TennesseeHB 0501114th General Assembly (2025-2026)House

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4 and Title 37, relative to juvenile justice.

Sponsored By: Mary Littleton (Republican)

Became Law

Children and Youth, Commission on

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Administrative support and staffing authority

The commission is administratively attached to the Commission on Children and Youth for logistics. That office schedules meetings, notifies witnesses, keeps minutes, handles travel reimbursements, helps review files, gathers documents, and helps draft reports. The commission may hire staff or consultants when funds are available.

Commission members, meetings, and expense rules

The law lists who serves on the commission, including legislators, judges, DCS and court leaders, law enforcement, experts, and a person with lived experience. Most appointed members serve four-year terms after staggered first terms; legislative members serve two-year terms. A member who misses over 50% of meetings in a year must be removed. The commission meets at least quarterly, with the first meeting by November 1, 2025. Eleven members make a quorum, meetings are noticed one month ahead, and written minutes are kept. All members vote and get travel and other actual expenses repaid under state rules, but no salary. The commission must adopt a conflicts-of-interest policy.

Legal protections and crime referrals

People who act in good faith under this law are immune from civil and criminal liability for those acts. If the commission learns of suspected crimes while doing its work, the co-chairs must refer the matter to the proper officials. This law does not block other agencies from doing their own lawful investigations.

New watchdog for juvenile justice cases

The law creates an independent commission to review juvenile justice cases and serious incidents in state custody. DCS must send case and incident tables by October 1, 2025, and every October 1 after. The commission can require agencies to share data and have the most knowledgeable person testify, including by video. It can review up to 10% of profiled cases each year, and it reviews critical incidents on its own schedule. A progress report is due January 1, 2027. Findings and legislative recommendations are due January 1, 2028, and every year after.

Private case reviews with public summaries

The commission can access records that are normally confidential to do its work. Investigatory meetings are closed to the public, and attendees must sign confidentiality agreements. Confidential information the commission gets stays confidential and usually cannot be used in court. The commission must still hold public meetings at times to share overall findings without revealing private details.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Mary Littleton
Republican • House

Cosponsors

Rebecca K Alexander
Republican • House
Elaine Davis
Republican • House
Rick Eldridge
Republican • House
Ronnie Glynn
Democrat • House
G.A. Hardaway
Democrat • House
Torrey C. Harris
Democrat • House
Lowell Russell
Republican • House
Mike Sparks
Republican • House
Tom Stinnett
Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 244 • No: 0

House vote • 4/7/2025

FLOOR VOTE: MESSAGE CALENDAR CONCUR IN SENATE AMENDMENT # 1 4/7/2025

Yes: 95 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/31/2025

FLOOR VOTE: as Amended Third Consideration 3/31/2025

Yes: 30 • No: 0

House vote • 3/13/2025

FLOOR VOTE: REGULAR CALENDAR PASSAGE ON THIRD CONSIDERATION 3/13/2025

Yes: 88 • No: 0

House vote • 3/10/2025

HOUSE CALENDAR & RULES COMMITTEE

Yes: 0 • No: 0

House vote • 3/3/2025

HOUSE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS COMMITTEE

Yes: 9 • No: 0

House vote • 2/26/2025

HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

Yes: 15 • No: 0

House vote • 2/18/2025

HOUSE CHILDREN AND FAMILY AFFAIRS SUBCOMMITTEE

Yes: 7 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

Pub. Ch. 281
4/28/2025
Effective date(s) 04/24/2025
4/28/2025
Signed by Governor.
4/24/2025
Transmitted to Governor for his action.
4/16/2025House
Signed by Senate Speaker
4/14/2025Senate
Signed by H. Speaker
4/10/2025House
Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.
4/8/2025House
Sponsor(s) Added.
4/7/2025House
H. concurred in S. am. no. 1 Ayes 95, Nays 0 PNV 0 HB0501
4/7/2025House
H. Placed on Message Calendar 4/7/2025
4/3/2025House
Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.
3/31/2025Senate
Senate adopted Amendment (Amendment 1 - SA0101)
3/31/2025Senate
Passed Senate as amended, Ayes 30, Nays 0
3/31/2025Senate
Received from House, Passed on First Consideration
3/17/2025Senate
Sponsor(s) Added.
3/13/2025House
Passed H., Ayes 88, Nays 0, PNV 2
3/13/2025House
Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.
3/13/2025House
Objected to on Consent Calendar.
3/10/2025House
Sponsor(s) Added.
3/10/2025House
H. Placed on Regular Calendar for 3/13/2025
3/10/2025House
H. Placed on Consent Calendar for 3/10/2025
3/6/2025House
Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 3/6/2025
3/5/2025House
Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee
3/3/2025House
Rec. for pass; ref to Government Operations Committee
2/26/2025House
Placed on cal. Government Operations Committee for 3/3/2025
2/26/2025House

Bill Text

Enrolled / Public Chapter
PDF
Fiscal Note
PDF
Introduced
PDF
SA0101
PDF

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