncreases penalties for unlicensed driving, enhancing road safety standards under vehicle regulations within transportation policy.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime Driver Licensing Vehicle Registration

in committee · Tennessee · Senate May 5, 2026

SB 375: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, defines "seriously bodily injury" for the purposes of the present law offense of vehicular assault, which occurs when a person who, as the proximate result of the person's intoxication, recklessly causes serious bodily injury to another person by the operation of a motor vehicle or vessel subject to registration; makes related changes. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 55.

SB 375 increases penalties for driving without a valid license in Tennessee. A first offense becomes a Class B misdemeanor (up from Class C), and a second or subsequent offense within 10 years becomes a Class A misdemeanor. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 39-11-101 and 55-50-301 to implement these changes, effective July 1, 2025. It directly affects drivers convicted of operating a vehicle without a valid license.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for license violation by raising misdemeanor classifications, expanding criminalization and opposing reform-focused criminal justice policies.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationIncreases penalties for unlicensed driving, enhancing road safety as a vehicle regulation measure under Transportation policy.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime Driver Licensing Vehicle Registration

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in committee · Tennessee · Senate Mar 25, 2026

SB 1187: Bail, Bail Bonds - As introduced, makes various changes to criminal law, including requiring defendants accused of certain offenses to be subject to a global positioning monitoring system as condition of bail. - Amends TCA Title 10; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40; Chapter 969 of the Public Acts of 2024 and Chapter 1033 of the Public Acts of 2024.

SB 1187 requires courts to mandate GPS monitoring for defendants released on bail in specific cases, including those accused of firearm offenses, domestic assault, vehicle burglary, reckless driving, drag racing, or repeat crimes under certain statutes. It directly affects defendants charged with these offenses who are granted bail, unless a court determines they no longer pose a threat to victims or public safety. The bill adds reporting requirements for courts to track monthly GPS usage and submit annual county-level data to legislative committees. Key provisions include mandating GPS as a bail condition for listed offenses and requiring courts to document factors for release decisions. The law amends multiple Tennessee Code sections to implement these changes.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandates GPS monitoring for specific offenses, restricting defendant rights without reform language or rehabilitation focus.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Firearms Violent Crime

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in committee · Tennessee · House Feb 11, 2025

HB 143: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, expands the Class C felony offense of aggravated assault against a first responder to include knowingly possessing fentanyl, carfentanil, remifentanil, alfentanil, thiafentanil, or a fentanyl analogue in a manner that would be reasonably foreseen to expose a first responder to the substance while the first responder is discharging or attempting to discharge the first responder's official duties and the first responder is exposed resulting in the serious bodily injury or death of the first responder. - Amends TCA Title 39.

HB 143 expands Tennessee's Class C felony charge for aggravated assault against first responders to include knowingly possessing specific fentanyl-related substances (fentanyl, carfentanil, remifentanil, alfentanil, thiafentanil, or analogues) in a way that reasonably exposes first responders to those substances during official duties. This directly affects individuals who possess these drugs in circumstances where exposure could cause serious injury or death to a first responder. The bill defines "expose" as direct contact via touch, ingestion, or inhalation and sets a mandatory $15,000 fine plus a 90-day minimum jail term with no early release. It takes effect July 1, 2025, and applies to cases where the first responder suffers serious injury or death due to the exposure.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by adding fentanyl possession as aggravated assault against first responders, increasing penalties for drug-related offenses targeting public safety.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Drug Policy Violent Crime

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