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SB0661 • 2026

Criminal Offenses

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 16; Title 36; Title 37; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40; Title 49; Title 55 and Title 65, relative to criminal offenses.

Crime
Active

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

Sponsor
Hensley, Fritts
Last action
2026-03-23
Official status
Action deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 2027
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official summary does not provide details on whether the bill informs the general assembly about adjusted fine amounts, only that it changes the reporting date.

Changing Reporting Date for Criminal Fine Adjustments

This bill changes the reporting deadline from January 15th to February 15th every five years for adjusting criminal fines based on inflation.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the reporting deadline for adjusting criminal fines due to inflation from January 15th to February 15th.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The fiscal review committee
  • Chief clerks of both houses of the Tennessee General Assembly

Terms To Know

consumer price index (CPI)
A measure that examines the weighted average of prices of a basket of consumer goods and services, providing an indication of inflation.
statutory minimum and maximum fines
The lowest and highest amounts of money that can be legally imposed as punishment for committing a crime.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This bill does not specify how the adjusted fines will actually be implemented or enforced.
  • It is unclear if this change will lead to any actual changes in criminal fines or just informational updates.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly

    Reset on Final cal. 4 of Criminal Justice Subcommittee

  2. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  3. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  4. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  5. 2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 2027

  6. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/23/2026

  7. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  8. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  9. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  10. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee to 3/18/2026

  11. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/11/2026

  12. 2025-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Taken off notice for cal in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee of Judiciary Committee

  13. 2025-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Judiciary Committee

  14. 2025-03-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  15. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  16. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/26/2025

  17. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee

  18. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Ref. to Judiciary Committee - Education Committee

  19. 2025-02-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  20. 2025-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) withdrawn.

  21. 2025-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor change.

  22. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee

  23. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  24. 2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  25. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  26. 2025-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  27. 2025-01-31 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 723
By Fritts

SENATE BILL 661
By Hensley

SB0661
002745
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 16;
Title 36; Title 37; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40; Title
49; Title 55 and Title 65, relative to criminal
offenses.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 40-35-111(f), is amended by deleting
"January 15" and substituting "February 15".
SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it.