TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Azya Thornton on Sep 17, 2025

More than 150 patients have been admitted in Middle Tennessee under Jillian’s Law since it took effect in July 2024, prompting the state to expand hospital capacity, FOX 17 reports. The 2024 legislation — named after Jillian Ludwig, a Belmont University student who was killed after she was hit by a stray bullet while walking near campus in Nashville — requires defendants deemed mentally incompetent to stand trial to be committed for treatment rather than released. To accommodate the additional patients, the Harold Jordan Center increased its staffed beds from six to 12, and the Middle Tennessee Mental Health Institute added 25 beds, funded through more than $6 million in new state allocations. Officials said there is currently no waiting list, and about 125 of the admitted patients would likely have been hospitalized even without Jillian’s Law. Lawmakers and mental health advocates say the expansion improves public safety and ensures the law is implemented effectively.