TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Stacey Shrader Joslin on Apr 22, 2024

Lawmakers were set to vote on a bill today that would amend the Tennessee Constitution to give Tennessee judges more discretion to approve or deny bail for the crimes covered by the 2022 “Truth in Sentencing” law, a mandatory-minimum law for violent offenses, News Channel 5 reports. The proposal would apply to violent offenses like acts of terrorism, second degree murder, aggravated rape of a child and more. It also would require those who commit those crimes to serve more of their sentence if convicted. The change would have to be approved by a simple majority of both chambers this year and by two-thirds of both chambers in 2025 before being placed on the November 2026 ballot as a yes/no question. House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, introduced the proposal in February. The measure has already passed the Senate.