Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official PDF posted by the Tennessee General Assembly, fetched 2026-09-25. Page and line markers are part of the official record; nothing is edited or removed. This is the chaptered version. The official bill page.
:~ E"~l:-~
--~- ~=
~tate of ~ennessee
PUB.LIC CHAPTER NO. 1006
HOUSE BILL NO. 2111
By Representatives Boyd, Gant, Keisling, Renea Jones, Hurt, Salinas, Pearson,
Clemmons, Cepicky, Davis, Miller, Love, Powers, Reedy, Hale, Sparks
Substituted for: Senate Bill No. 2531
By Senators Hatcher, Rose, Yarbro, Campbell, Seal, Gardenhire5 Harshbarger, Jackson,
White, Oliver, Pody, Reeves, Walley, Watson, Yager
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 29 and Title 41, relative
to corrections.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 41, Chapter 1, is amended by adding the
following as a new part:
41-1-301. Part definitions.
As used in this part:
(1) "Board" means the state families of incarcerated individuals advisory
board;
(2) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of correction;
(3) "Contractor" means an entity, public or private, entering a contractual
agreement with the commissioner of correction or a political subdivision of this
state to provide correctional services, as defined in § 41-24-102(2)(F), to inmates
under the custody of the department;
(4) "Department" means the department of correction; and
(5) "Family member" means a grandparent, parent, sibling, spouse or
domestic partner, child, aunt, uncle, cousin, niece, nephew, grandchild, or
another person related to an individual by blood, adoption, marriage, or a
fostering relationship.
41-1-302. State families of incarcerated individuals advisory board established -
Board composition - Initial appointments - Removal of members.
(a) There is created the state families of incarcerated individuals advisory board.
(b) The board is autonomous in structure and has the authority to perform all
administrative functions necessary to carry out its duties. In all respects, the board is
separate functionally and administratively from any other agency.
(c)
(1) The board is composed of nine (9) members who, at the time of
appointment, are family members of individuals currently or formerly incarcerated
in this state.
(2) The members must be appointed by the governor, the speaker of the
senate, and the speaker of the house of representatives as follows:
(A) Three (3) members of the board must be appointed by the
governor;
HB2111
(8) Three (3) members of the board must be appointed by the
speaker of the senate; and
(C) Three (3) members of the board must be appointed by the
speaker of the house.
(3) The appointing authorities in subdivision (c)(2) shall appoint one (1)
member from each grand division in this state.
(d)
(1) In making the initial appointments under this section:
(A) The speaker of the senate shall appoint one (1) member to a
term expiring on January 1, 2030; one (1) member to a term expiring on
January 1, 2029; and one (1) member to a term expiring on January 1,
2028;
(8) The speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint one
(1) member to a term expiring on January 1, 2030; one (1) member to a
term expiring on January 1, 2029; and one (1) member to a term expiring
on January 1, 2028; and
(C) The governor shall appoint one (1) member to a term expiring
on January 1, 2030; one (1) member to a term expiring on January 1,
2029; and one (1) member to a term expiring on January 1, 2028.
(2) Following the expiration of initial terms under subdivisions (d)(1 )(A)-
(C), all members shall serve three-year terms that begin on January 1 and end
on December 31 of each applicable year.
(3) Members of the board are eligible for reappointment.
(e)
(1) Vacancies occurring on the board before the expiration of a term by
reason of death, resignation, removal, or another reason must be filled in the
same manner as the regular appointment for the remainder of the unexpired
term.
(2) An appointed member of the board serves in such capacity until the
expiration of the term to which the member was appointed and until the
member's successor is duly appointed and qualified.
(f) The governor and the speakers of the senate and house of representatives
may remove a meniber of the board whom the respective appointing authority appointed
for cause.
(g) The members of the board shall elect one (1) member of the board to serve
as the chair for a term of one (1) year beginning January 1 of the appropriate year. The
chair shall direct the operation of the board and shall fulfill the functions established by
statute, unless duties and responsibilities are otherwise assigned under this part. The
board may designate one (1) of its members to act as chair during the absence or
incapacity of the chair, and when so acting, the member so designated has and
performs all the powers and duties of the chair of the board.
41-1-303. Power and authority of the board.
The board shall:
(1) Foster effective communication between the department and family
members;
(2) Strengthen efforts for family reunification;
2
HB2111
(3) Build stronger families and communities upon reentry; and
(4) Provide feedback on relevant activities within the department to the
commissioner, the chair of the state and local government committee of the
senate, and the chair of the committee of the house of representatives having
jurisdiction over correction matters.
41-1-304. Board meetings - Quorum of members - Reimbursement for travel.
(a)
(1) The chair of the state and local government committee of the senate
or the chair's designee shall call the first meeting of the board.
(2) The board shall meet at least quarterly at a time and place prescribed
by the board.
(3) At the first three (3) regular meetings of the board, the board shall
reserve time for family members and the public to provide comments. These
meetings must each be held in a separate grand division.
(4) At the fourth regular meeting of the board, the board shall meet in
Nashville with the department and contractor staff to discuss the concerns
presented at the first three (3) regular meetings and review department and
contractor rules, policies, and procedures relating to communication between the
department and family members, family reunification, and the reentry of
incarcerated individuals into society.
(5) Following the fourth regular meeting of the board, the board shall
prepare a report of the board's recommendations and deliver the report to the
commissioner, the chair of the state and local government committee of the
senate, and the chair of the committee of the house of representatives having
jurisdiction over correction matters.
(b) The board must take all votes by public ballot or public roll call. Secret ballots
or secret roll calls are not permitted.
(c) A majority of members of the board constitutes a quorum for official
administrative business.
(d) Members of the board serve without compensation; however, the members of
the board must be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary travel expenses in
accordance with the state comprehensive travel regulations when engaging in the
board's business.
41-1-305. Cooperation with the board.
The department and a contractor shall cooperate with the board to enable the
board to fulfill its duties under this part.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 4-29-249(a), is amended by inserting
the following as a new subdivision:
( ) State families of incarcerated individuals advisory board, created by § 41-1-
302;
SECTION 3. The headings to sections in this act are for reference purposes only and do
not constitute a part of the law enacted by this act. However, the Tennessee Code Commission
is requested to include the headings in any compilation or publication containing this act.
SECTION 4. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.
3
HOUSE BILL NO. 2111
PASSED: April 23. 2026
CAMERON SEXTON, SPEAKER
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
.. RANDY MCNALL
SPEAKER OF THE SENATE
rv},y1 APPROVED this \q-tf.. day of 2026
au, U< £
BILL LEE, GOVERNOREvery fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.