Tort Liability and Reform

Plain English Breakdown

The bill has been withdrawn and may not become law.

Bail Deposit Rules

This bill allows certain individuals to deposit money as bail for defendants in court and establishes new civil actions for victims if the defendant commits crimes while out on bail.

What This Bill Does

• Allows professional bondsmen, family members or employers of defendants, and other people to deposit money as bail for someone in court.
• Says that if a person who is not a bondsman or close relative pays bail and the person later gets caught committing crimes while out on bail, victims can sue that person for damages.

Who It Names or Affects

• People who post bail for others in court
• Victims of crimes committed by people out on bail

Terms To Know

Bail

Money or a promise to pay money that lets someone accused of a crime go free until their trial.

Professional bondsman

A person whose job is to post bail for others and make sure they show up in court.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill was withdrawn, so it may not become a law.
• It only applies to cases where the crime happened after July 1, 2026.

Official Summary Text

This bill authorizes the following
persons
to
deposit with the clerk of the court before which
a bail
proceeding is pending a sum of money in cash equal to the amount of the bail:



A professional bondsman
.


A person with bailable interest
, which could be
the defendant or the defendant's spouse, parent, child, sibling, legal guardian, or employer
.


Any other person.

If a person other than
a professional bondsman or person with bailable interest
deposits bail for a defendant and the defendant is subsequently convicted of a criminal offense that occurred while the defendant was released on bail due to the person's deposit, then any victim of the subsequent criminal offense may bring a civil cause
of action against the person who deposited the bail to recover for damage to property, injury, or death arising from the subsequent criminal offense.

This bill applies to causes of action arising on or after July 1, 2026.

Current Bill Text

HOUSE BILL 1483
By Gillespie

SENATE BILL 1484
By Taylor
SB1484
009838
- 1 -

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

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 40, Chapter 11, Part 1, is amended by
adding the following new section:
(a) The following persons may deposit with the clerk of the court before which
the proceeding is pending a sum of money in cash equal to the amount of the bail, as
provided by § 40-11-118:
(1) A professional bondsman;
(2) A person with bailable interest. As used in this subdivision (a)(2), a
"person with bailable interest" means the defendant or the defendant's spouse,
parent, child, sibling, legal guardian, or employer; or
(3) Any other person.
(b) If a person other than those listed in subdivision (a)(1) or (2) deposits bail for
a defendant and the defendant is subsequently convicted of a criminal offense that
occurred while the defendant was released on bail due to the person's deposit, then any
victim of the subsequent criminal offense may bring a civil cause of action against the
person who deposited the bail to recover for damage to property, injury, or death arising
from the subsequent criminal offense.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it, and
applies to causes of action arising on or after that date.