Sentencing

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not specify limits on periodic or split confinement sentences beyond those mentioned in the official text.

Changing Rules for Criminal Sentences

This bill changes how long a person can be required to serve time in jail before getting probation and makes the state pay for all costs after the first year of incarceration.

What This Bill Does

• Increases the amount of time a criminal defendant must spend in continuous confinement from one year to three years if they receive a split sentence combining jail time with probation.
• Specifies that the state will cover all costs of keeping someone in jail or prison after the first year, regardless of other laws.

Who It Names or Affects

• People who receive criminal sentences in Tennessee
• The state government responsible for funding incarceration costs

Terms To Know

split sentence

A type of punishment where a person serves part of their time in jail and the rest on probation.

incarceration

The act of being confined to prison or jail as a form of punishment for breaking the law.

Limits and Unknowns

• The exact financial impact on incarceration costs cannot be determined due to various unknown factors.
• This bill only affects sentencing rules in Tennessee and does not change other aspects of criminal justice.

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

HOUSE BILL 2582
By Chism

SENATE BILL 2663
By Akbari
SB2663
012685
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 40
and Title 41, relative to the sentencing of criminal
defendants.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 40-35-306(a), is amended by
deleting "one (1) year" and substituting "three (3) years", and by adding the following sentence
at the end of the subsection:
Notwithstanding another law to the contrary, the state is responsible for all costs of
incarceration after the first year.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 40-35-314(a), is amended by
deleting "periodic or split confinement not to exceed one (1) year" and substituting "periodic
confinement not to exceed one (1) year or split confinement not to exceed three (3) years".
SECTION 3. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.