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SB1994 • 2026

Prisons and Reformatory Institutions

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 41, Chapter 24, relative to private prison contractors.

Crime
Active

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

Sponsor
Lamar, Johnson
Last action
2026-03-24
Official status
Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate State and Local Government Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and text do not provide specific details on what happens to existing contracts after their renewal period ends.

Ban on Private Prison Contracts

This bill stops Tennessee from making new contracts with private companies to run prisons and jails.

What This Bill Does

  • Stops the state of Tennessee or local governments from creating new contracts with private prison companies after this law goes into effect.
  • Does not allow existing contracts with private prison companies to be renewed after this law goes into effect.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The state of Tennessee and its local governments
  • Private prison companies

Terms To Know

local government
A county, an incorporated city or town, or a metropolitan government in Tennessee.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The exact financial impact on the state is not known.
  • Does not specify what happens to existing contracts with private prison companies after their renewal period ends.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate State and Local Government Committee

  2. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/24/2026

  3. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate State and Local Government Committee to 3/24/2026

  4. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Failed in s/c Departments & Agencies Subcommittee of State & Local Government Committee

  5. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate State and Local Government Committee calendar for 3/17/2026

  6. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Departments & Agencies Subcommittee for 3/17/2026

  7. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate State and Local Government Committee

  8. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Departments & Agencies Subcommittee

  9. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to State & Local Government Committee

  10. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  11. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  12. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  13. 2026-01-22 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 1938
By Johnson

SENATE BILL 1994
By Lamar
SB1994
011579
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 41,
Chapter 24, relative to private prison contractors.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 41, Chapter 24, is amended by adding
the following as a new section:
(a) As used in this section, "local government" means a county, an incorporated
city or town, or a metropolitan government.
(b) After the effective date of this act, this state, including a department or
agency of this state, or a local government shall not enter into a new contract or renew
an existing contract for the provision of correctional services or facilities for an inmate in
the custody and care of the department of correction or the local government.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.