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HB1026 • 2026

Expunction

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39 and Title 40, Chapter 32, relative to destruction of records.

Crime
Active

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

Sponsor
Russell, Bowling
Last action
2025-03-19
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 details on record destruction requirements beyond allowing expungement.

Expunction for Certain Convictions

This bill allows people convicted of official misconduct to have their records expunged.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows people who were convicted of a specific crime called 'official misconduct' to get their record expunged.
  • Changes the law in Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39 and Title 40, Chapter 32.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who were convicted of official misconduct
  • Courts and government agencies that keep criminal records

Terms To Know

Expunction
A legal process where a person's criminal record is erased or destroyed.
Official Misconduct
A type of crime involving improper behavior by someone in a public office.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify other types of crimes that can be expunged.
  • It is unclear how many people will qualify for this expunction under the new law.

Bill History

  1. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  2. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  3. 2025-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Failed in Senate Judiciary Committee / no motion

  4. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/11/2025

  5. 2025-02-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  6. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee

  7. 2025-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee

  8. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Judiciary Committee

  9. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  10. 2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  11. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  12. 2025-01-29 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 490
By Bowling

HOUSE BILL 1026
By Russell

HB1026
000725
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39
and Title 40, Chapter 32, relative to destruction of
records.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 40-32-101(g)(1)(A), is amended by
adding the following new subdivision:
( ) Section 39-16-402 – Official misconduct;
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.