Criminal Justice (Violent Crime)

signed · Tennessee · Senate May 15, 2025

SB 457: 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.

SB 457 lowers the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) threshold for aggravated vehicular assault and homicide in Tennessee. It reduces the required BAC level from 0.20% to 0.15% for these offenses, making it easier to prove these crimes in court. The bill directly affects drivers charged with serious alcohol-related offenses under Tennessee Code Annotated Sections 39-13-115 (aggravated vehicular assault) and 39-13-218 (aggravated vehicular homicide). The change takes effect July 1, 2025, and applies to all cases filed on or after that date. This is a substantive policy adjustment to the legal definition of these crimes, not a procedural or commemorative measure.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeLowers BAC threshold to expand criminalization of drunk driving, making prosecution easier under criminal justice laws90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Violent Crime

died · Tennessee · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 1441: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, increases the penalty for criminal impersonation of a law enforcement officer from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony if the offense occurs while the defendant is committing or attempting to commit a crime of violence. - Amends TCA Title 38; Title 39 and Title 40.

HB 1441 raises the penalty for impersonating a law enforcement officer in Tennessee from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony when the impersonation occurs during the commission or attempt of a violent crime. It maintains the current misdemeanor penalty for impersonation while driving a vehicle (with a $5,000 fine maximum) and for other non-violent cases. The bill specifically targets individuals who use impersonation as part of violent criminal activity, making the offense a felony under those circumstances. The law is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalty for impersonating officers during violent crimes, expanding criminalization and harshening sentencing.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Violent Crime

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in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 29, 2025

HB 579: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, adds the offense of robbery to the definition of crime of violence. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13.

HB 579 amends Tennessee law to explicitly include "robbery" in the legal definition of "crime of violence" under Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13. This change directly affects robbery cases by classifying them under the same sentencing framework as other violent crimes like murder, aggravated assault, and kidnapping. The bill updates the statutory definition to ensure robbery is treated as a crime of violence for legal and sentencing purposes. It takes effect on July 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeClassifies robbery as 'crime of violence' under sentencing framework, increasing penalties and expanding criminalization per bill's explicit amendment to TCA Title 39.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sentencing Violent Crime

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died · Tennessee · House Feb 3, 2025

HB 429: Criminal Offenses - As introduced, designates a person impersonating a transportation network company driver or falsely representing that the person is responding to a passenger ride request for a transportation network company as a Class E felony when the conduct occurs during the commission of a separate felony offense, or as a Class C misdemeanor when the conduct does not occur during the commission of a felony offense. - Amends TCA Title 7, Chapter 51; Title 39 and Title 65, Chapter 15.

HB 429 makes it illegal to impersonate a ride-hailing driver (like Uber or Lyft) or falsely claim to be responding to a passenger request. If committed during another felony (e.g., robbery), it becomes a Class E felony; otherwise, it’s a Class C misdemeanor. The bill targets individuals pretending to be part of transportation network companies, aiming to protect passengers and companies from fraud. The bill was introduced in 2025 but withdrawn before becoming law.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by creating new offense for ride-hailing impersonation, increasing penalties during other felonies, aligning with 'expands criminalization' indicator.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime

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in committee · Tennessee · House Apr 7, 2026

HB 1064: 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.

HB 1064 requires courts to order GPS monitoring for defendants accused of specific serious offenses as a condition of bail, including cases involving firearms, domestic assault, vehicle burglary, reckless driving, drag racing, or repeat offenses. It directly affects individuals charged with these offenses who are released before trial. Key provisions mandate GPS monitoring unless the court finds the defendant no longer poses a threat, require monthly court reporting on monitored defendants, and update bail condition procedures. The bill also modifies related laws to clarify victim protections and reporting requirements for violations.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRequires GPS monitoring for pretrial release on specific offenses, restricting defendant freedom and increasing surveillance, reducing pretrial rights90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Violent Crime

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signed · Tennessee · Senate Apr 29, 2025

SB 456: Criminal Offenses - As enacted, adds the offense of robbery to the definition of crime of violence. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13.

SB 456 amends Tennessee law to explicitly include robbery as a "crime of violence" within the state's criminal code. This change adds robbery to a list of offenses - including murder, rape, burglary, and aggravated assault - that are currently classified under this legal category. By doing so, the bill ensures robbery cases will be treated under the same sentencing and legal frameworks as other designated violent crimes. The amendment takes effect on July 1, 2025, impacting how Tennessee courts and law enforcement handle robbery prosecutions.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill adds robbery to 'crime of violence' category, subjecting it to harsher sentencing. Expands criminalization and increases penalties, aligning with 'oppose' indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Sentencing Violent Crime

in committee · Tennessee · Senate Jan 15, 2025

SB 120: 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.

SB 120 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 could reasonably expose a first responder to the substance during their official duties. This applies when the exposure results in serious bodily injury or death to the first responder. The bill defines "expose" as direct contact via touch, ingestion, or inhalation and imposes a mandatory $15,000 fine and 90-day minimum jail sentence for violations. It takes effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by adding fentanyl possession near first responders to Class C felony, increasing penalties for endangering law enforcement. Fits 'oppose' indicator of expanding criminalization.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Violent Crime

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in committee · Tennessee · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 944: Firearms and Ammunition - As introduced, prohibits the possession of an assault weapon; directs those in possession of an assault weapon before July 1, 2025, to apply for a certificate of possession; creates the Class E felony offense of purchasing, selling, possessing, or using a part, component, device, or attachment designed to accelerate the fire of a semiautomatic rifle and makes any semiautomatic rifle that includes an accelerated fire part, component, or device a prohibited weapon. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 54; Section 38-3-119 and Title 39, Chapter 17.

HB 944 prohibits the possession of specific firearms defined as "assault weapons" (including models like AR-15s, AK-47s, and certain semiautomatic rifles/pistols) in Tennessee. It requires current owners to apply for a "certificate of possession" by July 1, 2025, to legally retain these weapons. The bill also creates a Class E felony for purchasing, selling, or possessing parts designed to accelerate fire in semiautomatic rifles, making any rifle equipped with such parts a "prohibited weapon." This directly affects Tennessee residents owning the listed firearms or related components.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates Class E felony for firearm parts, expanding criminalization of gun ownership under criminal justice framework95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Firearms Violent Crime

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