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SB0443 • 2026

District Attorneys

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 8, relative to district attorneys general.

Active

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

Sponsor
Taylor, Farmer
Last action
2026-04-14
Official status
Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/16/2026
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide details on why the deadline is being extended, nor does it specify changes to report content or usage.

Changing the Time for District Attorneys' Funding Reports

This bill changes the deadline for district attorneys to submit funding reports from 90 days to 120 days after the end of each fiscal year.

What This Bill Does

  • Extends the deadline for district attorneys to send their funding report to the office that oversees them by 30 days.

Who It Names or Affects

  • District attorneys in Tennessee
  • The office that oversees district attorneys

Terms To Know

Fiscal Year
A period used for budgeting and financial reporting, usually a year long.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify why the deadline is being extended.
  • The bill does not provide details on how the reports are used or what information must be included.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

Amendment 1-0 to HB0483

Plain English: The amendment allows the attorney general to audit the thirtieth judicial district's district attorney for proper administration of justice and accountability.

  • Adds new section 8-6-113 to Tennessee Code Annotated, which authorizes the attorney general to conduct an audit on the district attorney in the thirtieth judicial district.
  • Specifies that the audit must review various aspects including charge disposition, pretrial release recommendations, use of funds, and any misconduct or unlawful acts by the district attorney.
  • Requires full cooperation from the district attorney during the audit process and allows the attorney general to share confidential information with legislative leaders for reporting purposes.
  • The amendment text does not specify how often audits will occur beyond the initial one required by January 1, 2027.
  • It is unclear what specific actions or consequences follow if the audit finds issues with the district attorney's conduct.
Amendment 1-0 to SB0443

Plain English: The amendment allows the Tennessee Attorney General to conduct a study on the Memphis district attorney's handling of cases and financial use, with access to confidential information for this purpose.

  • Authorizes the Tennessee Attorney General to investigate how charges are handled by the district attorney in the thirtieth judicial district (Memphis) and review their financial practices.
  • Gives the Attorney General permission to request auditing services from the Comptroller of the Treasury if needed for the study.
  • Requires the Attorney General to submit a report on findings by January 1, 2027, and allows them to petition the Supreme Court for temporary replacement of the district attorney under certain conditions.
  • The amendment does not specify how the study will be funded or what specific actions can be taken based on its results.
  • Details about the criteria for determining 'unjustifiable and unconstitutional standard' are not provided in the text.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/16/2026

  2. 2026-04-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/13/2026

  3. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 7, Nays 2 PNV 0

  4. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/9/2026

  5. 2026-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Calendar & Rules Committee

  6. 2026-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 4/7/2026

  7. 2026-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Judiciary Committee

  8. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 4/8/2026

  9. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 4/7/2026

  10. 2026-03-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor change.

  11. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 4/1/2026

  12. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee to 4/1/2026

  13. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) withdrawn.

  14. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor change.

  15. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/25/2026

  16. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee to 3/25/2026

  17. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/18/2026

  18. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee

  19. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Ref. to Judiciary Committee

  20. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee

  21. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  22. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, caption bill, held on desk - pending amdt.

  23. 2025-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  24. 2025-01-29 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  25. 2025-01-28 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 483
By Farmer

SENATE BILL 443
By Taylor
SB0443
000402
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 8,
relative to district attorneys general.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 8-7-103(5), is amended by deleting
"ninety (90) days" and substituting "one hundred twenty (120) days".
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.