Tennessee legislation · 114th General Assembly
Tennessee HB920: AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 40, relative to criminal justice.
Status: Chaptered, May 15, 2026
Fiscal Summary NOT SIGNIFICANT Bill Summary ON APRIL 21, 2026, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 920, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 rewrites the bill to, instead, prohibit a defendant charged with any of the following offenses from being released on the defendant's personal recognizance or upon execution of an unsecured bond. A Class A felony A Class B felony Aggravated assault Aggravated assault against a law enforcement officer or first responder Domestic assault, if the violation is a felony This amendment requires the magistrate to require such 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. In determining the amount of bail required for a defendant charged with an offense listed above, this amendment provides there is a rebuttable presumption that bail must be set at $10,000 or more. In order to rebut the presumption, 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.
What the bill says
From the amended text:
Senate Judiciary 1 Amendment No. 1 to SB0900 Gardenhire Signature of Sponsor AMEND S e n ate Bill No. 900 House Bill No. 920* by deleting all language after the enacting clause and substituting: 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 not 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 (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 …