KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Tennessee

SB0900 • 2026

Criminal Procedure

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 40, relative to criminal justice.

Crime
Active

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

Sponsor
Harshbarger, Scarbrough
Last action
2026-04-14
Official status
Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/21/2026
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details about what must be included in the report or explicitly state that it updates a specific section of Tennessee Code Annotated.

Changing Report Submission Date for Criminal Justice Evaluation

This bill changes the deadline from April 1 to April 15 for county legislative bodies to submit reports about judicial commissioners' performance to criminal court judges and relevant committees.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the date by which county legislative bodies must send a report on judicial commissioner use to April 15 instead of April 1.

Who It Names or Affects

  • County legislative bodies that must submit reports about judicial commissioner use.
  • Judges of general sessions criminal court who receive these reports.
  • Legislative committees responsible for criminal matters.

Terms To Know

judicial commissioners
People appointed by the court to perform specific tasks related to legal proceedings, such as serving papers or conducting investigations.
county legislative body
The group responsible for making decisions and passing laws at the county level in Tennessee.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify what happens if a report is submitted after April 15.
  • It does not change how judicial commissioners are used or their responsibilities.
  • The bill's full impact on criminal justice procedures remains to be seen as it awaits further action.

Amendments

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

Amendment 1-0 to HB0920

Plain English: The amendment changes Tennessee law by adding specific requirements for setting bail amounts for certain serious crimes.

  • Removes the option for defendants charged with Class A felonies, Class B felonies, aggravated assault (including against a law enforcement officer or first responder), and felony domestic assault to be released on their own recognizance or unsecured bond.
  • Establishes a presumption that bail must be set at $10,000 or more for defendants charged with the offenses listed in subsection (d)(1) unless the court finds specific reasons why this amount is not necessary.
  • The amendment text does not specify what happens if a defendant successfully rebuts the presumption that bail must be at least $10,000.
  • It's unclear how this change will affect defendants who cannot afford to post bail.
Amendment 1-0 to SB0900

Plain English: The amendment changes Tennessee law by adding new requirements for setting bail for certain serious crimes.

  • Adds a new subsection (d) to Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 40-11-115, which states that defendants charged with specific felonies and aggravated assaults must not be released on personal recognizance or unsecured bond. Instead, they must post bail.
  • Establishes a rebuttable presumption that bail for these offenses should be set at $10,000 or more to ensure the defendant's appearance in court and community safety.
  • The amendment does not specify all possible scenarios where bail might be adjusted below $10,000.
  • It is unclear how this change will affect defendants who cannot afford the higher bail amount.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee calendar for 4/21/2026

  2. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage with amendment/s, refer to Senate Finance, Ways, and Means Committee Ayes 7, Nays 2 PNV 0

  3. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/14/2026

  4. 2026-04-08 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed behind the budget

  5. 2026-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee for 4/8/2026

  6. 2026-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee

  7. 2026-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass. if am., ref. to Finance, Ways, and Means Committee

  8. 2026-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  9. 2026-04-07 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  10. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  11. 2026-04-01 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  12. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  13. 2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  14. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  15. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  16. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  17. 2026-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor change.

  18. 2026-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) withdrawn.

  19. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Criminal Justice Subcommittee

  20. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Ref. to Judiciary Committee

  21. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee

  22. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  23. 2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  24. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  25. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  26. 2025-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 920
By Cepicky

SENATE BILL 900
By Harshbarger

SB0900
002651
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 40,
relative to criminal justice.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 40-1-111(a)(1)(D)(iii), is amended by
deleting "April 1" and substituting "April 15".
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.