Tort Liability and Reform

Plain English Breakdown

The bill has been withdrawn and is not currently active.

Bail Deposit Rules

This bill changes Tennessee's bail rules by allowing certain people to pay for a defendant's bail and sets up new ways victims can sue those who help defendants get out of jail.

What This Bill Does

• Allows professional bondsmen, family members or employers with a 'bailable interest', and any other person to deposit money as bail for someone in court.
• Defines 'person with bailable interest' as the defendant's spouse, parent, child, sibling, legal guardian, or employer.
• Says that if someone who is not a professional bondsman or a family member pays bail and the defendant commits a crime while out on bail, victims can sue that person for damages.

Who It Names or Affects

• People who post bail for others in court
• Victims of crimes committed by defendants released on bail

Terms To Know

bailable interest

A relationship to the defendant that allows a person to pay their bail, such as being a family member or employer.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill was withdrawn and is no longer active.
• It only applies to causes of action arising on or after July 1, 2026.

Official Summary Text

This bill authorizes the following
persons
to
deposit with the clerk of the court before which
a bail
proceeding is pending a sum of money in cash equal to the amount of the bail:



A professional bondsman
.


A person with bailable interest
, which could be
the defendant or the defendant's spouse, parent, child, sibling, legal guardian, or employer
.


Any other person.

If a person other than
a professional bondsman or person with bailable interest
deposits bail for a defendant and the defendant is subsequently convicted of a criminal offense that occurred while the defendant was released on bail due to the person's deposit, then any victim of the subsequent criminal offense may bring a civil cause
of action against the person who deposited the bail to recover for damage to property, injury, or death arising from the subsequent criminal offense.

This bill applies to causes of action arising on or after July 1, 2026.

Current Bill Text

SENATE BILL 1484
By Taylor

HOUSE BILL 1483
By Gillespie
HB1483
009838
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 40,
relative to bail.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 40, Chapter 11, Part 1, is amended by
adding the following new section:
(a) The following persons may deposit with the clerk of the court before which
the proceeding is pending a sum of money in cash equal to the amount of the bail, as
provided by § 40-11-118:
(1) A professional bondsman;
(2) A person with bailable interest. As used in this subdivision (a)(2), a
"person with bailable interest" means the defendant or the defendant's spouse,
parent, child, sibling, legal guardian, or employer; or
(3) Any other person.
(b) If a person other than those listed in subdivision (a)(1) or (2) deposits bail for
a defendant and the defendant is subsequently convicted of a criminal offense that
occurred while the defendant was released on bail due to the person's deposit, then any
victim of the subsequent criminal offense may bring a civil cause of action against the
person who deposited the bail to recover for damage to property, injury, or death arising
from the subsequent criminal offense.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it, and
applies to causes of action arising on or after that date.