Bail, Bail Bonds - As enacted, establishes a presumption that a defendant should not be released on the defendant’s personal recognizance if the defendant is charged with a felony offense that involved the use or display, the official text

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                              PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 604

                                                    SENATE BILL NO. 218

                                                  By Taylor, Jackson, Rose

                                             Substituted for: House Bill No. 33

      By Gillespie, Faison, Moody, Farmer, Vaughan, Leatherwood, Hardaway, McCalmon, Todd

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 40, relative to pretrial release for certain
          offenses.

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

          SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 40-11-115, is amended by adding the
following new subsection:

                    (g)(1) There is a presumption that a defendant should not be released on the
                    defendant's personal recognizance if the defendant is charged with a felony offense
                    that involved the use or display of a firearm or resulted in the serious bodily injury or
                    death of the victim. As used in this subsection (g}, the terms "firearm" and "serious
                    bodily injury" mean the same as defined in § 39-11-106.

                              (2) If a magistrate or other official authorized to admit a defendant to bail
                    determines that the presumption established by subdivision (g)(1) has been rebutted,
                    then the magistrate or such official must include in the bail order written findings for
                    each factor listed in subsection (b).

          SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.
         SENATE BILL NO. 218

PASSED:  March 12, 2026

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                         SPEAKER OF THE SENATE

                         CAMEFIQII SEXTON, SPEAKER
                         HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Mo.xc.Po APPROVED this :J.le-d- day of  2026

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         BILL LEE, GOVERNOR