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HB0626 • 2026

Law Enforcement

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 36, Chapter 3, Part 6; Title 38 and Title 40, relative to orders of protection.

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Hardaway, Akbari
Last action
2026-03-25
Official status
Taken off notice for cal in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee of Judiciary Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The exact consequences for non-compliance by law enforcement officers are not specified in the bill.

Law to Help Police Serve Protection Orders

This bill requires police officers to take steps to ensure that orders of protection are served if they know about them and are in the presence of the person who needs to receive the order.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires a law enforcement officer to take appropriate steps to facilitate service of an order of protection if the officer becomes aware that such an order has been entered against a person in their presence but not served on the person.
  • Includes notifying the sheriff's department with information about the person’s immediate location and any other details that may assist in serving the order.
  • Adds new rules for police training programs to include instruction on these requirements.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Law enforcement officers in Tennessee
  • People who need protection orders served on others

Terms To Know

Order of Protection
A court order that tells someone to stay away from or stop hurting another person.
Sheriff's Department
The local government agency responsible for law enforcement and public safety in a county.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify what happens if an officer does not follow these rules.
  • It is unclear how this will be enforced or monitored by the state.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Taken off notice for cal in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee of Judiciary Committee

  2. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Judiciary Committee

  3. 2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/25/2026

  4. 2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 3/25/2026

  5. 2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/24/2026

  6. 2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 3/24/2026

  7. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/25/2026

  8. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee to 3/25/2026

  9. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/23/2026

  10. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/18/2026

  11. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee to 3/18/2026

  12. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/11/2026

  13. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee

  14. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  15. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee

  16. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Judiciary Committee

  17. 2025-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  18. 2025-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  19. 2025-01-30 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 833
By Akbari

HOUSE BILL 626
By Hardaway

HB0626
000441
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 36,
Chapter 3, Part 6; Title 38 and Title 40, relative to
orders of protection.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 38, Chapter 8, Part 1, is amended by
adding the following new section:
(a) If a law enforcement officer becomes aware that an order of protection has
been entered, pursuant to title 36, chapter 3, part 6, against a person in the officer's
presence but the person has not been served with the order of protection, then the
officer must take appropriate steps to facilitate service of the order of protection,
including notifying the sheriff's department of the person's immediate location and any
other information that may assist in service of the order of protection.
(b) The curriculum requirements of the Tennessee peace officer standards and
training commission established by this part must include instruction on the requirements
of this section.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.