Nashville, TN - On July 1, several pieces of legislation passed in the second session of the 113th General Assembly will go into effect to crack down on crime and ensure public safety. The changes include a variety of enhancements for different offenses, limited sentencing reduction for inmates, and increased punishment for assault against a police officer.

On July 1, 2024, a new law will make it a Class A misdemeanor to violate the conditions of a bond release. This change will allow law enforcement to arrest an individual suspected of violating the conditions of their release instead of waiting for the district attorney’s office to file a motion and schedule a court hearing which could take weeks.

"Empowering law enforcement to swiftly address violations of bond release conditions is pivotal for upholding public safety,” said Senator Brent Taylor (R-Memphis), who sponsored this legislation. “This legislation ensures accountability and expedites justice by enabling timely intervention, safeguarding our communities from potential harm."

Another new law ensures that an inmate’s actual sentence cannot be reduced with good-time credits. The Tennessee Department of Correction can issue good-time credits for inmates, but the law clarifies that these credits can only be used toward release eligibility, not reduction of the actual sentence.

"This legislation reinforces the principle of accountability within our justice system. By restricting the application of good-time credits solely to release eligibility, we maintain the integrity of sentencing and uphold public trust,” said sponsor Senator Jon Lundberg (R-Bristol). “It's about ensuring that sentences reflect the gravity of the crime committed, fostering a fair and just system for all."

The Back the Blue Act increases the penalties for assaulting a police officer from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony. The law also increases the mandatory minimum sentence from 30 days to 60 days and the fine from $5,000 to $10,000. 

“As a strong supporter of law enforcement, I was proud to sponsor the Back the Blue Act, which offers additional protection for our law enforcement officers,” said legislation sponsor Senator Dawn White (R-Murfreesboro). “The enhanced penalties created by this legislation send a clear message that our state values our law enforcement officers and prioritizes their safety, while they work to ensure ours.”

Other July 1 crime and public safety laws include:

• Protecting property owners from squatters by establishing a clear and expedited removal process. The new law removes the burden from legitimate property owners by establishing a clear process for law enforcement to restore possession, which can expedite the removal of illegal occupants to as little as 72 hours. The law also clarifies that the sheriff may arrest the trespassers.

• Jillian's Law requires criminal defendants deemed incompetent to stand trial to be committed to an appropriate treatment facility and requires these individuals to be entered into the National Instant Criminal Background Check System which serves as a database of people prohibited from buying or owning firearms. 
• Enhancing Tennessee’s bail laws and improving public safety by requiring defendants charged with a Class A, B, C or D felony to submit to pretrial monitoring if the magistrate issues conditions of release. 

• Strengthening the punishment for threatening to commit mass violence on school property or at a school-related activity. The law increases the crime from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony. This law does not pertain to individuals with an intellectual disability.
• Increasing penalties for intoxicated drivers by increasing the jail time requirement for drunk drivers from two days to seven days if their blood alcohol content (BCA) is equal to or higher than .15. 
• Allowing law enforcement to continue using drones for searches and evidence collection in cases of natural disasters, criminal investigations and for certain security purposes without needing court approval. In 2021 lawmakers passed legislation that expanded warrantless use of drones by law enforcement until July 1, 2024. This new law makes that expansion permanent.