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SB1181 • 2026

Criminal Procedure

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2; Title 4; Title 22; Title 36; Title 39 and Title 40, relative to rights of citizenship.

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Active

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

Sponsor
Akbari
Last action
2026-03-02
Official status
Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Judiciary Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details about additional steps or requirements for those affected by this shorter notice period, nor does it explicitly mention the counties where people live and were convicted.

Changing Notice Period for Citizenship Rights Restoration Hearings

This bill changes the required notice period from 20 days to 15 days before a hearing on restoring citizenship rights can take place.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the law so that people who want their citizenship rights restored must give only 15 days' notice instead of 20 days to certain officials.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who want to have their citizenship rights restored after a criminal conviction.
  • District attorneys in the counties where these people live and were convicted.

Terms To Know

Citizenship Rights
The legal status of being a citizen, which includes certain privileges like voting.
Restoration of Citizenship Rights
Getting back the rights and benefits of citizenship that were lost due to a criminal conviction.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how this change will affect people who are already in the process of restoring their citizenship rights.
  • It is unclear if there will be any additional steps or requirements for those affected by this shorter notice period.

Bill History

  1. Date Tennessee General Assembly

  2. 2026-03-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Judiciary Committee

  3. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee

  4. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  5. 2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
<BillNo> <Sponsor>

SENATE BILL 1181
By Akbari

SB1181
002731
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2;
Title 4; Title 22; Title 36; Title 39 and Title 40,
relative to rights of citizenship.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 40-29-103, is amended by deleting
"twenty (20) days' notice" and substituting "fifteen (15) days' notice".
SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it.