SB0846 • 2026

Courts

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 8; Title 10; Title 16; Title 37; Title 38; Title 39; Title 40; Title 41 and Title 55, relative to criminal justice.

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Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Taylor, Scarbrough
Last action: 2026-05-15
Official status: Comp. became Pub. Ch. 937
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Courts

ON APRIL 22, 2026, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 1268, AS AMENDED.

What This Bill Does

ON APRIL 22, 2026, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 1268, AS AMENDED.
AMENDMENT #1 rewrites the bill to, instead, enact the "Violent Criminal Court Act ," which, beginning September 1, 2026, creates with in the 30 th judicial district two additional criminal courts to be designated as violent criminal courts.
This amendment requires t he governor to appoint a person to serve as judge of each of the violent criminal courts, and each person must serve in that capacity until September 1, 2028, or until the person's successor is elected and qualified.
At the August 2028 general election, the qualified voters of the 30 th judicial district must elect one person to serve as judge of each such violent criminal court .

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

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

HA1060

Amendment 1-0 to HB1268

Plain English: House Judiciary 1 Amendment No.

House Judiciary 1 Amendment No.
1 to HB1268 Farmer Signature of Sponsor AMEND Senate Bill No.
846* House Bill No.
1268 HA1060 016071 - 1 - by deleting all language after the caption and substituting instead: WHEREAS, the General Assembly recognizes that a critical need exists in the thirtieth judicial district for additional criminal justice resources because of an increase in violent crime; and WHEREAS, from 2018 to 2024, the number of homicide offenses in the thirtieth judicial district increased by thirty-three percent, and the number of aggravated assault offenses increased by forty-one percent; and WHEREAS, a task force was created by President Donald Trump to combat crime in the thirtieth judicial district, and the task force operations have resulted in thousands of arrests, straining the criminal court system in the thirtieth judicial district; and WHEREAS, it is the intent of the General Assembly to increase the efficiency of the criminal justice system by adding additional criminal courts to the thirtieth judicial district for the purpose of handling violent crime cases; and WHEREAS, the goals of the violent criminal courts created by this act include: (1) Increasing case management efficiency; (2) Expediting criminal case processing by increasing trial capacity; (3) Reducing caseloads for prosecutors and public defenders; and (4) Increasing public safety through more expeditious case processing; now, therefore, BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE: SECTION 1.

HA1239

Amendment 2-0 to HB1268

Plain English: Amendment No.

Amendment No.
2 to HB1268 Salinas Signature of Sponsor AMEND Senate Bill No.
846* House Bill No.
1268 HA1239 018264 - 1 - by deleting subdivisions (30)(F)(i) and (ii) in the amendatory language of SECTION 2 and substituting: (i) Effective September 1, 2026, there is created in the thirtieth judicial district one (1) additional criminal court to be designated as a violent criminal court and one (1) additional circuit court.

SA0931

Amendment 1-0 to SB0846

Plain English: Senate Judiciary 1 Amendment No.

Senate Judiciary 1 Amendment No.
1 to SB0846 Gardenhire Signature of Sponsor AMEND Senate Bill No.
846* House Bill No.
1268 SA0931 013605 - 1 - by deleting all language after the caption and substituting instead: WHEREAS, the General Assembly recognizes that a critical need exists in the thirtieth judicial district for additional criminal justice resources because of an increase in violent crime; and WHEREAS, from 2018 to 2024, the number of homicide offenses in the thirtieth judicial district increased by thirty-three percent, and the number of aggravated assault offenses increased by forty-one percent; and WHEREAS, a task force was created by President Donald Trump to combat crime in the thirtieth judicial district, and the task force operations have resulted in thousands of arrests, straining the criminal court system in the thirtieth judicial district; and WHEREAS, it is the intent of the General Assembly to increase the efficiency of the criminal justice system by adding additional criminal courts to the thirtieth judicial district for the purpose of handling violent crime cases; and WHEREAS, the goals of the violent criminal courts created by this act include: (1) Increasing case management efficiency; (2) Expediting criminal case processing by increasing trial capacity; (3) Reducing caseloads for prosecutors and public defenders; and (4) Increasing public safety through more expeditious case processing; now, therefore, BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE: SECTION 1.

SA0986

Amendment 2-0 to SB0846

Plain English: Amendment No.

Amendment No.
2 to SB0846 Lamar Signature of Sponsor AMEND Senate Bill No.
846* House Bill No.
1268 SA0986 017380 - 1 - by deleting subdivisions (30)(F)(i) and (ii) in the amendatory language of SECTION 2 and substituting: (i) Effective September 1, 2026, there is created in the thirtieth judicial district one (1) additional criminal court to be designated as a violent criminal court and one (1) additional chancery court.

SA1067

Amendment 3-0 to SB0846

Plain English: Amendment No.

Amendment No.
3 to SB0846 Lamar Signature of Sponsor AMEND Senate Bill No.
846* House Bill No.
1268 SA1067 018270 - 1 - by deleting subdivisions (30)(F)(i) and (ii) in the amendatory language of SECTION 2 and substituting: (i) Effective September 1, 2026, there is created in the thirtieth judicial district one (1) additional criminal court to be designated as a violent criminal court and one (1) additional circuit court.

SA1087

Amendment 4-0 to SB0846

Plain English: Senate Finance, Ways, and Means 1 Amendment No.

Senate Finance, Ways, and Means 1 Amendment No.
4 to SB0846 Watson Signature of Sponsor AMEND Senate Bill No.
846* House Bill No.
1268 SA1087 016071 - 1 - by deleting all language after the caption and substituting instead: WHEREAS, the General Assembly recognizes that a critical need exists in the thirtieth judicial district for additional criminal justice resources because of an increase in violent crime; and WHEREAS, from 2018 to 2024, the number of homicide offenses in the thirtieth judicial district increased by thirty-three percent, and the number of aggravated assault offenses increased by forty-one percent; and WHEREAS, a task force was created by President Donald Trump to combat crime in the thirtieth judicial district, and the task force operations have resulted in thousands of arrests, straining the criminal court system in the thirtieth judicial district; and WHEREAS, it is the intent of the General Assembly to increase the efficiency of the criminal justice system by adding additional criminal courts to the thirtieth judicial district for the purpose of handling violent crime cases; and WHEREAS, the goals of the violent criminal courts created by this act include: (1) Increasing case management efficiency; (2) Expediting criminal case processing by increasing trial capacity; (3) Reducing caseloads for prosecutors and public defenders; and (4) Increasing public safety through more expeditious case processing; now, therefore, BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE: SECTION 1.

Bill History

2026-05-15 Tennessee General Assembly
Comp. became Pub. Ch. 937
2026-05-15 Tennessee General Assembly
Effective date(s) 05/07/2026
2026-05-15 Tennessee General Assembly
Pub. Ch. 937
2026-05-07 Tennessee General Assembly
Signed by Governor.
2026-05-06 Tennessee General Assembly
Transmitted to Governor for his action.
2026-05-05 Tennessee General Assembly
Signed by Senate Speaker
2026-04-30 Tennessee General Assembly
Signed by H. Speaker
2026-04-28 Tennessee General Assembly
Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.
2026-04-24 Tennessee General Assembly
Sponsor(s) Added.
2026-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly
Companion House Bill substituted
2026-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly
Passed Senate, Ayes 22, Nays 4, PNV 2
2026-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly
Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 1 - SA0931)
2026-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly
Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 4 - SA1087)
2026-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly
Amendment tabled (Amendment 3 - SA1067)
2026-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly
Amendment withdrawn. (Amendment 2 - SA0986)
2026-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly
Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.
2026-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly
Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.
2026-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly
Passed H., as am., Ayes 89, Nays 0, PNV 4
2026-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly
H. adopted am. (Amendment 1 - HA1060)
2026-04-22 Tennessee General Assembly
Received from House, Passed on First Consideration
2026-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Regular Calendar for 4/22/2026
2026-04-21 Tennessee General Assembly
Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Calendar Committee Ayes 9, Nays 1 PNV 1
2026-04-20 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/21/2026
2026-04-20 Tennessee General Assembly
Sponsor(s) Added.
2026-04-20 Tennessee General Assembly
H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 4/21/2026
2026-04-20 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 4/20/2026
2026-04-20 Tennessee General Assembly
Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee
2026-04-16 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. Finance, Ways, and Means Committee for 4/20/2026
2026-04-15 Tennessee General Assembly
Rec for adopt by s/c ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
2026-04-15 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/15/2026
2026-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/21/2026
2026-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/20/2026
2026-04-13 Tennessee General Assembly
Sponsor(s) Added.
2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2026
2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed behind the budget
2026-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/8/2026
2026-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly
Assigned to s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee
2026-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly
Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee
2026-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on cal. Judiciary Committee for 4/7/2026
2026-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly
Rec for pass if am by s/c ref. to Judiciary Committee
2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 4/7/2026
2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 4/1/2026
2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly
Action Def. in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee to 4/1/2026
2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly
Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee Ayes 8, Nays 1 PNV 0
2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly
Sponsor change.
2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/24/2026
2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly
Action deferred in Senate Judiciary Committee to 3/24/2026
2026-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly
Sponsor change.
2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/23/2026
2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/25/2026
2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly
Action Def. in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee to 3/25/2026
2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/18/2026
2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly
Action Def. in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee to 3/18/2026
2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/11/2026
2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly
Action Def. in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee to 3/11/2026
2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/4/2026
2025-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly
Taken off notice for cal in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee of Judiciary Committee
2025-03-31 Tennessee General Assembly
Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Judiciary Committee
2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/31/2025
2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 4/2/2025
2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly
Action Def. in s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee to 4/2/2025
2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Criminal Justice Subcommittee for 3/26/2025
2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly
Assigned to s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee
2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly
Ref. to Judiciary Committee
2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee
2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly
P2C, caption bill, held on desk - pending amdt.
2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly
Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly
Intro., P1C.
2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction
2025-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

ON APRIL 22, 2026, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 1268, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #1 rewrites the bill to, instead, enact
the "Violent Criminal Court Act
," which, beginning
September 1, 2026,
creates with
in the
30
th judicial district two additional criminal courts to be designated as violent criminal courts.

This amendment requires t
he governor
to
appoint a person to serve as judge of each of the violent criminal courts, and each person
must
serve in that capacity until September 1, 2028, or until the person's successor is elected and qualified. At the August 2028 general election, the qualified voters of the
30
th judicial district
must
elect
one
person to serve as judge of each
such
violent criminal court
.
The person so elected at the August 2028 general election
will
hold office until September 1, 2030, or
until the person's successor is elected and qualified.
Then
the judges of the violent criminal courts
will
be elected for a full eight-year term

This amendment requires the
presiding judge to address caseload backlogs in the criminal courts by transferring cases involving
any of the following c
riminal offenses to the violent criminal courts for disposition
:

Sexual Offenses



Rape


Aggravated sexual battery


Sexual battery


Aggravated statutory rape, when the victim is between 13 and 18 and the defendant is at least 10 years older


Statutory rape by an authority figure


Indecent exposure, when the offense is a felony


Public indecency where the offense involves masturbation or use of an inanimate object on school or childcare property


Incest


Female genital mutilation


Conspiracy, solicitation, or criminal attempt of any of the above

Violence
Against Minors



Continuous sexual abuse of a child


Sexual exploitation of a minor


Aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor


Especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor


Solicitation of a minor when the offense is a felony offense


Soliciting sexual exploitation of a minor


Using a minor to produce, import, prepare, distribute, process, or appear in obscene material with knowledge (or reasonable knowledge) of minority status


Unlawful photographing in violation of privacy when the victim is under 13


Observation without consent if the victim is under 13


Child abuse or child neglect or endangerment


Aggravated child abuse or aggravated child endangerment or neglect


Unlawful sale, distribution, or transportation with intent to sell or distribute a child
‑
like sex dol
l


Conspiracy, solicitation, or criminal attempt of either of the above

Prostitution and Commercial Sexual Activity



Trafficking for a commercial sex act


Advertising commercial sexual abuse of a minor


Patronizing prostitution from a person under 18, with an intellectual disability, or from a law enforcement officer posing as a minor


Promoting prostitution


Promot
i
ng travel for prostitutio
n


Conspiracy, solicitation, or criminal attempt of any of the above

Homicide Offenses



Attempted first degree murder


Second degree murder


Voluntary manslaughter


Reckle
s
s homicide


Criminally negligent homicide


Vehicular homicide


Aggravated vehicular homicide

Kidnapping Offenses



Aggravated kidnapping


Especially aggravated kidnapping

Robbery and Burglary Offenses



Aggravated robbery


Especially aggravated robbery


Aggravated burglary


Especially aggravated burglary


Carjacking

Assault Offenses



Domestic assault, when the offense is a felony
, and conspiracy, solicitation, or criminal attempt of domestic assault when the offense is a felony


Aggravated assault involving the use of a deadly weapon
or
strangulation
, or
if the offense resulted in serious bodily injury to or death


Aggravated assault against a law enforcement officer, first responder, or nurse if the offense involved the use of a deadly weapon
, strangulation, or if the offense
resulted in serious bodily injury or death
.

Other
Violent or Harmful Offenses



Involuntary labor servitude


Trafficking persons for forced labor or services


Aggravated arson


Possessing or using a firearm or antique firearm during commission of or attempt to commit a dangerous felony


The manufacture, delivery, or sale of a controlled substance where the instant offense is classified as a Class A, B, or C felony and the person has two or more prior such convictions

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HOUSE BILL 1268
By Scarbrough

SENATE BILL 846
By Taylor
SB0846
002848
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 8;
Title 10; Title 16; Title 37; Title 38; Title 39; Title
40; Title 41 and Title 55, relative to criminal justice.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 38-6-207, is amended by deleting
"each year" and substituting "by February 15 of each year" and by deleting "criminal justice
committee of the house of representatives" and substituting "committee of the house of
representatives with jurisdiction over criminal justice matters".
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.