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SB0235 • 2026

Law Enforcement

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 38, Chapter 8, relative to law enforcement officers.

Labor
Active

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

Sponsor
Akbari, Hakeem
Last action
2026-03-02
Official status
Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Judiciary Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The exact process for conducting investigations is not detailed in the bill text.

Law Enforcement Officer Background Checks

This bill requires Tennessee's employing law enforcement agencies to contact previous employers of applicants as part of assessing their moral character.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the rules on hiring new police officers in Tennessee.
  • Requires current police departments to check with any past police departments where a new hire worked before, if applicable.
  • Adds this requirement as part of making sure new hires have good moral character.
  • Makes these changes by amending an existing law.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Law enforcement agencies in Tennessee
  • People applying for jobs at law enforcement agencies

Terms To Know

Thorough investigation
A careful and detailed look into someone's background.
Employing agency
The police department that hires a new officer or special deputy.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify how the investigation should be conducted.
  • It is unclear what happens if past employers do not respond to requests for information.
  • This bill has not yet been signed into law and needs more steps before it becomes official.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Judiciary Committee

  2. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Withdrawn.

  3. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Taken off notice for cal in s/c Public Service Subcommittee of State & Local Government Committee

  4. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee

  5. 2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  6. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Public Service Subcommittee for 2/12/2025

  7. 2025-01-28 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Public Service Subcommittee

  8. 2025-01-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  9. 2025-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  10. 2025-01-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Ref. to State & Local Government Committee

  11. 2025-01-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C held on desk, pending appointment of Standing Committees

  12. 2025-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  13. 2025-01-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 58
By Hakeem

SENATE BILL 235
By Akbari

SB0235
000740
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 38,
Chapter 8, relative to law enforcement officers.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 38-8-106, is amended by deleting
subdivision (8) and substituting:
(8) Have a good moral character as determined by a thorough investigation
conducted by the employing agency. If the person has prior law enforcement
experience, then the employing agency shall contact any prior law enforcement agency
that employed the person as part of the thorough investigation; and
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.