2024 TNDAGC Legislative Tracker

Welcome to the TNDAGC's 2024 LEgislative Tracker

Interested in bills filed in the TN State Legislature that affect criminal justice? Below is a list of some of the bills we have been following. For a complete overview, visit the TN General Assembly.

HB701/SB287

Assigned as Public Chapter 525
Effective Date 3/7

Offense of solicitation of a minor

Requires a person convicted of continuous sexual abuse of a child to be sentenced to community supervision for life. 

Sponsors

House
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Representative Clay Doggett

Senate
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Senator Ferrell Haile

HB1641/SB2563

Assigned as Public Chapter 942
Effective Date 7/1

Violating a condition of release on bail

Creates a Class A misdemeanor of violating a condition of release on bail. Authorizes a law enforcement officer to arrest a person without a warrant based on probable cause that the person violated such conditions of release.

Sponsors

House
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Majority Leader William Lamberth

Senate
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Senator Brent Taylor

HB1642/SB2562

Assigned as Public Chapter 612
Effective Date 7/1

Pretrial release of a defendant charged with a criminal offense

Revises provisions for pretrial release for a defendant facing criminal charges, mandating magistrates to give first consideration to community safety when considering release conditions or bail deposits.

Sponsors

House
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Majority Leader William Lamberth

Senate
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Senator Brent Taylor

HB1643/SB2028

Assigned as Public Chapter 905
Effective Date 7/1

Mental health evaluation and treatment for criminal defendants

Requires the state to pay the cost of a court-ordered mental health evaluation and treatment for criminal defendants with a misdemeanor charge and are suspected incompetent to stand trial or if there are questions about the defendant's mental capacity at the time of the offense.

 

Sponsors

House
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Majority Leader William Lamberth

Senate
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Deputy Speaker Shane Reeves

HB1659/SB2332

Assigned as Public Chapter 974
Effective Date 5/28

Increases salary of district attorneys general and public defenders

Raises the base salary for the district attorneys general and public defenders to $205,328.

Sponsors

House
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Representative Gary Hicks

Senate
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Senator Ken Yager

HB1680/SB2076

Assigned as Public Chapter 512
Effective Date 2/28

Expansion of the definition of abuse or neglect for adults

Broadens the definition of abuse or neglect in the Tennessee Adult Protection Act by including instances when an adult is unable to maintain the adult's own health or welfare.

Sponsors

House
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Majority Leader William Lamberth

Senate
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Majority Leader Jack Johnson

HB1727/SB1587

Assigned as Public Chapter 952
Effective Date 7/1

Leaving a minor child in the care of a sexual offender

States that a Class A misdemeanor is committed by a parent or guardian who knowingly permits their underage child to be under the supervision of an individual obligated to register as a sexual offender.

Sponsors

House
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Representative Ron Gant

Senate
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Senator Ferrell Haile

HB1920/SB1859

Assigned as Public Chapter 743
Effective Date 4/28

Extends the percentage of a misdemeanor sentence a defendant may be required to serve

Extends percentage of a sentence a court may require a defendant to serve for a misdemeanor offense from 75% to 100%.

Sponsors

House
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Majority Leader William Lamberth

Senate
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Senator Paul Rose

HB1947/SB1754

House
Committee Videos
Next Steps

Taken off notice in Criminal Justice Committee.

Progress
Senate
Committee Videos
Next Steps

Recommended for passage, set for Finance, Ways, & Means Committee on April 23rd.

Progress

Imposes stricter penalties on various charges related to fentanyl

Imposes stricter penalties for criminal offenses linked to fentanyl when defendants cross county lines during manufacturing, selling, or possessing the substance, raising the penalty by one classification. Clarifies "incapacitating agent" under the "Terrorism Prevention and Response Act of 2002" to include fentanyl and its derivatives, analogues, and related substances. Requires certain drug offenses to be punished as second degree murder if the substance involved is a Schedule I or II controlled substance and the offense resulted in the death of another person. Introduces a new Class C felony of aggravated assault on first responders by exposing them to fentanyl, carrying a $15,000 fine and a minimum 90 days of incarceration.

Sponsors

House
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Representative Dan Howell

Senate
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Senator Adam Lowe

HB2099/SB2049

House
Committee Videos
Next Steps

Taken off notice in Finance, Ways, & Means Committee.

Progress
Senate
Committee Videos
Next Steps

Failed in Judiciary Committee.

Progress

Promotion of public safety funded by additional court costs

Mandates a $12.50 charge in cost bills for criminal cases, with funds going to county government to support services for enhancing public safety.

Sponsors

House
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Representative Mark Cochran

Senate
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Senator John Stevens

HB2205/SB2054

House
Committee Videos
Next Steps

Passed House.

Progress
Senate
Committee Videos
Next Steps

Assigned to General Subcommittee of Finance, Ways, & Means Committee.

Progress

Prosecution of cases with sufficient personnel

Clarifies that a district attorney general shall only prosecute cases in municipal court where the municipality provides sufficient prosecutorial personnel for the district attorney general — at least one assistant district attorney funded at entry-level compensation. Designates the DA with sole and exclusive discretion in determining the necessity and sufficiency of the additional prosecutorial personnel.

Sponsors

House
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Representative Jody Barrett

Senate
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Senator Ed Jackson

HB2301/SB2229

Assigned as Public Chapter 957
Effective Date 7/1

Stricter penalties for offenses involving fentanyl, carfentanyl, or other analogues

Expands current law by adding a second-degree murder charge if the substance involved fentanyl, carfentanyl, or other analogues alone or mixed with any scheduled controlled substances as defined in the Tennessee Drug Control Act of 1989 resulted in the death of another person.

Sponsors

House
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Representative Dan Howell

Senate
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Senator Adam Lowe

HB2386/SB2599

Assigned as Public Chapter 892
Effective Date 4/9

Jurisdiction of search warrants to determine the drug/alcohol content of a person's blood

Authorizes law enforcement officers to execute search warrants for medical records or alcohol and drug content tests statewide, with magistrates having jurisdiction across districts or counties if any element of the alleged crime occurs within their jurisdiction, mandating prompt blood sample collection by qualified practitioners without additional consent, and allowing reasonable force if necessary, with results recorded in the defendant's medical records and provided upon legal orders, deeming blood sample testing for alcohol or drug content obtained under the law as a reasonable search, admissible as evidence without further need for a warrant or court order.

Sponsors

House
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Representative Ron Gant

Senate
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Senator Brent Taylor

HB2538/SB2342

House
Committee Videos
Next Steps

Taken off notice in Finance, Ways, & Means Committee.

Progress
Senate
Committee Videos
Next Steps

Recommended for passage. Set for Finance, Ways, & Means Committee. Hearing on April 23rd.

Progress

Prosecution of threatening to commit an act of mass violence

Creates a new criminal offense where someone recklessly communicates, by any means, a threat of committing an act of mass violence, causing a reasonable expectation or fear of such violence occurring.

Sponsors

House
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Representative Mark Cochran

Senate
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Senator Ferrell Haile

HB2582/SB2157

House
Committee Videos
Next Steps

Assigned to Criminal Justice Subcommittee, hearing TBA

Progress
Senate
Committee Videos
Next Steps

Recommended for passage, set for Finance, Ways, & Means Committee on April 23rd.

Progress

Additional prosecutors and investigators in districts with correctional facilities

Adds an additional assistant district attorney position and a criminal investigator position in the judicial districts that have a state correctional facility.

Sponsors

House
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Representative Lowell Russell

Senate
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Senator Ferrell Haile

HB2611/SB1802

Assigned as Public Chapter 805
Effective Date 4/11

Authorizes AG to investigate human trafficking cases with consent of DAG or appointment by SCOTN

Authorizes the attorney general and reporter to investigate human trafficking offenses and organized crime offenses and prosecute these cases with the consent of the district attorney general or after appointment as district attorney tempore by the Tennessee Supreme Court. Requires the TBI to assist the AG as needed.

Sponsors

House
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Representative Jason Zachary

Senate
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Senator Brent Taylor

HB2693/SB1969

House
Committee Videos
Next Steps

Passed House.

Progress
Senate
Committee Videos
Next Steps

Passed Senate.

Progress

DAG not required to file a complaint for court to submit person found incompetent to stand trial to involuntary care.

Provides that the district attorney general is not required to file a complaint to for a court to subject person who is found incompetent to stand trial for a criminal offense due to intellectual disability to involuntary care and treatment.

Sponsors

House
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Representative Clay Doggett

Senate
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Senator Paul Rose

HB2696/SB2564

House
Committee Videos
Next Steps

Taken off notice in Finance, Ways, & Means Subcommittee.

Progress
Senate
Committee Videos
Next Steps

Recommended for passage, assigned to General Subcommittee of Finance, Ways, & Means Committee.

Progress

Revocation of bond after violation of condition upon release

Allows for the revocation of bond upon the violation of a condition of release.

Sponsors

House
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Representative Clay Doggett

Senate
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Senator Brent Taylor

HB2953/SB2884

House
Committee Videos
Next Steps

Taken off notice of Criminal Justice Subcommittee and Full Committee.

Progress
Senate
Committee Videos
Next Steps

Assigned to General Subcommittee of Judiciary Committee. 

Progress

Exclusive control over the state's defense of the request for review in death sentence cases

Establishes the district attorney general with exclusive control for handling the state's defense in cases where a defendant sentenced to death is pursuing collateral or direct review of a conviction sentence, including reimbursement for expenses incurred.

Sponsors

House
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Representative G.A. Hardaway

Senate
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Senator Sara Kyle