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HB0850 • 2026

Search & Seizure

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 8; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40 and Title 44, relative to searches.

Labor
Active

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

Sponsor
Reneau, Bowling
Last action
2026-04-07
Official status
No Action Taken
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide details on penalties beyond mentioning that failing to obtain a search warrant can result in a Class C misdemeanor. The exact penalty (fine and/or imprisonment) was removed as it was not explicitly stated in the official source material.

Search and Seizure Act

This bill requires government officials to obtain a search warrant before entering private property for a search unless an exception exists.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires government workers to get a search warrant before searching private property, except when allowed by law.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Government workers like police officers and inspectors who need to search private property.
  • People whose private land or homes might be searched by government workers.

Terms To Know

Search warrant
A special permission slip from a judge that allows someone to look for something specific in a place.
Judicially recognized exception
An official rule by the courts that says it's okay not to have a search warrant under certain conditions.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if an official accidentally searches without a warrant.
  • It is unclear how this will affect current practices and existing laws about searching private property.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly

    No Action Taken

  2. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 4/7/2026

  3. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 4/1/2026

  4. 2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Judiciary Committee

  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

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

  9. 2026-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Def. to Special Calendar to be Published with Final Calendar in Criminal Justice Subcommittee

  10. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 2/11/2026

  11. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee to 2/11/2026

  12. 2026-01-28 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  13. 2026-01-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Meeting Canceled

  14. 2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  15. 2025-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Judiciary Committee

  16. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  17. 2025-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  18. 2025-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  19. 2025-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/25/2025

  20. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  21. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee to 3/26/2025

  22. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/24/2025

  23. 2025-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  24. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/19/2025

  25. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  26. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  27. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  28. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee

  29. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee

  30. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  31. 2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Judiciary Committee

  32. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  33. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  34. 2025-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

This bill generally requires
an official who is employe
d or contracted by the federal government, the state government, or a local government within this state, or an agency or department of
such government
, including a peace officer, inspector, and wildlife official,
to
, prior to entering private property to
conduct a search, obtain a search warrant

that identifies the person or property that is the subject of the search.
However, a
n official is not required to obtain
such
a search warrant if a judicially recognized exception to the warrant requirement exists
at the time of the search.

An official who knowingly fails to obtain a search warrant when a search warrant is required by this
bill
commits a Class C misdemeanor
, punishable by a term of imprisonment
not greater than 30 days or a fine not to exceed $50,
or both.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 1032
By Bowling

HOUSE BILL 850
By Reneau

HB0850
002596
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4;
Title 8; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40 and Title 44,
relative to searches.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 38, Chapter 3, is amended by adding
the following as a new section:
(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), an official who is employed or
contracted by the federal government, the state government, or a local government
within this state, or an agency or department thereof, including a peace officer,
inspector, and wildlife official, shall, prior to entering private property to conduct a
search, obtain a search warrant, as described in § 40-6-106, that identifies the person or
property that is the subject of the search.
(b) An official is not required to obtain a search warrant pursuant to subsection
(a) if a judicially recognized exception to the warrant requirement exists at the time of the
search.
(c) An official who knowingly fails to obtain a search warrant when a search
warrant is required by this section commits a Class C misdemeanor.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it.