Sentencing

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material did not provide specific details about changes to periodic confinement rules beyond mentioning it, so this claim was removed.

Changes to Criminal Sentencing Rules

This bill changes how long a person can be required to serve time in jail before getting probation and who pays for their stay after one year.

What This Bill Does

• Increases the maximum time someone with a split sentence (part jail, part probation) must spend in jail from one year to three years.
• Makes the state responsible for paying all costs of keeping someone in jail or workhouse after the first year.

Who It Names or Affects

• People who receive criminal sentences with a mix of jail time and probation.
• The Tennessee government, which will pay for longer stays in jail or workhouses.

Terms To Know

Split sentence

A punishment where someone serves part of their time in jail and the rest on probation outside.

Periodic confinement

When a person is allowed to go home after serving some days or weeks in jail, but must return for more time later.

Limits and Unknowns

• The exact cost of the changes cannot be predicted because it depends on many factors.
• This bill does not specify how much longer people might stay in jail overall.

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

SENATE BILL 2663
By Akbari

HOUSE BILL 2582
By Chism
HB2582
012685
- 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.