AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 38; Title 39; Title 40 and Title 67, relative to crime stoppers programs.
HB1116 creates a new statewide funding mechanism for Crime Stoppers programs in Tennessee. The bill imposes an additional $10 fine on every felony or misdemeanor conviction, requires court clerks to collect it, and directs the money—minus a $3 clerical service charge per assessment—into a newly created crime stoppers trust fund in the state treasury. The fund is intended to support local Crime Stoppers organizations through grants administered by the state treasurer and the Department of Safety.
The bill defines eligible Crime Stoppers organizations as 501(c)(3) entities with a board and executive leadership that collect tips and forward information to law enforcement. Grant money may be used for public awareness materials, rewards for tips leading to arrests or recovery of stolen property, narcotics, bodies, trafficking victims, missing persons connected to criminal activity, illegal firearms on K-12 campuses, prevention of terrorist acts, and resolution of long-unsolved homicide or violent felony cases. Administrative expenses are allowed, but capped at 25% of awarded funds. The bill also requires annual reporting to legislative offices and subjects the fund to audit by the comptroller.
In terms of state law, the bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated Titles 38, 39, 40, and 67, but its operative changes are concentrated in Title 40, Chapter 35, Part 1, where it adds the fine and establishes the trust fund. It also authorizes the state treasurer to promulgate rules for fund investment, grant administration, eligibility criteria, and coordination with agencies on crime-prevention training. The act is set to take effect January 1, 2026.
The available record shows no committee transcript and no recorded votes, so there is no documented debate or formal legislative sentiment in the provided materials. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears designed to support local anti-crime tip programs and reward systems through dedicated funding rather than general appropriations. Because no opposition or support statements are included, any contention can only be inferred from the structure of the bill: it shifts costs onto criminal defendants through an added fine and centralizes distribution of funds through state administration, which could raise concerns about fee burdens, equity, and how grants are allocated among counties and organizations.
HB1116 would add a mandatory $10 criminal fine to felony and misdemeanor convictions and create a dedicated crime stoppers trust fund in the state treasury. It changes Tennessee law by establishing a new revenue stream, directing court clerks to collect and remit the funds, and authorizing the state treasurer and Department of Safety to administer grants to local Crime Stoppers organizations. The bill also imposes reporting, audit, and rulemaking requirements, affecting courts, clerks, the treasury, local law enforcement support organizations, and convicted offenders.
No committee discussion or voting history was provided, so there is no direct evidence of legislative sentiment from the record. The bill’s structure suggests a generally pro-public-safety and pro-law-enforcement posture, with the goal of strengthening tip-based crime prevention and reward programs. At the same time, the absence of recorded debate means there is no documented support, opposition, or amendment activity to characterize the bill’s reception.
The main potential points of contention are the new mandatory $10 fine on all felony and misdemeanor convictions, the use of criminal fines to fund a specific program, and the state’s role in distributing grants to local Crime Stoppers organizations. Critics could question whether the added assessment is regressive or whether defendants should fund these programs, while supporters would likely emphasize public safety benefits, tip rewards, and support for unsolved violent crimes, trafficking cases, and school firearm recovery. Another possible issue is the allocation formula and the rule that only one program is eligible within a county, which could affect local organizations differently depending on geography and existing program coverage.