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HB0650 • 2026

Bail, Bail Bonds

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 40, Chapter 11, relative to surrender of defendants.

Active

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

Sponsor
Parkinson, Gardenhire
Last action
2026-02-04
Official status
Taken off notice for cal in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee of Judiciary Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on additional rules regarding when and how sheriffs must accept surrenders, nor does it specify the exact process for determining 'good cause'.

Changes to Surrender of Defendants in Tennessee

This bill requires sheriffs to accept surrenders of defendants on pretrial release by bail bondsmen or sureties for good cause and pending a court hearing.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires a sheriff to accept the surrender of a defendant on pretrial release if it is done by a bail bondsman or surety, pending a court hearing.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Sheriffs who are required to follow these new rules.
  • Bail bondsmen and sureties who can now surrender defendants under certain conditions.
  • Defendants on pretrial release who may be surrendered by bail bondsmen or sureties.

Terms To Know

Surrender
When a person gives themselves up to the authorities, often after being released on bail.
Surety
A person or company that promises to pay money if someone else does not fulfill their legal obligations.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill may increase costs for local governments related to pretrial incarceration, but the exact amount is hard to estimate.
  • It's unclear how often sheriffs will need to accept surrenders under these new rules.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  2. 2026-01-28 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 2/4/2026

  3. 2026-01-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Meeting Canceled

  4. 2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 1/28/2026

  5. 2025-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Judiciary Committee

  6. 2025-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 4/8/2025

  7. 2025-04-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 4/8/2025

  8. 2025-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee to First Calendar of 2026

  9. 2025-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 4/2/2025

  10. 2025-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 4/2/2025

  11. 2025-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 4/1/2025

  12. 2025-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 4/1/2025

  13. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 4/2/2025

  14. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee to 4/2/2025

  15. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/31/2025

  16. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/26/2025

  17. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee

  18. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee

  19. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  20. 2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Judiciary Committee

  21. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  22. 2025-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  23. 2025-01-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 595
By Gardenhire

HOUSE BILL 650
By Parkinson

HB0650
002117
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 40,
Chapter 11, relative to surrender of defendants.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 40-11-132, is amended by
redesignating the current language as subsection (a) and adding the following new subsection:
(b) The sheriff must accept surrender of a defendant by a bail bondsman or
surety, pending a hearing under § 40-11-137 to determine whether there is good cause
for the surrender.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.