Back to Tennessee

SB0285 • 2026

Real Property

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 35, relative to foreclosure sales.

Active

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

Sponsor
Bailey, Bricken
Last action
2025-03-24
Official status
Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Judiciary Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on what happens if someone cannot meet the new standard of proof, nor does it specify potential impacts on the number or outcome of foreclosure cases in Tennessee.

Changing Proof Requirements for Foreclosure Sales

This bill changes the burden of proof from 'preponderance of the evidence' to 'clear and convincing evidence' when a debtor tries to prove that a foreclosure sale price is much lower than fair market value.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the type of evidence needed in court from 'preponderance of the evidence' to 'clear and convincing evidence'.
  • Applies this change when someone tries to prove that a property's foreclosure sale price is much lower than its fair market value.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who have had their homes foreclosed and want to contest the sale price.
  • Courts that handle cases related to property foreclosures.

Terms To Know

preponderance of the evidence
The amount of proof needed in a case where it is more likely than not that something happened or is true.
clear and convincing evidence
A higher level of proof required to show that something is highly probable and clearly believable.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if someone cannot meet the new standard of proof.
  • It's unclear how this change will affect the number or outcome of foreclosure cases in Tennessee.

Bill History

  1. 2025-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Judiciary Committee

  2. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/24/2025

  3. 2025-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 3/25/2025

  4. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  5. 2025-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor change.

  6. 2025-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) withdrawn.

  7. 2025-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  8. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee

  9. 2025-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Business & Utilities Subcommittee

  10. 2025-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Commerce Committee

  11. 2025-01-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  12. 2025-01-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  13. 2025-01-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  14. 2025-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
HOUSE BILL 323
By Barrett

SENATE BILL 285
By Bailey

SB0285
001719
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 35,
relative to foreclosure sales.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 35-5-117(c), is amended by deleting
the language "a preponderance of the evidence" and substituting "clear and convincing
evidence".
SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it.