Criminal Procedure - As enacted, prohibits a defendant charged with certain offenses from being released on the defendant's personal recognizance or upon execution of an unsecured bond. - Amends TCA Title 40. HB0920 has , the official text

...

                   i ~:J~
                                       ~i•i~:-··
                                                                                                                                                                         e••••111•

                        ~tate of \!Cennessee

                           PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 933

                                                  HOUSE BILL NO. 920

                                           By Representative Scarbrough

                                        Substituted for: Senate Bill No. 900

                                         By Senators Harshbarger, Taylor

         AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 40, relative to criminal justice.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:

         SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 40-11-115, is amended by deleting
subsection (d) and substituting:

          (d)

                    (1) Notwithstanding this section to the contrary, a defendant charged with the
         following offenses must riot be released on the defendant's personal recognizance or
          upon execution of an unsecured bond. The magistrate shall require the defendant to
          post bail to reasonably ensure the defendant's appearance as required and the safety of
         the community, in addition to any other conditions of release imposed:

                              (A) A Class A felony;

                              (B) A Class B felony;

                              (C) Aggravated assault, as defined in§ 39-13-102;

                              (D) Aggravated assault against a law enforcement officer or first
                    responder, as defined in § 39-13-116; or

                              (E) Domestic assault, as defined in § 39-13-111, if the violation is a felony
                    offense.

                    (2) In determining the amount of bail required for a defendant charged with an
          offense listed in subdivision (d)(1 ), there is a rebuttable presumption that bail must be
          set at ten thousand dollars ($10,000) or more to reasonably ensure the appearance of
         the defendant as required and the safety of the community. In order to rebut the
          presumption established by this subdivision (d)(2), the court must make specific findings
          on why such bail is not required to reasonably ensure the appearance of the defendant
          as required and the safety of the community. The findings must be reduced to writing
          and included in the court's order establishing bail.

         SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.
         HOUSE BILL NO. 920

PASSED:  April 22, 2026

                         C.~,c

                          CAMERON SEXTON, SPEAKER
                         HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                                      RANDY MCNA'LY
                         SPEAKER OF THE SENArE

1 ~ APPROVED this t:l day of  2026

    ~Uc

BILL LEE, GOVERNOR