Sentencing

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and official digest do not provide information about whether it allows for early release based on sentence reduction credits before meeting the new parole eligibility period.

Changes to Sentencing for First Degree Murder

This bill changes how long people convicted of first-degree murder must serve in prison before they can be released.

What This Bill Does

• Reduces the time a person convicted of first-degree murder on or after July 1, 1995, and sentenced to life imprisonment must serve from 100% of 60 years minus sentence credits to 60% of 60 years minus sentence credits.
• Sets a minimum parole eligibility period: 25 full calendar years if the person was 25 or younger at the time of the crime, and 30 full calendar years if they were 26 or older.

Who It Names or Affects

• People convicted of first-degree murder in Tennessee after July 1, 1995
• The state's criminal justice system

Terms To Know

Sentence credits

Time off a sentence for good behavior or other reasons.

Parole

Early release from prison under supervision.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill did not pass and was stopped in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
• It is unclear how much money this change would save or cost the state.

Official Summary Text

Present law prohibits release eligibility for a person committing f
irst degree murder,
on or after July 1, 1995, and receiving a sentence of imprisonment for life.

The person
must
serve 100% of 60 years less sentence credits earned and retained.

However, sentence reduction credits authorized by
law
may
:



F
or offenses committed before July 1, 2024, reduce the sentence imposed by the court by up to
15%.



F
or offenses committed on or after July 1, 2024, reduce by up to
15%
the percentage of the sentence imposed by the court that the person must serve before becoming eligible for release on parole but must not alter the sentence expiration date.

This bill revises the provisions above to, instead, prohibit release
eligibility for a defendant committing the offense of first degree murder on or after July 1, 1995, who receives a sentence of imp
risonment for life occurs after service of 60% of 60 years less sentence credits earned and retained by the defendant.
However
, a defendant
who is
sentenced to imprisonment for life
is not
eligible for parole until the defendant has served a minimum of
th
e following
:



If the
defendant was 25 or younger at the time of the offense, 25 full calendar years of the sentence
.



If the
defendant was 26 or older at the time of the offense, 30 full calendar years of the sentence
.

Current Bill Text

HOUSE BILL 720
By Dixie

SENATE BILL 475
By Bowling

SB0475
002260
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 37;
Title 39, Chapter 13, Part 2 and Title 40, relative to
criminal sentencing.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 40-35-501(h)(2), is amended by
deleting the subdivision and substituting:
(2) Release eligibility for a defendant committing the offense of first degree
murder on or after July 1, 1995, who receives a sentence of imprisonment for life occurs
after service of sixty percent (60%) of sixty (60) years less sentence credits earned and
retained by the defendant. Notwithstanding the governor's power to reduce prison
overcrowding pursuant to title 41, chapter 1, part 5, any sentence reduction credits
authorized by § 41-21-236, or any other provision of law relating to sentence credits, in
no event shall a defendant sentenced to imprisonment for life be eligible for parole until
the defendant has served a minimum of:
(A) If the defendant was twenty-five (25) years of age or younger at the
time of the offense, twenty-five (25) full calendar years of the sentence; or
(B) If the defendant was twenty-six (26) years of age or older at the time
of the offense, thirty (30) full calendar years of the sentence.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it, and
applies to offenses committed on or after July 1, 1995.