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SB2182 • 2026

Criminal Procedure

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 38, Chapter 6; Title 39 and Title 40, relative to the collection of DNA samples.

Crime
Active

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

Sponsor
Stevens, Littleton
Last action
2026-03-17
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 when or how often written notifications must be sent to TBI.

DNA Sample Collection for Violent Felonies

This bill requires court clerks to send written notifications about the final outcome of violent felony cases involving DNA samples to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI).

What This Bill Does

  • Changes a law so that court clerks must give written notices to TBI when someone charged with a violent felony has their DNA collected.
  • Updates Tennessee's laws about collecting and handling DNA samples from people accused of violent crimes.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Court clerks who handle cases involving violent felonies.
  • People charged with violent felonies whose DNA is collected for analysis.
  • The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI).

Terms To Know

Violent Felony
A serious crime that involves violence or the threat of violence.
DNA Sample
A small piece of material taken from a person's body, like blood or saliva, used to identify them through their unique genetic makeup.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if the court clerk fails to send the written notification.
  • It is unclear how this change will affect existing DNA sample collection procedures in Tennessee.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-17 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Judiciary Committee

  2. 2026-02-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) withdrawn.

  3. 2026-02-09 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor change.

  4. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee

  5. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  6. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  7. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  8. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  9. 2026-02-02 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
HOUSE BILL 2189
By Littleton

SENATE BILL 2182
By Stevens
SB2182
012408
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 38,
Chapter 6; Title 39 and Title 40, relative to the
collection of DNA samples.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 40-35-321(e)(2), is amended by
inserting the language ", in writing," immediately after the language "shall notify".
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.