Sentencing

Plain English Breakdown

The official summary does not provide specific details on how many people might be affected or when they would start serving longer sentences.

Changing Rules for Criminal Sentences

This bill changes how long a person can be required to serve time in jail before getting probation and updates other parts of the law about sentencing.

What This Bill Does

• Changes the law so that someone with a split sentence (part jail, part probation) must spend up to three years in jail instead of just one year.
• Updates other parts of the law about how long people can be given periodic or split sentences.
• Specifies that the state will pay all costs after the first year if someone is serving time under this new rule.

Who It Names or Affects

• People who get criminal sentences in Tennessee
• The state government, which will pay for jail stays after one year

Terms To Know

split sentence

A punishment where someone spends time in jail and then is put on probation.

incarceration

Being kept in a prison or jail as part of a criminal sentence.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify the exact financial impact on the state due to increased incarceration costs.
• It's uncertain how many people will be affected by this change and when they might start serving longer sentences.

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

SENATE BILL 2619
By Yarbro

HOUSE BILL 2285
By Mitchell
HB2285
010901
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 40
and Title 41, relative to the sentencing of criminal
defendants.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 40-35-306(a), is amended by
deleting "one (1) year" and substituting "three (3) years", and by adding the following sentence
at the end of the subsection:
Notwithstanding another law to the contrary, the state is responsible for all costs of
incarceration after the first year.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 40-35-314(a), is amended by
deleting "periodic or split confinement not to exceed one (1) year" and substituting "periodic
confinement not to exceed one (1) year or split confinement not to exceed three (3) years".
SECTION 3. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.